It took nearly years, but now there’s a substantive plan to preserve fashion manufacturing in the Garment District.
Manufacturing is key to the New York fashion industry, and CFDA is proud to have served as a partner and advisor to the City and its plan to secure long-term stability for our industry in Midtown Manhattan. The $14 million expansion of our Fashion Manufacturing Initiative will significantly contribute to this plan.
CFDA President and CEO Steven Kolb noted that the “inclusive process that has helped ensure that New York City’s fashion ecosystem can continue to thrive on a citywide basis for many years to come. The CFDA is supportive of today’s steps to strengthen the garment manufacturing industry and looks forward to partnering with the sector to help it modernize for the future.”
The City Council approved the multi-pronged plan, informed by recommendations of the Garment Center Steering Committee, on Thursday. With this strategy, the City seeks to balance fashion interests with those of other growing sectors in the Garment Center.
“We’re preserving the City’s fashion manufacturing capacity both in its traditional home in the Garment Center, and with investments across the city,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Today’s vote ensures that the Garment Center will continue to thrive as a mixed-use neighborhood – and that New York City will always be the world’s fashion capital.”
Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen added that this historic move will “stabilize and strengthen New York City’s garment manufacturing sector.”
The plan removes an ineffective zoning mechanism to allow the Garment Center to achieve its potential as a mixed-use neighborhood with office space alongside manufacturing, wholesale, and showroom spaces.
Here are more details:
* Workforce Development
With the City, CFDA is launching a $14 Million expansion of our Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI), which fosters, supports, and develops a dynamic, diverse, and innovative fashion production ecosystem in all boroughs. We will expand upon the existing program’s services in addition to targeted workforce development training and the Pilot Local Production Fund.
* Manufacturing Preservation: The NYCIDA Garment Center Program provides applicable property owners with tax abatements in exchange for providing long-term and affordable leases to fashion manufacturing tenants in the Garment Center Garment Center Business Improvement District (generally considered between 34th to 42nd Streets and 5th to 9th Avenues).
Additionally, NYCEDC put forth a Request for Expressions of Interest for the acquisition of a building that will provide permanent, dedicated garment manufacturing space in Midtown. The City made up to $20 million available to fund a portion of the acquisition cost.
* GDA Funding Commitment: The Garment District Alliance has received approval by the New York City Council to increase their annual budget by $2.5 Million for the next 10 years – toward special programming to support the Steering Committee’s goals of supporting the industry in Midtown Manhattan.
* Placemaking: The De Blasio Administration identified policy recommendations to make placemaking improvements in the Garment Center such as preservation efforts, streetscape, and safety improvements to better the pedestrian experience.
* Garment Advisory Group and Outreach: The City is creating an advisory group with members of the Steering Committee to work with the CFDA and other industry stakeholders.
The future of New York City’s Garment Center has begun.
