Mulberry Street Poetry Workshop (April 2026)
SoHo Events Poetry Workshop Reading at the Mulberry Street Branch NYPL
News
Soho Zoning Guidebook FAQ: M1-5B is the current zoning designation for property along SoHo Broadway between Houston and Canal Streets.
Light manufacturing zones, like SoHo’s, are permitted to contain manufacturing and complementary uses as-of-right (without review from the NYC Department of City Planning). Specifically, M1-5B allows: manufacturing uses, like textile spinning, wholesaling, and printing plants; and office, retail, and JLWQA units above the ground floor only. The zoning generally does not permit retail use on […]
Small and large scale retail are largely defined in relation to their size and type of use. Smaller scale retail is meant to meet local needs and occupy less than 10,000 square feet. Examples of small retail include barber shops and banks. Large scale retail generally refers to stores that serve a wider geographic area […]
From the 1890s to the 1950s, SoHo was defined by its manufacturing uses. Many of the sturdy cast iron structures found in the neighborhood today date from the turn of the Century and were generally built for businesses who manufactured goods on the upper floors and sold those goods on the ground floor. By the […]
Non-artists reside in SoHo through the following regulations: The Loft Law, enacted in 1982, essentially recognized that non-artists were living in SoHo and, instead of evicting them, sought to ensure safe occupancy through compliance with fire, safety, and buildings codes as defined by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The Loft Law additionally sought to […]
Disclaimer: The Guidebook is not a legal document and is intended as an educational piece only. Those who are concerned about their regulatory circumstances should seek the advice of a land use attorney. The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) is responsible for enforcing zoning regulations. Over time, enforcement and penalties have been levied inconsistently and […]
A historic district designation largely protects SoHo’s architectural character. In 1973, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated a rough rectangle between West Broadway and Houston, Crosby, and Canal Streets as the ‘SoHo Cast-Iron Historic District.’ The report explaining the designation described that the area was chosen for “the unique collection of cast-iron structures located within […]
The mismatch between SoHo’s zoning and current land use has many implications, chief among them being: It creates inconsistent outcomes in how property is used and developed, It can create conflict between the needs of residents and businesses, and It can trigger processes that take up time and financial resources. More specifically, the mismatch can […]
The City’s rezoning process is designed to enable communities to shape the future developments in, and character and scale of a neighborhood. A rezoning includes substantial opportunities for input from community residents, business owners, and local elected officials. Specifically, zoning changes must go through a lengthy public review process known as the Uniform Land Use […]
Visit the Initiative’s website to learn more about the Guidebook and issues related to zoning in SoHo. The Guidebook and the website both include a list of other resources to consult about SoHo’s history, artist certification, land use data, and zoning in New York City. The Guidebook’s endnotes also contain detailed references about zoning, SoHo’s […]
There was once a time when SoHo was threatened with becoming a victim of the City’s ambitious urban renewal efforts.
All businesses in New York City are required to recycle certain materials and ensure to the best of their ability that those recyclable materials are properly handled by their private carter. The City published new business recycling rules in the City Record on February 5, 2016, and mailed official notices outlining the requirements to all […]
The Artist As Entrepreneur offered by New York Foundation for the Arts, is a boot camp that offers the fundamental principles of sustainability—and ultimately profitability—in the arts. This includes topics such as strategic planning, finance, and marketing, with additional material drawn from NYFA’s popular textbook, The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2011), which is included in […]
The Initiative is excited to announce that Zigi Ben-Haim’s sculpture, Treasure the Green is scheduled to be installed at the bus stop on Broadway and Grand St. in front of 451 Broadway with an unveiling on August 9th at 11:30. Stop by, say hello and get a photo with Treasure the Green. Treasure the Green […]
Corner power-washing continues in August. The Initiative generally has cleanings on the second Monday/Tuesday and the fourth Monday/Tuesday of the month from April through November. For August there will be power washing on: August 14, 15, 28 and 29. ACE power-washes each corner and all trash/recycling receptacles on the corners from 7pm until no later […]
On June 20th, residents, artists, representatives from office and retail businesses, property owners as well as our public sector friends came together at the SoHo Broadway Initiative’s Annual Meeting to celebrate the end of the Initiative’s 3rd year of operation.
Have you ever noticed the beautiful, intricate design carved into the sidewalk at the northwest corner of Broadway at Prince Street in front of the Prada store, one of the most heavily trafficked corners in New York City?
The installation of the sculpture, “Treasure the Green”by SoHo Broadway’s Zigi Ben-Haim, has been postponed until later this summer. Stay tuned for more information.
The SoHo Broadway corridor is a vibrant mixed use community made up of residents, office tenants and retailers. From time to time, a member of the SoHo Broadway corridor may be completing a project that requires a temporary closure of the sidewalk or lanes of traffic. This past June, the MTA had to close down portions of […]
The NYC Department of Small Business Services, in partnership with Capital One, is hosting the Business Pitch Final Competition and Meetup to help NYC’s small business owners and entrepreneurs make a strong and compelling case for a lender, investor, or client to believe in their businesses. Wednesday, July 19, 6:00pm – 9:00pm At the event, […]
Corner power-washing continues in July. The Initiative generally has cleanings on the second Monday/Tuesday and the fourth Monday/Tuesday of the month from April through November. For July there will be power washing on: July 10, 11, 24 and 25. ACE power-washes each corner and all trash/recycling receptacles on the corners from 7pm until no later […]
On Wednesday, June 21st starting at 6:30pm, Mayor Bill de Blasio will hold a Town Hall meeting for Council District 1. Council Member Margaret Chin, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer and U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez will present this meeting at Chinatown YMCA and University Settlement at 273 Bowery. Space is limited – you must RSVP […]
Meet the panelists and the moderator for our 3rd Annual Meeting
The corner of Broadway and Houston Street, where two of New York’s major thoroughfares intersect, has gone through many changes since it was first settled in the early 1800’s.
The Initiative’s 3rd Annual Meeting will feature a panel discussion entitled Made it on Broadway with a panel that includes an artist pioneer, leaders from some SoHo Broadway tech and design community, a fitness groundbreaker, a legal innovator and a forward thinking craft market operator. The Made it on Broadway panel discussion promises to bring […]
