battle by garment district small businesses and unions against Midtown South's rezoning proposal, a move aimed at revamping the area
In the heart of New York City, a coalition led by the New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition (NYFWDC) and local labor unions is fighting against the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX). The coalition argues that the plan, which aims to rezone 42 blocks in Midtown South for residential construction, poses a significant threat to the Garment District's survival.
The Garment District, known for its essential staples in the Broadway and film industry, is home to approximately 80% of Met Gala costumes. It is a cultural and economic ecosystem that supports New York City’s fashion industry and workforce. The coalition fears that the MSMX plan, by eliminating special zoning protections, would increase rents and development pressures, leading to the displacement of thousands of garment workers, makers, and vendors who rely on the area’s affordable industrial spaces.
Pooja Patel, a representative of USA 829, IATSE, asserts that the coalition is not "anti-housing" but is against "development for development's sake." Patel emphasizes that the coalition's opposition is about taking the community's concerns into account. The Garment District Alliance, however, did not respond to a request for additional comment.
Joe Marvilli, a spokesperson for the Department of City Planning, describes the MSMX plan as a "win-win," emphasizing support for local businesses. However, the coalition proposes targeted revisions to the MSMX plan, including prioritizing strengthening businesses, establishing a relief fund for displaced workers, and offering tax relief for fashion-related local businesses.
The coalition's proposed solutions aim to save the Garment District as a hub for fashion manufacturing and creative work by securing affordable spaces and protecting the workforce that is crucial to the local economy and cultural identity. They advocate for maintaining or reinstating special zoning protections, prioritizing local businesses and workers in planning decisions, and advocating for policies that actively support and preserve garment manufacturing and related small businesses.
Costume designer Carisa Kelly, a member of USA 829, IATSE, states that the Garment District is essential for her work due to its proximity to major transportation hubs and diversity of businesses. Kelly, like many others, fears that the MSMX plan could disrupt this vital ecosystem, harming not just the Garment District but the broader entertainment and fashion industries as well.
As the MSMX plan moves forward, with a vote before the City Council imminent, the coalition continues to campaign against it, urging city officials to take the community's concerns into account and to preserve the Garment District as a vibrant and essential part of New York City's cultural and economic landscape.
- The coalition, in their fight against the MSMX plan, is advocating for policies that specifically support and preserve local fashion-related businesses, such as those in home-and-garden, fashion-and-beauty, and business sectors, which are integral to the city's overall economy.
- In the midst of this fight, the coalition also proposes establishing a relief fund for displaced workers in various fields of education-and-self-development and lifestyle to help them adapt to potential changes in their environment.
- Simultaneously, the coalition calls for maintaining or reinstating special zoning protections in the Garment District to ensure the continuity of affordable home-and-garden spaces for the workforce who contribute to the city's cultural identity and lifestyle.
