In February 2007, City Planning Commission chair Amanda Burden announced that the city would soon unveil a rezoning plan for the Garment District, an area that extends from 35th to 40th street between Broadway and 9th Avenue. Two years later, no such plan has emerged, though negotiations between the City, garment industry representative, and property owners continue.

Under current regulations, area landlords that convert properties to (more lucrative) office space must create an equal amount of fashion production space elsewhere in the district. Owners argue that, as more and more apparel manufacturing moves overseas, this mandatory supply of production facilities is outstripping demand and keeping rents artificially low. Proponents of rezoning also cite the City's need for more affordable Class B and C office space to accommodate businesses priced out of Class A facilities in midtown east.

A December 2008 proposal would require the preservation of 100,000 square feet of production space for every 600,000 square feet converted to alternative commercial use, ultimately eliminating 550,000 of the 800,000 square feet currently occupied by apparel manufacturers. While the proposal was endorsed by the UNITE HERE garment and hotel workers union -- largely due to a provision that would promote the use of union labor in any hotels built in the district -- other industry advocates, like the Council of Fashion Designers of America, maintain that more production space must be protected if the City is to remain a hub for young and upcoming designers.

Last Updated: February 26, 2009