The Midtown South Mixed Use (MSMX) rezoning plan is poised for a vital vote by the City Council, which could see the addition of nearly 10,000 new homes in Midtown Manhattan. This plan marks an important opportunity to reintroduce density into an area that once thrived on it.
Although some residents express concern about transforming the Garment District from its industrial character to a more residential area, the rezoning will not impede the garment industry’s operations. Instead, it aims to legalize the construction of new homes and facilitate building conversions in underutilized spaces.
In fact, the garment industry’s strength doesn’t rely solely on fixed locations for factories or showrooms. It is fundamentally about access—how effectively manufacturers, designers, and salespeople can move within the city. This accessibility has shaped the lives of many New Yorkers, including those who have found success within the garment sector over generations.
The personal story of the author illustrates this point poignantly. Their family story reveals how a Jewish immigrant family navigated the trials of poverty in Brooklyn, ultimately climbing the socioeconomic ladder through the garment industry. By adapting to changes in the city over the decades, they found opportunity—more homes and more adaptable spaces.
The narrative reflects a historical context where New York City actively engaged in building enough homes to keep pace with its growing population. In the 1920s, an average of nearly 73,000 new homes were completed every year, helping to keep rental prices stable even amid significant urban development.
As the years progressed, however, regulations tightened in the 1960s, and the building environment shifted dramatically. New zoning restrictions posed limitations on development—40 percent of Manhattan’s buildings would eventually fall outside legal construction parameters. Consequently, the vibrant and diverse neighborhoods that once welcomed new families began to transform, with fewer options available for middle-class families.
The author recounts how their parents moved to a once-affordable apartment in a previously a tailoring factory, illustrating how shifts in the neighborhood demographic altered the landscape and housing market dynamics over time. With escalating rents pushing families out, affordability became an increasing concern for many residents.
Fast forward to current times, the need for housing is critical. Since 2010, New York has only averaged 22,000 new homes each year—a stark contrast to the construction rates of the 1920s. Today, only 1.4 percent of apartments are vacant, and rental prices are outpacing wage growth at an alarming rate.
The resulting housing crisis is painfully evident; shelters are full and many former New Yorkers seek more affordable lives in states with lower living costs. This situation galvanized the formation of groups like Abundance New York, which seeks to push for bold action on housing, transit, and climate initiatives to restore access to affordable housing.
Public figures spanning the political spectrum, from Governor Kathy Hochul to Councilmember Zohran Mamdani, are beginning to recognize that increasing housing supply is essential to fostering broad-based affordability across the city. Additionally, experts endorse higher housing density as an effective strategy toward reducing emissions and tackling climate change.
Fortunately, recent legislative changes have lifted previous caps on density, giving New York City renewed capacity to respond to the pressing need for housing. However, the successful implementation of the MSMX plan requires a collective vision and willingness to take action on part of city officials.
Thus, the City Council’s upcoming approval of the 10,000 new homes under the MSMX plan carries immense potential. By maximizing the allowable density, they can reaffirm New York City’s commitment to creating homes in the way it once did—before becoming largely accessible only to the wealthy.
The push for more homes is not just about residential buildings, but about sustaining the dynamism and accessibility that have defined New York City across decades. The author points out that had their grandfather started a company in today’s housing climate, he might not have even found a foothold in the city he loved.
With an average rent hovering around $3,800, many argue it poses a significant barrier for families hoping to replicate the author’s story of resilience and success within the garment industry and beyond. Approving the MSMX plan is a crucial step toward addressing New York City’s housing crisis and restoring the opportunity for families to thrive in a city that should remain, fundamentally, an engine of opportunity.
image source from：citylimits
