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Manhattan to Rezone Midtown For 9,500 More Units

Manhattan to Rezone Midtown For 9,500 More Units

A new rezoning plan will add nearly 10k housing units to Midtown Manhattan, reshaping the area’s skyline with new living options in a bustling, iconic part of the city.

Urbanize Team
August 22, 2025

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📅 Today's Story: The New York City Council approved a plan that will bring more housing to Midtown South, long limited to commercial and manufacturing. This plan aims to balance the city’s growing housing needs with mixed-use economic vitality.

HOUSING

Manhattan to Rezone Midtown For 9,500 More Units

Midtown’s iconic skyline may soon change—for the better (Shutterstock)

📰 What Happened: The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX) rezones 42 square blocks to allow residential alongside commercial and retail. With more than 9,500 new housing units expected, the plan aims to meet the growing demand for housing in areas with excellent public transit and major job centers.

🔍 A Closer Look: The rezoning will open the door for a more modern, livable Midtown. Developers must include affordable units—20-30% of each mixed-use building's floor area. The city also plans to invest in the garment and fashion industries and will make Broadway more pedestrian-friendly.

🧠 Why It Matters: By encouraging high-density, mixed-use development, New York City is taking steps toward more sustainable and vibrant urban living. The plan reflects a growing trend in urban planning to rethink how cities balance residential, commercial, and public spaces.