On the Lower East Side, the Children's Magical Garden is celebrating a new chapter after developer calls off legal battle

Image via @childrensmagicalgarden 

After a decade-long legal battle, the Children's Magical Garden on the Lower East Side is no longer threatened by development on part of its space at 157 Norfolk St. at Stanton Street.

The Real Deal first reported on this agreement between the garden and developer David Marom: 

Marom, who helms the Horizon Group, agreed to donate the lot ... to the Children's Magical Garden in honor of his mother. As a result, three separate lawsuits between the parties are being called off. 

For more than 40 years, the Children's Magical Garden has occupied the corner space off Stanton Street, using the land to grow produce and host local community events. But Marom's purchase of a portion of the garden from Serge Hoyda for $3.3 million threatened the future of the space, as the developer moved to build a seven-story residence. 

And today at 2 p.m., the garden is hosting an event to celebrate the moment. Per an Instagram post: 

Big NEWS! We did it! The children of LES are getting their community garden back, PERMANENTLY! After 10 years of litigation and many more of advocacy, we've come together with the developer who is donating the land. So many amazing community members, lawyers, neighbors, and gardeners helped make this possible. We are truly grateful. Thank you. Please come on March 10, 2 p.m., and help us start our new chapter. 

They are raising funds to help rebuild and "serve the children and their children to come!" 

This link has some of our coverage of the story.