Gale Brewer On De Blasio's Plan To Move Garment District: 'Start Over'

GARMENT DISTRICT, NY — Manhattan's borough president slammed the city's plan to relocate the Garment District to Brooklyn on Friday, joining other critics of the proposal who believe the fashion industry hub should stay in Manhattan.

Borough president Gale Brewer told Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration to "start over" on their plans to move the city's Garment District, which is currently nestled in midtown Manhattan, to the Sunset Park neighborhood in Brooklyn. City officials have proposed rezoning the Garment District, changing the rules that currently require buildings in the district to preserve space for manufacturing.

The city has argued that Sunset Park is a logical home for the industry because the neighborhood offers more space at more affordable rates. The area is also the second largest manufacturing hub in the city, according to city officials.

After a packed community meeting on Thursday night, Brewer condemned the plan as one that would not work for the fashion industry.

"What I’ve heard is this: most of the manufacturers who are still in the Manhattan Garment Center are there because they need to be," Brewer said in a statement on Friday. "The administration seems to have trouble understanding that."

The city's economic development corporation followed the formal presentation of its plans on Thursday night by announcing a $51 million support package to help manufacturers relocate from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The funding would also support new technology and workforce development for the industry, in addition to providing grants to help businesses relocate.

Lead image via Patch.