Bill de Blasio earmarks 136 million for Made in New York Campus

New York City's official budget was released on Wednesday, April 26, and in it was Mayor Bill de Blasio's earmark for 136 million dollars for the new Made in New York Campus at Bush Terminal. The initiative will take the under utilized Sunset Park buildings and transform them into a hub for garment manufacturing, as well as for film and television production. The plan is expected to help support 1500 new jobs.

Economic development in Sunset Park has been a major focus of the de Blasio administration.

“Good paying jobs are the bedrock of strong city. We will continue to invest in the ‘Made In New York’ brand and in New Yorkers. This is still your city, today and tomorrow,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement in February.

Bill de Blasio moves forward with Made in New York Campus plan

“We have used our ‘Made in NY’ brand to grow fashion and film companies, and today, we're committing some of our most important real estate assets to support them as well. These industries support hundreds of thousands of families with good wages, and they need affordable and modern space to grow. The ‘Made in NY’ Campus represents the collision of our creative economy and advanced manufacturing. This is going to be a 21st century working waterfront that keeps our city the capital of film and fashion,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen.

Despite the economic boom that this proposed plan is expected to have, critics of the plan are saying that this will lead to the historic Garment District shrinking and losing protections in favor of this move to Sunset Park.

Since the 1950s, New York has seen a steady decrease in manufacturing jobs, as things have become automated and jobs have gone overseas.

Rising rents and short leases have also been a problem in retaining companies in the Garment District, and moving to Sunset Park is seen as more affordable by many.

The effects of the initiative will be seen in 2020, the anticipated opening date for the project. The Made in NY Campus aims to synergize creative manufacturing uses and provide affordable, ‘best-in-class’ industrial facilities for garment manufacturing, film and media production, and related services and industries.

To help anchor the Made in NY campus, the City will also be seeking a tenant to provide both food retail and food manufacturing in the 7,500-square-foot Café Building. This new tenant will provide affordable food and beverage options to campus businesses, Bush Terminal Piers Park visitors and the larger Sunset Park community.

New York City Economic Development Corporation will require new Bush Terminal tenants to utilize City’s HireNYC and Workforce1 programs to connect New Yorkers with job opportunities.

Photo: via Nyc.gov