Buried Beneath Elmhurst Parking Lot | New York City News

In Elmhurst, Queens, a parking lot covers the forgotten graves of nearly 300 African Americans—including enslaved and freed New Yorkers—whose remains were unearthed decades ago and remain in storage. The current pastor of St. Mark AME Church is rallying to turn the site into a memorial, urging the city to buy the land and preserve this vital piece of Black history. The push gained national attention after a freed slave’s iron coffin was discovered in 2011, sparking a deeper archaeological investigation that revealed more graves—and now, a firm holding those remains wants them respectfully reburied. But the property’s ownership is murky, with a defunct LLC leaving it in foreclosure, while the lender prioritizes profit over preservation. State law mandates acknowledging burial sites before development, and though archaeologists weren’t involved initially, they’re ready to help with proper reinterment. The pastor rejected a lucrative development offer, insisting on honoring the dead—and now, a preservation group is pushing for landmark status, calling the land sacred ground despite past disruptions. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ee293f9b93b861cc