SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan: Overview - DCP

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SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan

Update: December 15, 2021 – Approved

The City Council adopted the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan on December 15, 2021.

SoHo and NoHo are dynamic mixed-use neighborhoods with a diverse blend of residential, office, creative and retail spaces. The SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan seeks to expand housing opportunities for New Yorkers and promote equity, support continued cultural and economic success in a holistic way and reduce regulatory burdens for the people who live and work there.

Neighborhood Plan as approved by City Council on December 15, 2021

The SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan was approved by the City Council with modifications on Dec. 15, 2021.

Why SoHo/NoHo?

The population and economic conditions in SoHo and NoHo have drastically changed since the neighborhoods were zoned as manufacturing districts and unique zoning rules were established there nearly five decades ago. Existing rules that prohibit housing and prioritize the area for industrial use do not address the growing housing needs, especially affordable housing, and landscape of modernized industries and new modes of retail and commercial space we see today.

The SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan seeks to establish a new special district to modernize the area’s zoning. It would address housing needs and economic challenges articulated by local and citywide stakeholders.

The goals of the Plan include:

Creating housing and especially affordable housing in these high-opportunity, transit-rich neighborhoods.

Supporting economic resiliency and recovery by allowing a wider range of commercial uses, to provide flexibility for job-generating industries.

Celebrating and modernizing SoHo/NoHo's role in the City's arts, culture and creative economy by supporting live-work and arts/cultural spaces.

Guiding building shapes and sizes that respond to neighborhood context and enhance historic character. Unlike today’s rules, the plan will not allow towers.

With these goals, the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan would ensure the area’s continued economic vitality, adaptability and resiliency. It would increase access to the neighborhoods’ amenities, support citywide housing and equity goals and reinvigorate SoHo/NoHo’s legacy as a creative community.

SoHo/NoHo Fact Sheets

Get the data on important context for the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan.

Demographics Fact Sheet

Socioeconomics Fact Sheet

Housing Fact Sheet

Urban Design Fact Sheet

Learn More

View the City Planning Commission Presentation

View the study area map

Read an FAQ about the Plan

Neighborhood Plan as approved by City Planning Commission

City Council modifications to the approved Plan

Public Engagement

Arts & Culture Update

March 30, 2021

Over 150 New Yorkers logged onto, called into or livestreamed an information session focused on arts and culture in SoHo/NoHo. DCP presented with the Department of Cultural Affairs regarding how the Neighborhood Plan will accommodate creative businesses and live-work, create a path to transition Joint Live Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA), and support arts and culture in new ways. There was also a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Watch a recording of the Arts & Culture info session.

View the Arts & Culture info session presentation slides.

Read the full list of questions from the Arts & Culture info session.

Mixed-Use & Public Realm Update

February 25, 2021

Approximately 150 New Yorkers logged onto, called into or livestreamed an information session focused on mixed-use and public realm. DCP presented with the Department of Transportation and Department of Sanitation regarding mixed-use zoning and quality of life strategies for residents and businesses in SoHo and NoHo. There was also a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Watch a recording of the Mixed Use and Public Realm info session.

View the Mixed Use and Public Realm info session presentation slides.

Read the full list of questions from the Mixed Use and Public Realm info session.

Housing Update

February 3, 2021

Approximately 200 New Yorkers logged onto, called into or livestreamed an information session focused on housing. DCP presented with the Department of Housing and Preservation regarding existing housing in SoHo and NoHo as well as strategies for housing and affordable housing in the Neighborhood Plan. There was also a question-and-answer session with attendees.

Watch a recording of the info session.

View the info session presentation slides.

Read the full list of questions from the info session.

Scoping Meeting

December 3, 2020

DCP held a public scoping meeting to hear comments from the public on the environmental scoping materials and to allow the public to inform the environmental review process.

View the scoping meeting presentation here.

Info Session

October 26, 2020

Over 500 New Yorkers attended an information session on how to participate in the upcoming public review process for the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan. The two-hour event included a presentation by DCP staff and a question-and-answer session.

Watch a recording of the info session

View the info session presentation slides

Read the full list of questions from the info session

Envision SoHo/NoHo

Envision SoHo/NoHo was a six-month community planning process that began in January 2019. It was sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Council Member Margaret Chin and the Department of City Planning (DCP). Local residents, business owners, creatives and more joined over 30 discussions of ideas and priorities for the future of their neighborhoods. This culminated in a report released in November 2019 that provided a series of zoning, land use and other recommendations and priorities that have helped guide the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan.

Learn more about the 2019 SoHo/NoHo planning process and read a summary of the findings and recommendations.