M
idtown Manhattan’s stretch between West 30th and 42nd Streets, bounded by Sixth and Eighth Avenues, is evolving into a lively hub, thanks to a surge in commercial activity and rezoning that turned former industrial buildings into residential units.

    The district, called 42BELOW, blends Herald Square, Koreatown, the Garment District, Sixth Avenue north of the Ladies Mile, and Vornado’s “Penn District,” all sharing excellent transit links and proximity to Bryant Park and Times Square.

    The Midtown South Mixed‑Use Plan aims to add about 9,500 apartments, and the new zoning spurred 27 building sales in 2025, totaling over $1 billion, according to JLL.

    Retail has kept pace with the residential boom, with Macy’s and Primark among the key anchors.

    The Garment District Alliance notes 28 new eateries in 2024, while Koreatown’s roughly 120 restaurants have expanded north and east of West 32nd Street.

    Meridian Retail Leasing’s president highlighted the area’s balanced mix of residential, commercial, and tourism functions, citing a vibrant, day‑long shopping and dining atmosphere.

    The planned conversion of 5 Times Square into a mixed‑use complex could house up to 1,250 rental apartments, a joint venture between RXR, Apollo Global Management, and SL Green.