City Council passes the SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan

On Wednesday, the City Council approved the SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan. The plan allows the construction of residential units, offices, and retail developments. The rezoning aims to build approximately 3,500 additional apartments, including 900 permanently affordable. 

In 2015, Councilwoman Margaret S. Chin and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer initially proposed the SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan. The goal of the plan was to change zoning rules for large retailers. Soho and NoHo are known for their art galleries and smaller boutique shops. Large commercial establishments located in those neighborhoods were required to receive a special permit or zoning variances from the city. 

The new rezoning plan would change land-use rules across 56 blocks in Lower Manhattan. The proposal allows the construction of new buildings as tall as 27-stories and large retailers with 10,000 square feet or more. Mayor Bill DeBlasio uses rezoning as one of the key approaches to address the housing crisis in New York City. The goal of Soho/NoHo and recently approved Gowanus rezoning is to make the city more affordable and inclusive. 

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer criticized the recent SoHo/NoHo rezoning. In the statement, she mentioned that “there are too many challenges with this rezoning for me to support it outright.” Andrew Berman, the executive director of Village Preservation, opposes the rezoning plan. In his article for the Village Sun, he said that rezoning “would nearly double the residential population of these tiny neighborhoods, and, overall, make their housing more expensive.” 

The rezoning proposal gained support from housing non-profit Open New York and mayor-elect Eric Adams, who takes office in January. “Rezoning SoHo and neighborhoods like it that have long been under-utilized will allow us to add affordable housing in a desirable place to live,” stated Adams in his tweet. 

Resources:

“Plan to Bring More Housing to SoHo Is Approved,” by Mihir Zaveri (the New York Times, 2021)

“Mayor de Blasio Celebrates Historic Passage of SoHo/NoHo Rezoning,” (City of New York, 2021)

“New York City Council Gives SoHo/NoHo Rezoning A Thumbs Up,” by Danny Lewis (Gothamist, 2021)

“Controversial SoHo/NoHo Rezoning Clears Latest Hurdle,” by Gwynne Hogan (Gothamist, 2021)

“B.P. Brewer issues statement on SoHo/NoHo Neighborhood Plan,” (News From Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President)

“7 Things You Ought To Know About The SoHo/NoHo Rezoning,” by Matthew Schuerman (Gothamist, 2021)

“Two Sides Clash Over SoHo Rezoning at Final Public Hearing,” by David Brand (City Limits, 2021)

“Trickle down’ affordable housing in NYC is a fail; Don’t force it on Soho, Noho and Chinatown,” by Andrew Berman, (The Village Sun, 2021)