On August 6, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use voted to approve the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, a major rezoning in Midtown, Manhattan that will allow for the creation of more than 9,500 new homes, including over 2,800 permanently affordable units. The initiative is the city’s largest residential rezoning in two decades. Developed as part of the city’s broader housing strategy, the plan introduces Mandatory Inclusionary Housing to Midtown South for the first time and includes a $488 million package of community and infrastructure investments.
The approved plan permits high-density residential development in areas of Midtown that previously restricted housing. Alongside new housing, the rezoning provides $120 million in economic development resources aimed at supporting the Garment District’s legacy industries. Initiatives include Midtown Made, a campaign to elevate local fashion businesses, the Greenlight Innovation Fund for nonprofit space development, and a revived M-CORE program to incentivize commercial building renovations. An additional $340 million will fund public realm improvements, upgrades to parks, and transportation infrastructure.
Rendering of Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, via midtownsouthplan.nyc
Notable transit and street-level changes include the creation of a car-free busway on 34th Street, improvements to over 80 percent of area subway stations for accessibility, and expanded pedestrian and bike infrastructure through the Broadway Vision Plan, including new bike lanes. Investments also cover Vision Zero-compliant street safety upgrades and tree planting throughout the district.
“To confront the citywide housing and affordability crisis, our city must build more homes and invest in housing solutions that allow generations of New Yorkers to remain in this city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is proud to advance the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan that will deliver more new homes than any residential rezoning in 20 years, while investing to preserve and support our city’s Garment District industries and invest in the needs of the surrounding communities.”
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City needs more car-free busways. Should run every dozen blocks or so cross town up to CP. The more that infrastructure is built out the more people will use (incrementally) IMO.
This is too small a rezoning. The state last year gave the power to the city to zone above a FAR of 12 and the best they could do is a FAR of 15 in MIDTOWN?
There should be a zoning amendment that allows residential development in equal density to to the maximum density allowed for commercial density in any zoning district.
FARs go up to 18 here, not 15.
After FAR cap was repealed, NYC created 2 new districts that are mapped through this plan:
R11 district = 15 FAR
R12 district = 18 FAR
Okay, so Manhattan will keep packing them in. But what about the outer boroughs along subway corridors? So many areas could be upgraded for more density with retaining historical buildings where they stand.
It will happen , because smart people, the best people understand how amazing NYC is. Just takes time
There should be no height limits for buildings in Manhattan.
No sunlight on the surface. Overcrowded sidewalks. Overwhelmed infrastructure. Impossible prices. There are reasons why there are regulations in NYC.
The most overcrowded sidewalks in the city outside of Times and Herald squares is downtown Flushing which has little in the way of tall buildings owing to LGA flight path obstruction restrictions.
Ok boomer
Thank you urban developers It’s is wise to redevelop, and not develop in natural areas or on good farmland . NYC is the greatest city in the USA. With the smartest people. ❤️