NYC Plans Major Rezoning in Midtown South to Boost Housing Development
Patrick Callahan
The New York City administration, under Mayor Eric Adams, is set to rezone Midtown South, encompassing parts of the Garment District, Flatiron, and Chelsea, to allow larger residential buildings.
This marks the city’s first use of new state-granted powers to exceed a longstanding limit on building size, potentially transforming the area into a mixed residential and commercial hub.
- Area Covered: 42 blocks from 23rd to 41st Street, between Fifth and Eighth Avenues.
- Increased Density: The Department of City Planning (DCP) proposes increasing density to 18 floor-area-ratio (FAR) in most of the area, with some blocks limited to 15 FAR. This will allow buildings to be 25–50% larger than previously permitted.
- Housing Impact: Expected to create up to 9,700 new housing units, including around 2,800 affordable units, up from 4,000 in the original proposal.
For decades, the area was restricted to manufacturing to protect garment industry jobs. With only 6,600 garment jobs remaining from 95,000 in the 1980s, the city sees an opportunity to repurpose underused buildings, boost housing supply, and revitalize Midtown South. This push aligns with the City of Yes initiative, which aims to add over 100,000 new housing units in NYC over the next 15 years.
Support and Challenges for NYC’s Midtown South Zoning
The proposal has strong backing from local leaders, including City Council members Erik Bottcher and Keith Powers and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who are part of the pro-housing YIMBY movement. The rezoning plan will undergo a seven-month review process, with DCP aiming to certify it by the end of the year.
As Adams’ administration also moves forward with rezonings in Long Island City, Jamaica, and areas near new Bronx Metro-North stations, Midtown South’s transformation could serve as a model for adapting underused commercial spaces to address NYC’s housing crisis.
