Residents urge Warren council to save South Warren Community Garden, accuse mayor’s office of obstructing lease

A succession of residents and Urban Seed volunteers told the Warren City Council on April 14 that the South Warren Community Garden on two city lots faces an uncertain future because of mayoral inaction and proposed lease or ordinance terms they say would hamper operations.

Annie Sinclair, a homeowner across from the garden, said the mayor "picked the wrong fight" and criticized the administration for reversing prior go‑ahead to the project: "You had nothing to say to us about these lots until Urban Seed came in and did something really good." Jeff Matthews, head of the South Warren Garden and an Urban Seed board member, said delays "have cost this project $10,000 in grant support and resulted in a garden that can't expand for fear of the bulldozer."

Speakers described the garden as a neighborhood resource that supplies free fresh food, volunteer opportunities and youth education in a part of the city they called a food desert. Caitlyn Donnelly, an Urban Seed volunteer, said the project produced community buy‑in within weeks and helped neighbors share food and recipes.

Council members responded by urging a practical, near‑term fix. Councilwoman Moore, who also chairs the land bank, said the land could be transferred to the land bank or the council could expedite review of the lease: "The land bank could find a property, put it in the land bank and then the land bank would have to take over." Staff and administration representatives said a community garden ordinance draft exists and a lease similar to last year’s had been offered; administrators said outstanding contractual negotiations have delayed formal council consideration.

Council members directed staff to forward the lease and draft ordinance to the council office for rapid review so the garden organizers can begin planting. Some council members urged a one‑ or two‑year extension of last year’s lease while the ordinance is finalized.

No final sale or transfer was approved during the meeting; council members asked staff and the mayor’s office to provide the lease language and to meet with garden organizers promptly.