Tell The City What You Want For The Future Of SoHo And NoHo

SOHO, NY — The city is in the midst of a six-month period to hear from the public about a possible rezoning of the SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods. Neighbors can learn more about the neighborhood's usage and provide their feedback at the second public meeting this Thursday.

The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at 1 Centre St. in the North Wing Mezzanine, will be an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss their ideas about the neighborhood's issues related to retail, office space, the creative industries, and quality of life, the Department of City Planning announced. The meeting is titled "Mixed-Use SoHo/NoHo: Defining Mixed-Use."

"This meeting is an important opportunity for those who live, work or visit the SoHo NoHo neighborhoods to provide their vision of how they'd like to see these neighborhoods evolve in the years ahead," Borough President Gale Brewer said in a statement.

Thursday's meeting schedule is as follows:

• 6-6:30 p.m.: Attendees arrive and "mingle" with planning process sponsors, Brewer, Councilmember Margaret Chin, City Planning Director Marisa Lago, staff, and facilitator Jonathan Martin
• 6:30-7 p.m.: Staff presents about the engagement process and what to expect from the session, as well as data about jobs and the mixed-use nature of the neighborhoods
• 7-7:45 p.m.: Breakout groups with discussions on non-residential uses, including retail, office, and creative industries and how zoning can support quality of life concerns
• 7:45-8:15 p.m.: Attendees share highlights from the breakout discussion. Feedback and question and answer period

Earlier this month, the first meeting regarding the possible rezoning initiative was flooded with people — over 250, according to the city. The room was overcrowded and city unprepared for residents curious what the city's plans were for the neighborhood during the chaotic meeting.

Brewer, Chin, and City Planning later apologized and reiterated the purpose of the meetings is to hear from the community about what "challenges" exist before any proposals are written.

The city's summary of input from attendees can be seen here.

Lago said in a statement: "These workshops are excellent opportunities for all in the community — long-time residents, recent arrivals, artists, business owners and workers — to take a deep dive into the unique challenges and opportunities facing SoHo and NoHo."

Existing zoning regulations in the neighborhoods from the 1970s have required special permits to legalize retail and residential uses to balance the neighborhood's historic context as a manufacturing district.

Landlords have formed the Fix SoHo NoHo Coalition to advocate for changes in the status quo of land use in the neighborhood, Crains reported. Neighborhood group SoHo Alliance's director Sean Sweeney argues for better enforcement over a rezoning, particularly the "over-sized" retail stores, often taking up well over 10,000 square feet of space, which some community members and politicians have said violates existing zoning through loopholes.

"SoHo and NoHo became the economic and artistic hubs they are today thanks to the mixed-use nature of these two areas," Chin said in a statement. "The next engagement session seeks to create a space for long-time residents, workers and visitors to share how the City can preserve the unique character of theses communities."

Here is a full schedule of upcoming meetings:

• Feb. 28, 6-8:15 p.m. at 1 Centre St., North Wing Mezzanine: Defining Mixed-Use (non-residential)
• March 20: Living in the Mix (residential and live/work)
• April 11: Mixing it Up (non-residential and residential)
• May 2: Making Mixed-Use Work (tools and strategies)
• June 6: Summary of Recommendations