Garment District Rezoning Plan Causes 'Deep Concern' Among Manhattan Officials

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Several Manhattan officials submitted a letter to the Mayor's Office, the city Planning Commission and the city Economic Development Corporation to express "deep concern" regarding a plan to remove requirements that preserve manufacturing space in the Garment District.

The letter — signed by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Brad Hoylman, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, City Councilman Corey Johnson and two Community Board Chairs — claims that the proposal to relocate garment manufacturing space from the district to cheaper space in the outer boroughs has not been properly vetted.

"We ask that you delay any and all action on the plan and work with us and the stakeholders in the Garment District to adopt a better plan for public review," the letter states.

The city Economic Development Corporation (EDC) told officials that the public review of the Garment District rezoning would begin April 3, but has been pushed back to an unspecified date. The lifting of restrictions protecting manufacturing in the Garment District was proposed by the EDC in order to build garment hubs around the city — such as the "Made in New York" manufacturing campus in Sunset Park.

But there's one slight problem. The city wants to lift Garment District protections before spaces like the "Made in New York" campus are operational.

"Why would the city lift restrictions protecting manufacturing in the Garment Center in Manhattan before sufficient substitute space for these operations is ready?" a letter sent to the EDC and planning commission asks.

The letter also claims the city agencies did not consult stakeholders in the Garment District

"We are concerned that premature removal of the Garment Center’s zoning protections will result in the dispersal of this important industry and a workforce left without assurance that jobs will remain in, or return to, New York City," officials said in the letter.

The Garment District — a special-purpose zoning district covering several blocks from West 35th to West 40th streets located west of Broadway — was created to protect New York City's status as a leader in the fashion industry.

Photo by Mike Licht via Flickr/Creative Commons