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 Once upon a time back in the 1960s, two grand old movie theaters (the Riverside and Riviera) stood on the west side of Broadway, north of 96th Street. Eventually the theaters closed, the building fell into disrepair and was demolished — leaving an empty lot. Would-be gardeners in the neighborhood took over, planting a riot of flowers in the "Broadway Gardens," while the local politicians, realtors and bankers squabbled over the future of the lot. (Would an Alexanders department store serve the community better than an apartment house?) In the face of fierce community opposition a number of development projects fizzled.
Determined Upper West Siders organized; local block associations joined the gardeners, along with the City Planning Commission, Community Board 7, and the Trust for Public Land, among others. Out of this emerged a committee, spearheaded by community activists Carrie Maher, a horticulturist, and Mark Greenwald, an architect, which worked with would-be real estate developer William Zeckendorf Jr. on the project for more than a year, persuading him to translate this neighborhood green space into an amenity that would enhance his building's charm and value.
Thus the Lotus Garden, a community garden, came to be built on the roof of the garage of the Columbia condominium, on West 97th Street in Manhattan.
 Zeckendorf built stairs to the roof from a gate on the street; a cherry picker lofted 3-1/2 feet of topsoil onto the garage roof. Then Carrie and Mark, who headed the garden, laid out winding paths, installed two fish ponds and planted fruit trees and flowering shrubs. At last in the spring of 1983, a group of local residents, including new residents of the Columbia, began to plant flowers and herbs beneath the north facing windows of the Columbiaís tower.
Today 25 families tend garden plots there. Community members are entitled to a key and have access during daylight hours; membership is $20 for two years ($10 for seniors). And the gate is open to all on Sundays between 1 and 4 PM.
The flowers and trees that you will see there are maintained mostly by community membership key fees, yearly dues from plot-holders, and the contributions of well-wishers. Please come visit and consider becoming a key-holder or volunteer, often a preliminary step to becoming an active gardener. For more information please contact us at info@thelotusgarden.org.
P.S. Carrie Maher and Mark Greenwald are now married and are gardening happily ever after in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
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