Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan
Status: Approved August 2025
A transformative urban plan bringing nearly 10,000 new residential units to Manhattan's Midtown South, with nearly 3,000 permanently affordable homes in a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.
Plan Overview
On August 14, 2025, the New York City Council approved the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan.
While Midtown South has long been a powerful economic center — including over 7,000 businesses, 135,000 jobs, and access to important transit hubs at Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Herald Square, and Bryant Park — the neighborhood has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic with commercial vacancies and restrictive zoning rules that limit opportunities for New Yorkers to live near their jobs. The Midtown South plan works to address these challenges and bring new housing to the neighborhood.
Key Plan Components
1
Zoning Overhaul
Rezone 42 blocks in Midtown South to allow for taller residential buildings.
2
Targets Four Areas
Covers four distinct areas centered around Herald and Greeley Squares located roughly between West 23rd and West 40th Streets and 5th and 8th Avenues where housing is largely not allowed today.
3
New Housing
Will potentially create 9,700 new housing units, with up to 2,900 designated as affordable under the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program.
4
High Density Zoning
Increase the allowable Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 12 to either 15 or 18.
5
Vibrant 24/7 Mixed-Use Neighborhood
Will integrate commercial, manufacturing, and residential uses to address high commercial vacancies and historically low housing vacancies.
6
Community Led
Created after over a year of community engagement.
The Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan is also expected to supplement the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning reforms.
Please see our City of Yes Report Series for more information about the major components of the City of Yes and how each aspect of the plan could influence housing production, real estate development potential, and pricing across different neighborhoods.
Part of a Larger Vision
1
Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan
The third of five neighborhood plans proposed by the Adams administration
2
Administration Goal
Create over 50,000 new homes in the next 15 years through five neighborhood plans
3
Future Impact
Transform transit-rich areas into vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods with affordable housing and job opportunities
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