The Garment District Nyc Year in Review 2019–2020

THE GARMENT DISTRICT NYC

YEAR IN REVIEW 2019–2020 COMMUNITYWORKING FOR OUTREACH YOU

For all of us in the Garment District community, and But as we entered the final quarter nesses. During New York State on of the Fiscal Year, life had become Pause, the GDA has adjusted our indeed around the world, this year will forever be very different. staffing and operations. Those who viewed through two lenses: Before Covid-19 and after. were able have been shifted to Throughout the spring, our pedes- remote-working, while our Public trian counting cameras quantified Services department has reduced For the majority of the 2019-2020 neighborhood. In fact, as you will what we were seeing in the neigh- hours and split shifts to minimize Fiscal Year, our local businesses read in this report, it was just a few borhood. Pedestrian activity fell the number of employees on site and properties enjoyed a strong months ago that we hosted our more than 90% from what it was at any one time. economy, and the GDA engaged in most popular interactive installa- one year ago, as New Yorkers active programming to draw busi- tion on Broadway, which drew wisely adopted social distancing We continue to deliver our ness tenants and customers to the thousands to the pedestrian plazas. > measures to decrease the spread essential services of sanitation of Covid-19. Many businesses shift- and public safety. Though ed to a work-from-home model, demand has decreased, we are but many others have been keeping the neighborhood spot- severely impacted by the crisis. less, and taking this time to Restaurants and retailers have complete various maintenance been particularly affected, as cus- projects, so the Garment tomers disappeared, and business District will be looking its best dried up. Some manage to remain as people return. open with take-out and delivery services, some have closed tempo- > We are also serving as a conduit rarily, and sadly others are in dan- for public information and links ger of not being able to reopen to critical support programs for when the time comes. businesses of all kinds. As we receive relevant information, Throughout the crisis, the GDA we distribute it to our members has remained operational, and we through regular email notices, continue to do everything we can and we maintain a Covid-19 to support neighborhood busi- information page on our website,

2 While 2019–2020 may not be ending in the way we “Throughout New anticipated when the year began, we are ready for York State on the days to come when all our businesses, residents Pause, the GDA and visitors return to the Garment District. has remained operational, and

which includes a compilation of know that we are here to provide Pedestrian activity decreased by more we continue to information, programs and support in any way we can to all than 90% during New York on Pause opportunities as we know them. who live, work, or visit in the 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% do everything Garment District NYC. Mar 1 we can to support > We are promoting local busi- Mar 3 nesses that remain operational We wish good health to all as we Mar 5 our Garment through email notices, as well work through this challenge Mar 7 as listings on our website and together. As we take a look back Mar 9 District businesses.” the websites of our local com- at our activities of the past year, Mar 11 munity boards. we do so with anticipation of the Mar 13 –Martin Meyer days to come when the Garment Mar 15 > And most importantly, we have District is bustling with activity Mar 17 been working diligently to con- again, when buildings and restau- Mar 19 nect factories that are able to rants are full, and pedestrians Mar 21 make masks and PPEs with the populate our streets and plazas Mar 23 Federal, State and City govern- once more. Mar 25 ments, and with other industry Mar 27 Mar 29 sectors that need support in Barbara A. Blair Martin Meyer Mar 31 this work. This not only pres- President Chair Apr 2 ents opportunities for factories Apr 4 to keep personnel employed, Apr 6 but also boosts the supply of Apr 8 critical resources. Apr 10 Apr 12 While 2019-2020 may not be Apr 14 ending in the way we anticipated Apr 16 when the year began, we know Apr 18 this crisis will pass, and the diffi- Apr 20 cult work of economic and emo- Apr 22 tional recovery will begin. Please 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

3 NEIGHBORHOOD PROMOTION

ART ON THE PLAZAS Nymph Pond those who passed by. Surrounded Inspired by the waters of the by the lush plantings of the Urban Garment District Art on the Plazas is a year-round Galapagos Islands, Carla Torres’ Garden, the Nymph Pond offered public art program on Broadway. Temporary large Nymph Pond invited contemplation serenity to all who visited the and evoked a sense of peace in our Garment District last summer. scale exhibits and individual pieces enhance the Urban Garden during July and Carla Torres is a New York illustra- public plazas, making them even more welcoming to August. The 180 foot road mural tor, born and raised in Ecuador. depicted nymphs, the mythical Her work has been exhibited local- New Yorkers and visitors. guardians of nature, peeking out ly and internationally, and has won from the depths and calling to several illustration awards.

4 Impulse was the GDA’s signature project this “Impulse was an year. Thousands came to the Garment District interactive experi- to enjoy the playful installation, increasing ence that was the Broadway pedestrian counts by more than 34%. largest and most popular installation Impulse the Garment District This January, we hosted Impulse, Alliance has ever our most popular installation to date. Twelve oversized, interac- produced. Reviews tive seesaws were installed in the Winter Garden on Broadway were great!” between 37th and 38th Streets during the month of January. The –Barbara Blair ever-changing installation created dynamic lights and sounds that sent pulses of warmth into winter’s short days and dark nights. Designed by Canada’s Lateral Office and CS Design, and produced by Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Impulse made its Broadway debut to rave reviews. During Impulse, our Broadway pedestrian counts increased by 34% as locals and tourists stood in line to take turns, day and night. Media coverage from The New York Times, TimeOutNY, NBC, Fox5, amNY, New York Post, ABC News, Gothamist, Elle Décor, and many others encouraged people to explore the unique installation, as you will read throughout this Annual Report.

5 GDA programs, installations and events draw people to the neighborhood and support local businesses.

Arts Festival The GDA hosted our 16th Fashion District Arts Festival from October 17th through 19th. The Festival included over 100 open studios, gal- leries, art installations, and events. This will mark our final arts festival, as our resources and programming have turned to other areas, but the GDA remains committed to the artists and creative professionals of the Garment District. We will continue to display the works of local artists in our Spaces for Public Art, and to Social media promote local exhibitions and events. The GDA is active on all social media channels, and also engages influencers to promote neighborhood events and amenities to a broader audience.

Our plaza programming and influ- encer campaigns had a significant impact on our social media this year: Wednesday Refreshments 32% Increase in Instagram followers During our street closure installa- 3,175,832 Impressions tions, we offered free refreshments 18,765 Engagements every Wednesday afternoon. And we had our 3 most engaged Broadway Squeeze brought lemon- posts of all time this year, including ade and iced tea to last summer’s the NYPD’s @lovek9louie at Urban Garden, while hot cocoa and Impulse (see above) cider warmed the Winter Garden in The Winter Garden and Impulse January. generated the most response, by far: 12% Increase in Instagram followers Arts Festival photos from bottom left: Margaret Zox Brown, Last Rites 50,022 Impressions Gallery, Arleen Joseph, SL Gallery, and ZAZ10TS. 3,258 Engagements Arts Festival photos: Laurentiu Garofeanu 6 Plaza Markets “There are glowing UrbanSpace Garment District returned to Broadway between seesaws in Midtown 39th and 40th Streets, from September 23 to October 28. Our and New Yorkers are popular food market presented losing it...adults eight new concepts and old favor- ites, such as Jicama California were exuberantly Fresh, Balkan Bites, and Monk’s Vegan Smokehouse. The GDA is reliving childhood, currently in the process of review- yelping and hollering ing concepts for FY21 markets and plaza activations. with joy on one of the busiest streets Fashion Walk of Fame in Manhattan.” Last fall, we removed the Fashion Walk of Fame markers from the east side of Seventh “Fashion” –The New York Times Avenue. The FWoF was started in 1999 to honor New York’s most significant fashion designers, but the plaques were starting to wear after 20 years. The GDA hopes to commission the Council of Fashion Designers of America to design new markers, and all pre- vious, as well as additional, industry notables will be honored in the “new” Fashion Walk of Fame.

Info Services The GDA has added a unique plug-in to our neighborhood website. Developed by Live XYZ, our interactive retail map allows viewers to search ground floor establishments by location, category or cuisine. Images, as well as daily specials and events, are displayed. The content is updated quarterly by Live XYZ staff, using foot surveys and leasing information.

7 COMMUNITYECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OUTREACH

Economic Quarterly Hotels Office Activity on 39th Street. The fashion industry Reports The Garment District has added 21 Tracking office starting rents is a continues to maintain one of the The GDA tracks Garment District new hotels over the past five way of measuring the neighbor- most significant retail presences in economic indicators throughout the years, and the 50th hotel is hood’s growth and popularity as an the neighborhood, with over 100 year, and publishes Economic expected to open sometime this office destination. Over the last five retail storefronts. While chain stores Quarterly Reports. While the impact year. Ten more hotels are currently years, average starting office rents and restaurants are prevalent, the of COVID-19 cannot yet be quanti- in development, which will bring in the District grew more than 18 Garment District’s retail landscape fied, we know that the Garment our total number of rooms to percent, compared to a 16 percent remains centered around indepen- District’s strategic location, 13,000. The Garment District has growth in Midtown overall. dent businesses, as nearly 84 per- unmatched transit options, and evolved into one of the city’s main A number of large office tenants cent of the District’s storefronts are desirable Class B office space will be hotel hubs, with nearly 9 percent expanded or moved into the District independently owned. valuable assets during our recovery. of hotel rooms in the entire city in 2019, including Cosentini located in the neighborhood. Associates (498 Seventh Avenue) Pedestrian Counts Economic Garment District occupancy rates and Industrious (1411 Broadway), After growing each year since the Economic were over 90 percent this year, the while Crain’s New York Business GDA first installed pedestrian count- QuarQuartterly highest rate of all neighborhoods named 11 Garment District busi- ers in 2015, pedestrian counts RReporeport 4th4th Quarter Quarter 2019 2019 in Manhattan. nesses to its 2020 ranking of the declined slightly in 2019, but were 100 Best Places to Work in NYC. still up overall over the last several We don’t yet know the full impact years. A limiting factor for continued of COVID-19, but occupancy rates Retail Activity growth may be the District’s over- at New York City hotels have fallen Retail vacancies were on the rise in burdened sidewalk network, which to below 15 percent overall since New York City and the Garment remains congested despite modest the pandemic began. However, District prior to COVID-19, but the pedestrian space expansions on 7th because of the Garment District’s pandemic is sure to accelerate that Avenue and 8th Avenue. strategic location and proximity to trend, particularly for independent the Javits Center medical facility, a businesses. Still, the past year saw Recent pedestrian counts highlight dozen local hotels have remained numerous new storefront businesses the impact of COVID-19, as pedes- operational, housing the National open in the District, primarily in the trian counts dropped to more than Guard and first responders. food industry, including the neigh- 90 percent below normal once borhood’s first food hall, The Deco social distancing began.

8 Using a variety of sources, we track economic “Feel like a kid indicators, including office and retail market activity, again while bounc- employment numbers, hotel occupancy, transit ing on seesaws ridership, and pedestrian counts. along Broadway… all seemed to be IDA Award BUSINESS SUPPORT had to be eliminated because they having a great time In October, GDA President Barbara PROGRAM fell beyond the scope of what a BID — if the laughter and A. Blair accepted the International As part of the 2018 zoning text is permitted to fund, the Board of Downtown Association Pinnacle amendment process, the Alliance Directors approved all the programs smiles seen from Award. The Pinnacle Award is the Board of Directors agreed to set recommended by the Special neighborhood improvement indus- aside up to $2.5M per year, for up Programming Committee. Contracts people of all ages try’s highest honor, recognizing the to ten years, to fund programs for are being drafted with the propos- were any judge.” most creative and inspiring urban workforce development, business ing organizations, and funding will improvement projects from around technical assistance, and other be available for programs to begin the globe. The Alliance was hon- programs to strengthen the busi- July 1. The Alliance will be collabo- –amNY ored for our role in the 2018 zoning ness community in the Garment rating with Pratt Institute, ITAC, text amendment process, and for District. In 2019, the Alliance NEST and the CFDA, to name a few. helping to bring about a successful released an RFP seeking proposals conclusion that allows the neigh- for programs that support these borhood to reach its full potential, goals. Twenty-two submissions while still supporting the garment were received from fashion indus- industry. try organizations, schools, businesses and non-profits, including two from the Alliance. All proposals were reviewed, and recommen- Business Support Program dations were made by a Special Administrator Programming Committee of gar- In January, the Alliance released ment industry stake holders and an RFP seeking an administrative representatives for CB4, CB5, consultant to manage the Business Speaker Johnson, and Manhattan Support Programming process, Borough President Brewer. All pro- from proposal solicitation through grams recommended for funding contract management, compliance were then reviewed by a GDA Task and evaluation. The new adminis- Force, the GDA Officers Committee trator, Resilient Cities Catalyst, will and, finally, the full GDA Board of be in place for the start of funding Directors. Though some programs on July 1. 9 COMMUNITYNEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH IMPROVEMENTS

Urban Garden Our Urban Garden bloomed again in Summer 2019. As part of NYCDOT’s Summer Streets Program, Broadway between 37th and 38th Streets was closed to traffic during July and August, giv- ing the GDA the opportunity to transform the space into a pedestrian oasis with plantings, turf, birch trees, public art, café tables and seating.

Winter Garden For the month of January, the GDA partnered with NYCDOT for our first winter seasonal block closure on Broadway, between 37th and 38th Streets. The block was fully closed to traffic, as the GDA presented the Garment District Winter Garden, complete with Impulse, our largest and most popular public art installation to date. 10 Neighborhood Improvement programs and capital “The Garment projects enhance the pedestrian experience and District Alliance’s make the Garment District an appealing place to interactive and live or work. unique art installations have brought Broadway Plan Streets will become a shared street quirky fun to New Since NYCDOT created the tempo- with access for deliveries and drop Yorkers for more rary pedestrian plazas in 2008, the offs. An initial use of temporary agency has been working toward a materials will allow NYCDOT and than a decade.” master plan for Broadway from the neighborhood to assess Columbus Circle to 14th Street. impacts before permanent capital Working with ARUP, the interna- investment is made. –New York Post tional design firm, NYCDOT has developed a toolkit of street config- The GDA will be working closely uration options from fully open, to with NYCDOT and Broadway prop- shared streets, to closed blocks. erty owners as plans are developed. Street Seats Having used these options with For the third year, we enhanced success around the City, NYCDOT Intercept Survey During the 2019 Urban Garden, we the pedestrian experience on our plans to start testing these con- conducted intercept surveys on the side streets with the installation of cepts along Broadway. Though Broadway plazas. More than 1,000 two custom parklets. These tem- COVID–19 will affect timing, the people provided feedback about porary decked platforms provide plazas along Broadway are slated the block closure event and other plantings and public seating in a to get a refresh with new gravel, pedestrian amenities. Results indi- car’s length of the parking lane, and, in the Garment District, the cated that 89% of Broadway adjacent to the sidewalk. Working block between 39th and 40th employees would like to see more in conjunction with the NYCDOT Street will be closed to traffic, while block closures. Street Seats program, and with the the block between 38th and 39th support of the neighboring properties and businesses, the GDA placed parklets in front of 224 West 35th Street and 152 West 36th Street from May through November. The parklets were stored during the winter months, but will return when allowed. Shared Block Plaza Block 11 Iconic Sculpture Our new button and needle sculpture design has been approved by NYCDOT and the NYC Public Design Commission, clearing the way for the project to proceed in the coming year. The button is a beloved icon of the neighborhood, and its redesign will celebrate the Garment District’s past, while looking to its future. Fabrication begins this summer, and it is expected that the kiosk structure will be removed, and the new sculpture installed in its place by early 2021.

The GDA iconic button and Horticulture needle sculpture. Concept: The GDA’s year-round horticulture Local Projects, Design: UAP. program includes winter lighting and seasonal planting rotations along the Broadway Plazas, the Seventh and Eighth Avenue pedes- Neighborhood trian corridors, and in 100 tree pits Development Grant throughout the neighborhood. Speaker Corey Johnson’s Office and the New York City Council have allocated $20,000 in discretionary funding for GDA placemaking and plaza activation programs, which will be used to off-set the cost of last summer’s Urban Garden. This is the second year that the Council has given the GDA a grant to support our efforts to improve the pedestrian experience in the Garment District. We thank the Speaker and the Council for their continued support.

12 Eighth Avenue “…reviews from Pedestrian Corridor Following the success of the passersby were Seventh Avenue pedestrian corridor, NYCDOT applied the same universally positive, strategy to relieve pedestrian as they gleefully congestion on Eighth Avenue between 38th and 42nd Streets. took the opportu- As with Seventh Avenue, the GDA has agreed to maintain the plant- nity to stop what- ers being used to define the ever they were pedestrian lane. Given the increasing congestion on our sidewalks, doing and go for pedestrian corridors are a welcome amenity. a ride”

Avenue Lighting Safe Streets –Gothamist 530 Seventh Avenue and 1385 In the beginning days of New York Broadway are the latest properties on Pause, social distancing signage to participate in our Garment was placed throughout the neigh- District Avenue Lighting Program. borhood, as a reminder to maintain Under the terms of the program, 6 feet between individuals. Later, in the GDA provides each participat- May, the Broadway corridor in the ing avenue-facing property with a Garment District was included in lighting plan by Kugler Ning, as the City’s Safe Open Streets net- well as up to four security lighting work. Broadway from 36th Street fixtures, free of charge. The GDA to 41st Street is closed to traffic will also coordinate orders for daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, in decorative façade lighting, but order to increase opportunities for must be reimbursed by the prop- pedestrians to spend time safely erty owner. All installation, main- outdoors until restrictions are lifted. tenance and electric are the responsibility of the property owner. To offset installation costs, the Alliance offers a $1,000 rebate per security fixture, up to a maxi- mum of $4,000. Program details and application are posted on our website. 13 COMMUNITYFIELD SERVICES OUTREACH

SANITATION Big Belly Following the success of our Hours* Eighth Avenue compacting waste Weekdays 5:00 am to 10 pm. receptacles, we are expanding the Weekends 8:00 am to 8:00 pm program and placing additional Big Holidays 7:00 am to 3:00 pm Belly units on corners throughout *Hours altered during New York on Pause the district. With the expansion of the program, we anticipate elimi- Numbers nating 28,000 garbage bags from > 40 sanitation workers the waste stream annually. > 100% clean ratings for streets & sidewalks > 505 tons of trash collected in 2019 > 2,500 elements maintained

Maintenance In addition to steam cleaning, and sticker and graffiti removal as needed, our clean team regularly cleans, paints and maintains over 2,500 streetscape elements throughout the year.

Data Tracking Our Sanitation supervisors and streetscape staff use a handheld app to track maintenance and repairs, and to notify 311, as needed.

14 Field Services are the backbone of the GDA’s “Seesaws in the mission to keep the Garment District clean and Garment District… safe. As essential services, they remained Folks just can’t get operational throughout New York State on pause. enough…It’s a fun time.” PUBLIC SAFETY –ABC World News Hours* Tonight Weekdays 5:00 am to 10:00 pm Weekends 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Holidays 8:00 am to 4:00 pm *Hours altered during New York on Pause

Numbers > 22 Public Safety Officers > 100,000 people assisted in 2019 HOMELESS OUTREACH We continue to offer full-time home- Crime Down less outreach services through a Crime was down once again in the contract with Urban Pathways, with Garment District in 2019, and has two outreach workers dedicated to declined more than 80% since the the Garment District. Homelessness GDA was formed. and panhandling continue to be an issue in New York, as they are in cit- Phone Booth ies across the country. Mental health Obsolete telephone booths have challenges and substance abuse become magnets for anti-social exacerbate the problem, and render behaviors. The NYC Department of many individuals very resistant to Information Technology plans to accepting help. We continue to offer replace the booths with Wi-Fi assistance to anyone in need, and totems, but the GDA has actively our Public Safety Department works In March, GDA Public Services campaigned for their immediate closely with the NYPD and the NYC staff members began wearing removal. We were gratified when Department of Homeless Services, protective masks and practicing 15 of the most egregious booths but the lack of legal recourse and social distancing. were removed this year. placement options can only be solved at the legislative level. 15 LOOKING AHEAD

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020 – 2021 > Recovery efforts will include local business promotion programs, banner campaigns, and social media advertising to support our retailers and restaurants.

> Public realm improvements will include new planters, upgraded horticulture, and the installation of our new Button & Needle sculpture, which will mark the Garment District’s rich history and celebrate its future.

> Additional public space programming will include our next Public Art on the Plazas exhibition, Doggy Bags by Will Kurtz, featuring monumental sculptures of man’s best friend, crafted from recycled plastic bags. > A redesign of our website will address ADA compliance and enhance usability. Welcome > The NYCDOT redesign of two Broadway blocks will increase public space and improve the pedestrian experience. Back Garment > The launch of our first round of Business Support Programming will help strengthen the garment industry, as well as other local business sectors. District!

> And of course, our continued dedication to cleanliness, safety, and maintenance will GarmentDistrict.nyc improve the vitality of the Garment District for all who live, work, or visit here.

16 Our new ‘Stayed in NY’ campaign celebrates the resiliency of the neighborhood with a salute to our quintESSENTIAL Garment District WORKERS on the 1441 Broadway billboard, lightpole banners with local business logos, social distancing sidewalk decals for outdoor queuing, retail window clings for open storefronts, and other signage that will herald the reopening of the neighborhood.

Thank you quintessential Garment District workers! GarmentDistrict.nyc

The 1441 Broadway billboard displays our thanks to quintESSENTIAL Garment District WORKERS — from our GDA sanitation and security staff, to Garment District PPE producers and takeout food providers, to NYPD Midtown South and the Javits Center National Guard. Special thanks to ZAZ10TS & L.H. Charney Associates for this opportunity to express our gratitude.

17 2019 – 2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors is a dedicated group of Olmstead Properties Neoscape New York City Council Daniel Breiman Patrick Redmond District 3 property owners, tenants, residents, elected officials Samuel Friedfeld – Council Speaker Corey Refinery Hotel Alternate Johnson and other parties who support the development of Chris Shiel Laurie Hardjowirogo – this authentic New York neighborhood. Otterbourg Stitch Bar & Lounge Alternate William Silverman Nicholas Cohen District 4 CHAIR Adams & Company Real Handro Properties LLC Port Authority of NY Council Member Keith Scott Galin Martin Meyer Estate, LLC and NJ CLASS C Powers James Buslik Scott Handler – Alternate Myron Johnson RESIDENTIAL Abigail Bessler – Alternate VICE CHAIRS Block Buildings LLC Hidrock Properties TENANTS Thomas Block Savitt Partners LLC Thomas Block Abraham J. Hidary Ryan Garson CLASS E INTERESTED Dana Comfort Bob Savitt Steven Hidary – Alternate PARTIES (NON-VOTING) Elizabeth Foundation Shorenstein Properties, CLASS D PUBLIC for the Arts HSP Real Estate Group Community Board 4 PRESIDENT LLC REPRESENTATIVES Barbara A. Blair Bill Carroll Ira Fishman Ronnie Ragoff Lowell Kern, Board Chair Office of the Mayor Jessie Bodine – Alternate Empire State Realty Hudson 38 Holdings LLC Commissioner Gregg Brian Scott Weber – TREASURER Trust, Inc. Marc Bengualid CLASS B Bishop, NYC Department Alternate Ira Fishman Fred C. Posniak COMMERCIAL Invesco Real Estate of Small Business Services Michael Prunty – Alternate TENANTS Community Board 5 Lesley Lisser Roxanne Earley – Alternate SECRETARY Vikki Barbero, Board Chair George Comfort & Sons Anchin, Block & Anchin Eric Gural Ivanhoe Cambridge Office of the Wally Rubin – Alternate Dana Comfort Marc Wieder Michael McMahon Comptroller Dan Dilmanian– Alternate EMERITUS A.R.T. / New York Hon. Scott Stringer The Doneger Group Kaufman Organization Abbey Doneger Peter L. Malkin Virginia Louloudes Jennifer Conovitz – GFP Real Estate, LLC Steven Kaufman Eric Gural Bayard Advertising Alternate Fashion Institute of CLASS A OWNERS M&J Trimming Technology Gotham Organization Louis Naviasky Office of Manhattan Michael Cohen Dr. Joyce Brown ABS Partners Real Phil Lavoie Borough President Midtown Dental Group Lisa Wager – Alternate Estate, LLC Meyer Equities LLC Hon. Gale Brewer Griffin Industrial Dr. Daniel Mishaan Andy Udis Martin Meyer Lizette Chaparro – Stan Herman Company Realty, Inc. Alternate Stan Herman Michael Gamzon 18 PARTNERS

The Alliance thanks: Arts and plaza programming: President / GDA Board Task Force: Chair Martin Meyer, the Garment All Garment District Space for Tom Block, Eric Gural, Steve Thank you, Dana District Alliance Board of Directors, Public Art artists / All participants Kaufman, Lesley Lisser, Martin Dana Comfort of George and all the property owners, in the 2019 Arts Festival / Emily Meyer, Ronnie Rogoff Comfort & Sons has elected to business tenants and residents of Wiedenhof and the DOT Plaza leave the Garment District the Garment District Program / The Port Authority Bus Special thanks to all those who Alliance Board of Directors after Terminal / Wendy Feuer, Emily made critical contributions to many years of service on the The Alliance also thanks: Colasacco and the DOT Urban Art New York’s efforts to combat Board and Officers Committee. Mayor Bill de Blasio / Manhattan program / Kaufman Arcade / Covid-19, including: We thank Dana for his dedica- Borough President Gale Brewer / ZAZ10TS The GDA’s essential Public Services tion to the Alliance and for his Council Speaker Corey Johnson, staff who keep the Garment commitment to the improve- Council Member Keith Powers, & Springboard pedestrian counting District clean, safe wand ment of the Garment District neighborhood. His wise counsel the NYC Council camera hosts: well-maintained / Garment District and support will be missed by 499 Seventh Avenue, 519 Eighth manufacturers who produced PPE both the Board and staff. Thanks to: Avenue, 561 Seventh Avenue, 1430 supplies / L. H. Charney Associates Commissioner Gregg Bishop and Broadway, 1370 Broadway, 1032 & ZAZ10TS / Garment District the NYC Department of Small Sixth Avenue, 1033 Sixth Avenue, hotels that housed essential per- Business Services / Community 519 Eighth Avenue sonnel / the Garment District’s Boards 4 & 5 / Christine Helm and Midtown South Police Precinct and the Enterprise Center at F.I.T. / Business Support Programming: FDNY Engine 26 / Transit opera- NYC Department of City Planning / Advisory Committee: U.S. tors / First responders / and all NYC Economic Development Department of Commerce, businesses and individuals who Corporation / NYC Department of Deborah Buyer Law PLLC, Office observed stay-at-home measures Information Technology / NYC of NYC Council Speaker Corey and practiced social distancing Department of Parks & Recreation Johnson, Center for an Urban during these unprecedented times. / NYPD / NYC Department of Future, ITAC, M&J Trimming, Sanitation / NYC Department of Fashion Institute of Technology, The GDA notes with sadness Transportation / Dr. Anastasia Launch Collective, Stan Herman, the passing of Carvel “Rusty” Xenias and the U.S. Department of CFDA, Community Boards 4 & 5, Moore, our founding consultant Commerce / REBNY Office of the Manhattan Borough and first Executive Director.

19 The Garment District Alliance is a not- for-profit corporation, established in 1993 to promote the positive development of Midtown Manhattan’s Garment District. The Alliance provides specialized and ongoing programs to improve the quality of life and economic vitality in the district.

For more information on Alliance activities, visit GarmentDistrict.nyc

Images: Alexandre Ayer / Diversity Pictures unless noted.

209 West 38th Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10018 | 212.764.9600 [email protected] GarmentDistrict.nyc