Bloom is off the rose in flower district

From the December issue: Tulips, roses, T-shirts, beauty supplies, handbags, wigs, costume jewelry: You can buy them all in bulk in the flower and wholesale districts, the area encompassing the mid-20s mostly between Sixth Avenue and Broadway. But block by block, this area is slowly feeling the effects of gentrification; it’s uncertain how long the neighborhood will be a haven for the wholesalers. Zoning has driven some of the current flux in the neighborhood. In 1995, Sixth Avenue — then mainly occupied by flower wholesalers, flea markets and parking lots — was rezoned to allow for residential buildings. Now, high-rise apartment buildings line the avenue from 24th to 28th streets, and more are planned for the blocks close to Herald Square.