Tenants try to salvage 9/11 garden memorial

Tenants at 319 West 105th Street say that their landlord wants to remove a large cluster of vegetables, herbs and flowers outside the apartment building, which is a memorial to their neighbors who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Landlord Joseph Franco told NY1 that the garden started out small but has gotten out of control. Regardless of the fact that it is a memorial, Franco said the garden has overwhelmed the front of his building and is unmanageable. Some occupants of the building told NY1 they did not agree. “It’s only in New York City that something as beautiful as this would be considered a nuisance,” said tenant Kim Stewart. Some neighbors said they have offered to try to change Franco’s mind, while others have offered to take the plants to other places. But overwhelmingly, the tenants and their neighbors said they wanted the memorial garden to remain untouched in its original spot. [NY1]