New London council narrows Adelaide sale after months of protests; garden parcel removed from transfer

The New London City Council on April 21 revised a recent decision to sell three parcels on Adelaide Street to Habitat for Humanity, removing the parcel used by Riverside Community Garden from the transfer and authorizing the sale of the remaining two lots to Habitat for Humanity for $1. Council members said the substitution was intended to preserve neighborhood access to a garden while still moving a planned affordable-housing project forward.

The move came after more than 20 residents and gardeners spoke during public comment, presenting petition signatures and urging the council to scrap the $1 sale and run a public, competitive process instead. Lydia Blaisdell Brunner, who identified herself as a New London homeowner, said more than 300 residents signed a petition and asked the council to “repeal the $1 sale in total to make way for an informed, open, and respectful process.”

Councilor Natartes moved the council’s substitute motion to limit the sale to two parcels and remove the lot currently occupied by the Riverside Community Garden; the motion was seconded and carried after an amendment to correct parcel numbering. The council recorded the final approval of the substitute motion by voice vote, 6–1.

Why it matters: Gardeners and neighborhood residents argued the Adelaide parcel includes mature fruit trees and established plantings that provide food and community services; opponents said a below‑market transfer would forgo substantial city revenue and circumvent state requirements to advertise municipal land sales. Supporters of the Habitat plan and some council members said the sale leverages municipal assets to generate permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for New London families.

What the council decided and next steps: The council approved a substituted version of its earlier measure that omits the garden parcel from the transfer to Habitat for Humanity and authorizes sale of the other two parcels for $1 to support construction of three two‑family dwellings. Council members instructed the administration to prepare the necessary closing documents and to coordinate relocation of the garden; city staff said Habitat will contribute to establishing water service and that preliminary environmental and soil testing for the proposed relocation is under way.

Public reaction and context: Speakers at the meeting described the Adelaide property as appraised at about $207,800 in city records and said the parcels total roughly 0.42 acres. Gardeners and allies — including speakers who described long‑term plantings of peaches, pears, asparagus and garlic — urged delay so transplanting could occur during dormancy. Several residents called for a competitive sale or a higher purchase price to increase city revenue. Mayor’s office and staff said the city had vetted the development through required commissions and sought a development partner capable of securing the layered public and private funding needed for the homes.

What remains unresolved: Petitioners asked the council to rescind the earlier approval outright and open a new public process; instead, the council’s amendment kept the housing plan for two parcels intact while preserving the garden lot. Garden leaders and petitioners said they will continue to press for more written assurances on timeline and relocation details, including a plan for moving mature trees and compensation or mitigation if plantings are lost.

Votes at the meeting: Council approved the substitute motion to limit the sale to two parcels and remove the garden parcel from the transfer to Habitat for Humanity; the amended substitute motion passed 6–1. The council also approved other consent items and funding votes during the meeting.

Implementation notes: City staff said Habitat had already invested engineering time, site research and permitting work; staff said they will work with the gardeners and Recreation & Parks to identify and prepare a temporary or permanent site across the street and to time any transplanting to minimize harm to perennials. Mayor’s office staff said the city reactivated a water service to the garden on April 9 and that Habitat and city crews will coordinate infrastructure work for relocation.