Almost half of Manhattanites ignorant of Midtown East: poll

The majority of Manhattanites familiar with Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed Midtown East rezoning are not fans — but nearly half of residents don’t know about the deal at all.

Argent Ventures, a developer with air rights above Grand Central and an opponent of Bloomberg’s plan, released the results of a survey interviewing over 500 Manhattan residents. Of those polled, 64 percent said they opposed the plan to allow for taller skyscrapers in a 73-block district, while 46 percent said they were ignorant of the proposal.

The City Planning Commission gave the rezoning plan the go ahead at the end of September in an 11-0 vote. Next up for the proposal is City Council, the final body to decide on the project’s fate, with a vote due by November. [NYDN] — Julie Strickland