President’s Letter: August 2025
This week, advocates achieved important wins with the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX). MAS has fought for a thriving Midtown that balances the addition of housing with protections for the existing garment businesses. While we supported the City’s goal of revitalizing the area and adding much needed housing, MAS was alarmed by the likely displacement of 114 garment-related businesses and loss of over 450 jobs, which are vital to the local economy and cultural fabric.
MAS joined the New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition to strengthen efforts to preserve the industry that gave the Garment District its name and cultural identity. To illustrate potential risks, we mapped the development sites in the Garment District under the plan. And we fought for the reinstatement of funds and programs that were promised in 2018 but never delivered.
Although the City originally downplayed potential displacement as insignificant, we are encouraged that the City Council carved out zoning protections in the northwest Garment District to ensure its continued vitality. And we appreciate the investments secured by Council Members Bottcher and Powers for technical assistance, training, business development, and workspace support. These initiatives are crucial for sustaining the industry and must be executed without delay.
In addition to these efforts to fight displacement of small businesses in the garment sector, the Midtown South plan includes welcome public realm investments with 20 blocks of pedestrian focused public open space on Broadway and a car-free busway on 34th Street. Building on the success of congestion pricing, we applaud the city for taking these big steps to reclaim streetscapes for people and public transit.
While no large-scale neighborhood plan is ever perfect—affordable housing still isn’t affordable enough and adaptive reuse is too expensive—our collective victories reflect the tireless dedication of advocates committed to equitable and sustainable development.
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