That’s why we’ve come together. We are a coalition of residents, owners, area workers and businesses advocating to fix this regulatory mess. We don’t want another Times Square—we want to protect our landmarked buildings.

We want to legalize all residential apartments and make it simpler for businesses to set up shop in SoHo/NoHo. With the right zoning framework, we can ensure this dynamic community continues to thrive.

Join us and make your voice heard.

Tell City Leaders to Fix SoHo/NoHo

Use this form to sign on to our Dear Neighbor Letter that we will share with elected officials and press

Dear Neighbor,

The City is currently reviewing a rezoning for SoHo and NoHo, which will hopefully modernize the antiquated zoning regulations of our neighborhoods. As the residents of this thriving community, we deserve common sense reforms. We need to make our voices heard. We are the residents who have invested in and supported SoHo, but the current rezoning proposals do not support our right to live legally in our homes. Instead, the proposals contemplate only a temporary amnesty for non-artists. Future sales must be made to an artist or other category under new joint live/work requirements that have yet to be determined. There are also additional conversations around a possible fee to be paid on any sale or transfer of lofts. This is unacceptable.

Our neighborhood is zoned for manufacturing uses even though manufacturing here has been dead for 40 years. The current manufacturing zoning in SoHo and NoHo was put in place decades ago, when manufacturing operations were already facing a decline. As a result, we’re stuck with a patchwork of special permits, variances and handshake deals from a bygone era that make it impossible to plan for the future of our community.

The only legal residential occupancy here (except for special carve-outs) is as a certified artist. But we all know that most artists have moved. Of the 25,000 residents here, practically no one can comply with this antiquated zoning restriction. We want residential occupancy to be legal for ALL, not just reserved for a special legacy group. We want reforms that treat people fairly and equally. A win-win scenario is possible, in which we can both legalize all residential occupancy and support our remaining artists in SoHo/NoHo.

Businesses also face daunting obstacles because of outdated zoning requirements. Most retail uses are not legal, and owners must seek special permits to open legal stores, which can take three years for approval. These outdated laws force many businesses to look for space elsewhere. We can’t afford to continue to drive away businesses that pay taxes, create jobs and help sustain the residential properties in our neighborhood.

It’s time to fix SoHo/NoHo zoning so that it accurately reflects the makeup and economic realities on the ground today. With the right zoning framework, residents, businesses and local leaders can collectively ensure this already dynamic community continues to thrive.

Signed by over 100 of your neighbors

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The Facts

Absurd zoning rules are failing residents, workers and businesses.

Our zoning rules for SoHo/NoHo are broken and are in desperate need of reform. Because the area remains zoned for manufacturing, the most common uses today like retail and residential, are largely illegal as-of-right. This hurts residential homeowners by depressing home values and deterring potential buyers. It drives businesses away that cannot wait for a three-year special permitting process to unfold. We’re stuck with this patchwork of special permits, variances and handshake deals that make it impossible to accurately plan for the future of our community and do business here. These failed policies hurt New Yorkers living and earning their livelihoods in SoHo/NoHo—and it’s time to fix them.

The majority of our neighbors are living here illegally.

Despite paying their rent, mortgages and property taxes like all other New Yorkers, the majority of the over 25,000 residents in SoHo/NoHo today are living illegally and with uncertainty because they are not certified artists. Legacy rules exclusively targeting artists are severely outdated. Most artists have already left this community. There’s a win-win scenario where we can legalize all residential occupancy and support our remaining artists in SoHo/NoHo. Anything short of legalizing all residential occupancy is unfair to residents who’ve contributed to this community for more than four decades. We must make occupancy legal.

We need to bring more businesses here—not turn them away.

The businesses that call SoHo/NoHo home today are crucial employment drivers. This is the second largest shopping district in the City and 10th largest nationwide, generating more than 65,000 jobs and $3.1B in annual sales. These businesses pay taxes, create jobs and sustain the residential properties located throughout SoHo/NoHo. When businesses move, commercial rents plummet and co-op and condominium associations are left covering larger and larger bills that can force residents, including artists, out of their homes.

We must fix our laws so that we can legally occupy our homes upstairs and legally run our businesses downstairs. We want our residents and businesses to thrive. Now is the time to rezone SoHo/NoHo.

Press

To Rezone or Not to Rezone: The Future of SoHo and NoHo May Depend on New Laws

On June 13th at 6 p.m. an advisory group will layout preliminary recommendations to possibly rezone SoHo and NoHo.

SoHo rezoning plan to reverse outdated rules

The de Blasio administration plans to announce a rezoning effort in SoHo and NoHo this fall—including a strategy to minimize controversy.

City will hold public workshops for Soho, Noho rezoning

The Department of City Planning announced a detailed schedule for a session to gather feedback on a potential Soho and Noho rezoning.

Rezoning push in Soho and Noho

The city is moving forward with a push to change the landscape in lower Manhattan by addressing zoning rules that supported manufacturing hubs in an area that has become a magnet for expensive housing and high-end shopping.

Soho/Noho rezoning: Non-artist residents, retail remain focus

At the June 13 public presentation of preliminary recommendations in the Envision Soho Noho process, it was emphasized that the evaluation of zoning options was just beginning, and would continue throughout this year.

Statement from the Fix SoHo/NoHo Coalition on the City Planning Commission’s review of the Special Permit at 503 Broadway

“It is crucial that the City Planning Commission recognizes the importance of retail for a thriving district, especially on the Broadway corridor. In light of the recent retail struggles in this area with empty storefronts and dark store windows, we need to see new openings such as this site at 503 Broadway. New retail drives economic growth and is essential for SoHo and NoHo to keep their economic vitality. We must support businesses by ending the unnecessary and expensive regulations, which are counterproductive and damaging to our neighborhood.”

Owners in fresh call for Soho fix

A coalition that includes property owners said this week that the rezoning of Soho is vital to removing red tape that keeps retailers out of the neighborhood.

SoHo/NoHo Survey Results

Poll of Active Voters in SoHo/NoHo

Nix SoHo’s crazy residency rules: Defining artists makes no sense

When it comes to obscure and anachronistic city policies, the city-certified artist residency rules of SoHo and NoHo must sit near the top. Currently classified as manufacturing districts, SoHo/NoHo zoning rules require residents to have a city-granted certification stating they are a qualified artist in order to live here.

The city wants to keep SoHo stuck in the 70s

The city recently held a much-anticipated meeting discussing the rezoning recommendations for SoHo and NoHo. Diverse views were expressed, but it was undeniable that the 1971 zoning rules must be changed.

Learn More

You can read the following report published by the SoHo Broadway Initiative for more information:

SoHo Zoning Guidebook