Earlier this month, The Department of City Planning, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Margaret Chin, announced a six-month public engagement process to outline a vision for the future of New York City’s SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods.

During the engagement period, the city will seek input on potential zoning changes from local residents and community groups to develop a better plan forward for each neighborhood. The first public meeting will take place on February 6th and a second is scheduled for February 28th (times and locations not yet announced).

Historically, the proliferation of artists in both areas allowed for the enactment of SoHo’s Artist in Residence law in 1971, which legalized artists’ rights to occupy former, industrial lofts. In doing so, the city created the unique M1-5A and M1-5B zoning districts. However, these regulations have lagged behind today’s market trends as Joint Living-Work Quarters for Artists have become less prevalent and ground-floor retail is increasingly more coveted. Despite ground-floor retail only being allowed through a time-consuming special permitting process, Soho and NoHo has found global appeal with its chic portfolio of shops.

Today, the city has continued to grant variances for retail occupancies. Furthermore, the manufacturing district prohibits residential uses, and as artists and manufacturers have exited the neighborhood, there is discussion that the Artist in Residence law be removed.  With these two objectives, the city hopes to acknowledge the mismatch between zoning and market realities—where a robust neighborhood of residences, office space, and retail corridor cannot continue to be successful if what makes it most vibrant and livable is illegal.

The Department of City Planning is optimistic and looks forward to working with the community to update the neighborhood zoning laws to meet the demands of today, as well as plan ahead for the demands of tomorrow. City Council Member Margaret Chin stated, “The SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods are among the most culturally and economically vibrant in our City. Throughout the next six months, I, Borough President Brewer, and DCP Director Lago will be working with various stakeholders in these two communities to ensure that any future planning for these neighborhoods will take into account their unique and dynamic nature. I look forward to engaging with community activists, business leaders, and residents as we build a bold vision for SoHo and NoHo.”