Mendez Mural Community Garden Archive
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Abstract
The East Village's Mendez Mural Community Garden grew outside of city support but became a fixture in the community and was widely utilized. In 1997, the city decided to sell the land to real-estate developers creating a community uproar and protest. On New Years Eve, 1997 the land was bulldozed for condominiums. The collection documents the struggle to save the garden.
Historical Note
The East Village's Mendez Mural Community Garden(11th Street between Avenues A and B), which had been a vacant lot since the early 1970's, was brought into existence in the early 1990's partly through the work of sculptor, Ken Hiratsuka, and muralist, 'Chico' who brought trees, plants and art to the space. The park grew outside of city support in a neighborhood that had suffered in previous years from drug-crime and violence. It became a fixture in the community and was widely utilized. In 1997, the city exercised their claim of ownership on the land, and when then Mayor Guiliani decided to sell the land to real-estate developers, a community uproar and protest followed. In the end, the bid to save the garden was unsuccessful, and on New Years Eve, 1997 the land was bulldozed for condominiums.
Arrangement
Materials are organized by subject and document type.
The files are grouped into two series.
- Series I: Legal Materials
- Series II: Mendez Garden and Other Lower East Side Garden Controversies
Scope and Contents
The Mendez Mural Community Garden Archive documents the lawsuit brought by several artists involved in the creation of the Mendez Mural Garden against the Partnership Housing Development Fund Company, Inc. of the City of New York. It also contains articles, correspondence, 'zines, photos, maps, flyers, and posters relating to the Mendez controversy and other battles over garden space on the Lower East Side, dating from 1996 through 2000.
SERIES DESCRIPTION
Series 1: Legal Materials: contains one box of materials relating to the legal case over the Mendez Mural Community Garden, including legal documents and supporting materials such as petitions, photos, and letters of support from the community.
Series 2: Materials relating to Mendez Garden and other Lower East Side garden controversies: contains articles, correspondence, zines, photos, maps, flyers and posters relating to the Mendez controversy and other battles over garden space on the Lower East Side, dating from 1996 through 2000. Folders 9-9d contain miscellaneous materials removed from their original non-archival 3-ring binders; they have been stored in their original order.
Accretions 2008: includes material related to Jeffrey Wright's community garden activism from 1997-2000. The bulk of material pertains to the activity and events of the 11th Street Garden (Chico West). Photographs, legal documents, press clippings, and other records are contained within this accretion.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Series II and 2008 Accretion have been digitized, and files are available to view by clicking on links in this finding aid - please click on Series II on the sidebar to see the links. If you are a rights holder and are concerned that you have found material on this website for which you have not granted permission (or is not covered by a copyright exception under US copyright laws), you may request the removal of the material while University Counsel looks into your claim. You can read more about our Take Down Policy here. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Mendez Mural Community Garden Collection; MSS 100; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
The Mendez Mural Community Garden Archive was a gift of Jeff Wright, given to Fales Library in May 2000.
Separated Material
There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.
About this Guide
Edition of this Guide
Repository
Series I: Legal Materials
Form letters sent, undated
Location of Materials
Form letters sent, have ribbons, undated
Location of Materials
Original letters, ribbons done, undated
Location of Materials
Copies of postcard backs, undated
Location of Materials
Copies of postcard backs, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Petitions, undated
Location of Materials
Legal statements, info re: Mendez Garden, undated
Location of Materials
Legal photos, undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Trial documents, cont'd., undated
Location of Materials
Series II: Mendez Garden and other Lower East Side garden controversies
Conditions Governing Access
Series II has been digitized and files are available to view by clicking on links. If you are a rights holder and are concerned that you have found material on this website for which you have not granted permission (or is not covered by a copyright exception under US copyright laws), you may request the removal of the material while University Counsel looks into your claim. You can read more about our Take Down Policy
