HDC 2026 Preservation Conference MAKING IT IN NEW YORK! The Preservation of Manufacturing

Manufacturing has long been an integral part of New York City’s success, with businesses, makers, suppliers, and many others creating a rich network that provides for the city and world. From the Garment District to historic industries lining the New York Waterfront, these places imbue neighborhoods with an irreplaceable character while also providing crucial jobs and goods. But today, manufacturing feels squeezed between a growing call for more housing, vastly increased real estate prices, and the slow loss of industries to other places. What is the preservation community’s role in preserving manufacturing, both the historic places that many of these industries inhabit, as well as the industries themselves?

HDC’s 2026 Conference will examine this complex topic with discussions among legacy businesses, new makers and artisans, economic development officials, historians, architects, developers, and many other stakeholders.