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As a district dedicated primarily to commerce, the Fashion District has a rather small population. Thus, the study team conducted only a brief analysis of the area's demographic characteristics. Relying on data available from the US Census Bureau, the analysis focused on 8 census block groups, which approximate the boundaries of the Fashion Center BID but do not correspond perfectly.
The area of consideration is bounded by Fifth Ave to the east, West 42nd St to the north, Ninth Ave to the west, and West 34th St to the south. As of 2000, the area contained 1,825 housing units, with a vacancy rate of 8.1 percent. These few units are home to 3,371 residents, which were divided among 1,678 different households as well as one of the several group homes in the area (including a New York University dormitory on West 34th Street). Over half of these residents (1,800) were found to be living between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, while the blocks between Sixth and Seventh only housed 40 residents. This reflects the nature of the zoning on these blocks, which prohibits residential use east of Ninth Avenue (most existing residential use in the area is granted special permission by the Department of City Planning).
Map 2
Census Block Groups surrounding the Fashion Center BID
Although limited in number, the population in and around the Fashion District exhibits diverse racial and ethnic composition, although not to as large an extent as in New York City as a whole. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for the biggest racial group in 2000 (41 percent), while 28 percent of the population was Asian (the only ethnic group that grew in this neighborhood between 1990 and 2000) and 20 percent Hispanic. Only 7 percent of the area’s residents were non-Hispanic black. By contrast, 35 percent of New York City’s residents were non-Hispanic white, 27 percent were Hispanic, 25 percent were non-Hispanic black and 10 percent were Asian. The area is also somewhat distinct from City norms in that it has a larger than average concentration of young adults and also has relatively few children.
In 1999, median household incomes in the Fashion District neighborhood were higher than the Citywide median level of $38,293 (with the exception of one census block group with only 17 residents). However, the income levels vary considerably within the district, with median household income ranging from $31,250 to $102,264 in the 8 census block groups covered in this analysis. The highest median household income levels (from $66,771 to $102,264) were found in the blocks between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, as well as between Sixth and Eighth Avenues south of 38th Street. Lower incomes ($31,250 to $54,219) were found in the blocks between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, as well as the area between Sixth and Eighth Avenues north of 38th Street.
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