http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#4361 Since the rezoning of the Garment District, a number of speculative hotel developers bought land in the area and are now said to be in construction or breaking ground. Upwards of 10 new hotels are expected to crop up in the next few years, mainly on a more affordable scale than is typical for Manhattan. Some believe this speculation was spurred in part by cheaper land prices and also the major developments planned on the Westside of Manhattan including the Hudson Railyards and previously expected expansion of the Javits Convention Center. 2008-06-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3859 As real estate prices rise and many manufacturing jobs move overseas, some store owners in the Garment District are struggling to hold on to a part of this historic neighborhood. The city has begun discussions about a possible rezoning of the District, although it is unclear what new uses would be permitted in the area. While the city decides how to proceed, many landlords are taking matters into their own hands by refusing to renew leases with garment businesses, raising rents, and by dissuading customers from visiting stores. Some business owners argue that the Garment District is an asset that the city should not be willing to lose. 2008-02-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3683 The city is considering changing the ratio that allocates manufacturing space and other uses in the Garment District. Currently the zoning rules say that for every square foot of non-manufacturing the same amount must be left for manufacturing. Some are concerned that New York will lose it fashion edge if changes to the Garment District are allowed to occur. The area bounded by 5th and 9th Avenues between 34th and 40th streets roughly may soon be overtaken by the media and publishing industries. The city has not made any proposals on a potential rezoning. 2008-01-28 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3246 Only a few months after the city announced plans to rezone parts of the Garment District, many believe that the efforts have been stalled because of building owner opposition. Special zoning for the area has been in effect since 1987 that allows for office space along the avenues but designated manufacturing sites along the side streets in the Garment District. Since enforcement of the code has been lax, building owners over the years have begun leasing designated production space for show rooms and design studios. A zoning code change as proposed by the Department of City Planning would legally change the current ratio of 1 sq. ft. of manufacturing space to every 1 sq. ft. of office space to 1 to 3 or 1 to 5 ratios but with increased enforcement. Many building owners would rather keep the “status quo” for the area. The city has said that talks continue on the rezoning. 2007-08-12 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#2465 The city's strong market for office space has largely been driven by demand for smaller office space, known as Class B buildings. According to the Broad Street Development group, the commercial real estate market, contrary to preconceptions, is actually powered by "the sub-10,000-square-foot-tenants." Analysts point to this demand for smaller space as a reason why the Department of City Planning intends to rezone the Garment District to accommodate more commercial office space. 2007-04-17 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#2339 A rezoning proposal for the Garment District is expected to be completed soon, creating additional potential for office development in the area. The rezoning is expected to change the areas required ratio for preservation of production space from 1:1 up to potentially 1:5. This would allow legal recognition of many office conversions which were done in violation of the previous zoning, make valuable lower-rent office space available, and would provide landlords with incentives to renovate buildings and try and attract higher-rent tenants. The proposal is likely to include creation of a non-profit to try and help the remaining companies find the necessary production facilities and retain existing jobs. 2007-04-01 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3245 Discussions between the city’s Economic Development Corporation, Department of Planning, the Fashion Center Business Improvement District and the Real Estate Board of New York continue in efforts to rezone parts of the Garment District. A key component in addition to changing the current ratio of manufacturing space to commercial space is a more strict enforcement of the zoning code. Currently, building owners have had little oversight in who they rent to and many have been using designated manufacturing space for office space. City officials and other interested parties are hopeful that a change in the zoning code will help rejuvenate the area and force property owners to upgrade their buildings. Some are concerned that rezoning will force out all manufacturing because of higher rents and the inability to find workspace. 2007-03-31 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#2062 City Planning Director Amanda Burden indicated on Wednesday an intention to rezone the area from 34th and 40th Streets between Broadway and Ninth Avenue to allow for more office space in the traditionally manufacturing district, known as the garment district, setting off praise from commercial leaders and ire from union representatives of garment workers. While Burden, whose agency will release a formal proposal by the end of the month, said that the rezoning was necessary because the garment industry was no longer as viable as it once was, garment workers and their unions disagreed. According to Unite Here, a union representing textile workers, keeping the area zoned for manufacturing is necessary to maintaining the fashion industry in New York. A conflict is expected in the coming weeks. 2007-02-16 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#2073 Real estate analysts report that comments by the City's Planning Commission Chairman to rezone the Garment District between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, Times Square and Penn Station, have sparked interest among investors. The proposed rezoning, which has not been put into text or officially submitted, would relax zoning requirements in the area to allow for Class B and Class C office spaces. Investors and real estate owners are excited about the prospect of increased asking-rents for office space in the area, which has traditionally been zoned to accommodate manufacturing uses. 2007-02-16 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#2048 The Bloomberg Administration has announced that it will be introducing a rezoning plan for the Garment Center which will support conversion of manufacturing space into offices. It had previously been planned that the Garment Centers zoning would remain unchanged and that only Hudson Yards would be rezoned to allow offices. However with a weakening apparel industry the administration decided the area needed to be able to support new uses. The rezoning will not allow residential conversions, focusing instead on creation of affordable office space. Planning Commissioner Burden also announced that she opposes residential buildings as part of Coney Island redevelopment, something which has been sought by Thor Equities. 2007-02-15 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3244 Mayor Bloomberg and the City Planning Commission have reversed their position on rezoning the Garment District. Previously, the city was opposed to any rezone as a trade off for the fashion manufacturing industries support of the Hudson Yards Project. CPC Chair Amanda Burden announced that the city will be seeking rezoning of the area for some commercial space but not for any residential space. The city is expected to unveil official plans for the rezoning in the next month. 2007-02-14 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=117#3243 Efforts are underway by some business and property owners in the Garment District to transform the district into more of a neighborhood with new retail, commercial space and residential space combined with already existing manufacturing space. A special district was established for the Garment Center in order to maintain manufacturing fashion jobs in New York City. However, the zoning established has not stopped globalization and slowly many manufacturing companies have moved from Manhattan. A local business improvement district has put forth a plan called the Fashion Center that would reduce the square footage allotted for production from 9 million sq. feet to 1.5 million sq. ft. The city is currently studying the effects of a zoning change in the area but is cautious to make any changes that would cost the city jobs 2006-03-30 00:00:00