The Real Deal New York

From the September issue: There are bargains to be had in the Garment District — and not just
for $9.99 sweaters. Seventh and Eighth avenues in the 20s and 30s are a
retail renters’ market, with rents among the lowest in Manhattan today,
sources said. In some cases, they’re a steep discount compared to
prices in adjacent neighborhoods such as Chelsea, where rents are about
30 percent higher.
While the area has long been one of the most affordable commercial
neighborhoods in Manhattan, the deals there have sweetened even more
lately, as rents across the city have nosedived.
At the same time, more than a dozen retail locations in the area,
particularly along Seventh Avenue in the 20s, are either in the process
of changing hands or have recently come on the market.