NEW YORK | South Midtown Rezoning

[ChiND]

To the extent that the City wants residential development on the blocks between 32nd and 34th, I wonder why this area was omitted from the rezoning.




https://www.newyorkyimby.com/2025/06/cit...proves-midtown-south-mixed-use-plan.html

[DCReid]

NYNIMBY - "The New York City Planning Commission has approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, a rezoning initiative that will allow the creation of approximately 9,700 new homes across a 42-block section of Midtown, Manhattan. Spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of City Planning (DCP), the plan covers an area roughly between West 23rd and West 40th Streets, from Fifth to Eighth Avenues. It introduces new mixed-use zoning where residential development was previously restricted, enabling the construction of up to 2,900 permanently affordable homes through Mandatory Inclusionary Housing."

Although the sites are close to ESB, I hope they can build reasonably tall, like 900 ft and more. If HY west can build 4000 homes in three tall towers, they should have no problem meeting the goal of 10,000 homes on those blocks if they can build reasonably tall.

[BK1985]

The area can handle much more density, there is no reason why the goal is only 10,000 units.

[Crawford]

Right, given the existing neighborhood, even 20,000 units wouldn't be crazy. The built form is about as dense as any neighborhood on the planet.

Oh, well. 10,000 units is still a move in the right direction. I assume the Penn District will add another 10,000 units at some point.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by BK1985

The area can handle much more density, there is no reason why the goal is only 10,000 units.

The NIMBYs would be up in arms. They complain about the need to build more housing in the area, but if you touch too much of the area to build it, they revolt. This is at least a start.

[NYguy]

New York City: “We need more housing…”

City Council: “Well, maybe some…”



https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2025/08/06/city-council-committees-approve-midtown-south-rezoning/

City Council tweaks Midtown South rezoning, slightly reduces housing estimates
The plan now heads back to City Planning


August 6, 2025
By Kathryn Brenzel

The Midtown South rezoning is moving forward, but with a few changes that shave 165 apartments off the number of housing units to be built in the neighborhood.

The City Council’s Land Use Committee and Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises voted on Wednesday to advance the rezoning of 42 blocks in Midtown South, but reduced the residential density allowed in certain parts of the neighborhood. With the changes, the rezoning is expected to net 9,535 housing units, with 2,842 affordable. That’s down from the 9,700 units, of which 2,890 would be affordable, originally projected.

The Council reduced the residential density permitted in a four-block area within the southeast portion of the rezoning, between 23rd and 27th streets. The maximum residential floor area ratio in that perimeter was reduced from 18 to 15.

The Council also removed a planned high-density residential designation midblock between West 36th and 40th streets between Seventh and Eighth avenues. Council member Kevin Riley, who chairs the subcommittee, indicated that those changes would not have a significant impact on the housing expected to be built under the rezoning because the city did not expect properties in that area to be redeveloped as housing.

“Over the past several months, public input has made it clear that there is a unique cluster of businesses in the Garment District and that these businesses depend on each other and their proximity to the Theater District,” Riley said. “If they are relocated throughout the city, they would not be able to function.”

The Council also opted to keep base height maximums for buildings in the southeast portion of the rezoning areas to between 60 and 150 feet to ensure the street wall is not “overwhelming to pedestrians,” Riley said.

[NYguy]

https://www.6sqft.com/midtown-south-office-tower-become-studio-apartments-under-rezoning/

Midtown office tower to become 107 studio apartments, first major conversion under rezoning





By Devin Gannon
October 8, 2025

An underutilized Midtown office building is set to become over 100 studio apartments in its next life. Infinite Global Real Estate and Buttonwood Development, in partnership with 400 Capital Management, have acquired 29 West 35th Street, with plans to turn the 12-story tower into a rental building. The project marks the first major office-to-residential conversion in the neighborhood following the Midtown South rezoning, approved by the City Council this summer.

The developers plan to turn the century-old building into 107 studio apartments, with 27 designated affordable via the 467-m tax abatement program. The affordable apartments will be priced at $1,701/month, with market-rate units closer to $4,000/month, according to Bloomberg.

The units will measure between 400 and 575 square feet and include ceilings of 11 to 14 feet, designer kitchens, and in-unit washer/dryers. A majority of the units will include flexible spaces, like home offices, alcoves, or bonus rooms, to address “the evolving needs of remote work and modern living.”

Amenities will include a rooftop space with views of the Empire State Building, an outdoor movie screen, a doorman, a pet wash station, and storage.

The project will repurpose the existing building, which has been mostly vacant. The bar Liberty NYC currently operates on the ground level. Colliers, led by Zach Redding, Dylan Kane, and Matt Mastrocola of the New York Capital Markets group, arranged the sale.

“New York City is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic structures, many of which have outlived their original commercial purpose but possess incredible architectural character that deserves preservation,” Marty Burger, founder and CEO of Infinite Global Real Estate Partners, said.

“Rather than tearing these buildings down, we have an incredible opportunity to breathe new life into them as homes for New Yorkers.”

“Work patterns have shifted, and proximity to the office is now a top priority for Manhattan residents,” Heiberger said. “They seek efficiency, the ability to walk to work, to enjoy amazing restaurants, and to live in thoughtfully designed spaces. We’re delivering on that vision with 29 West 35th Street, where true live-work lifestyle isn’t a luxury but a priority.”

In August, the City Council voted to approve the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX), which covers about 42 blocks between West 23rd Street and West 40th Street, and between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue. Updating the zoning rules allows for new housing to be built in the area, which has largely been limited to commercial space. Officials estimate 9,500 new apartments could be built in the neighborhood.