About the SoHo/NoHo Planning Process

ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS
The SoHo/NoHo Planning Process was an initiative undertaken collaboratively by the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, Council Member Margaret Chin’s Office, and the Department of City Planning as Process Sponsors to examine key land use and zoning issues in the two neighborhoods and seek community input to develop strategies to both honor SoHo/NoHo’s history and ensure the continued vitality of the neighborhoods.
Beginning in January 2019, and continuing for approximately six months, the Process Sponsors, with the help of Jonathan Martin of BFJ Planning and Pratt Institute, a participatory planning consultant, convened a series of public sessions to hear from the local community on topics including housing, jobs, arts and culture, preservation, retail, quality of life, and creative industries. Insights and findings from the public discussions and Advisory Group meetings were distilled into a report in the summer of 2019, expressing values and priorities of the SoHo and NoHo stakeholders and putting forward recommendations.
THE LOCATION
SoHo and NoHo, located in Manhattan Community District 2, are two unique and iconic neighborhoods known for their rich cultural history and dynamic mixed-use character. SoHo is generally bounded by Houston Street to the north, Canal Street to the south, West Broadway and 6th Avenue to the west, and Lafayette, Centre and Baxter Streets to the east. NoHo is generally bounded by Astor place to the north, Houston Street to the south, Broadway to the west, and Bowery to the east.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT
Layer upon layer of one-off special permits and other projects have created a regulatory knot that does not necessarily support or protect the people and businesses that live, create, visit, and do business in the area. The SoHo/NoHo Planning Process is working to change that by bringing together stakeholders and the public in a pre-ULURP planning process to determine how the neighborhoods should evolve in the years ahead.
SCHEDULE OF SOHO/NOHO ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
ADVISORY GROUP
Additionally, an 18-member Advisory Group, consisting of a broad range of stakeholders representing residents, property owners, businesses, institutions, arts and culture organizations, historic preservation and affordable housing interests, and elected officials facilitated these public dialogues, advised the Process Sponsors, and helped develop recommendations to inform the future of SoHo and NoHo. The group members are below:
- Broadway Residents Coalition
- Cooper Square Committee
- Cooper Union
- Council Member Carlina Rivera
- City Council Land Use Division
- Landmarks Conservancy
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
- Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
- Manhattan Community Board 2
- New York University
- NoHo Business Improvement District
- NoHo-Bowery Stakeholders
- NoHo Neighborhood Association
- NYC Loft Tenants
- Real Estate Board of New York
- SoHo Alliance
- SoHo Broadway Initiative
- SoHo Design District