Queens elected officials say they intend to find funding to turn a historic Black burial ground in Elmhurst into a memorial for the freed slaves buried there.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. has urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to purchase the property at 47-11 90th St. Richards says he is committed to finding the money, but no purchase or memorial has been announced.
The property was once the cemetery of St. Mark AME church. Human remains and artifacts, including an iron coffin, have been found there. The owners paved the ground for a parking lot, where vehicles towed through an NYPD program later ended up.
Mamdani has not committed to buying the lot. He has said the Landmarks Preservation Commission must first decide whether to grant it landmark status.
Please note! Comments are published by readers. The opinions expressed may not reflect the position of the editorial team. USCT is not responsible for the content of readers' opinions and asks authors to observe moral standards, not to incite national or racial hatred, and to avoid rudeness. Think before you speak. You are responsible for your words! By publishing an opinion, you agree to the rules! If this request is ignored, USCT reserves the right to deprive the user of the ability to leave comments.