SoHo, sometimes written Soho, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Since the 20th century, it has been the location of many artists’ lofts and art galleries. It has also been known for its variety of shops ranging from trendy upscale boutiques to national and international chain store outlets. The area’s history is an archetypal example of inner-city regeneration and gentrification, encompassing socio-economic, cultural, political, and architectural developments. The name “SoHo” derives from the area being “South of Houston Street” and was coined in 1962 by Chester Rapkin, an urban planner and author of The South Houston Industrial Area study, also known as the “Rapkin Report.” The name also recalls Soho, an area in London’s West End.
Almost all of SoHo is included in the SoHo–Cast Iron Historic District, which was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1973, extended in 2010, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978. It consists of 26 blocks and approximately 500 buildings, many of them incorporating cast-iron architectural elements. Many side streets in the district are paved with Belgian blocks. EZ Bed Bug Exterminator NYC
The SoHo–Cast Iron Historic District is contained within the zoned SoHo neighborhood. Originally ending in the west at the eastern side of West Broadway and to the east at the western side of Crosby Street, the SoHo–Cast Iron Historic District was expanded in 2010 to cover most of West Broadway and extend east to Lafayette and Centre Streets. The boundary lines are not straight, and some block fronts on West Broadway and Lafayette are excluded from the district.
During the colonial period, the land that is now SoHo was part of a grant of farmland given to freed slaves of the Dutch West Indies Company and the site of the first free Black settlement on Manhattan Island.
Cast-Iron Architecture
SoHo boasts the most extraordinary collection of cast-iron architecture in the world.[32] Approximately 250 cast-iron buildings stand in New York City, and the majority are in SoHo. Cast iron was initially used as a decorative front over a pre-existing building. With the addition of modern, decorative facades, older industrial buildings could attract new commercial clients. Most of these facades were constructed during the period from 1840 to 1880. In addition to revitalizing older structures, buildings in SoHo were later designed to feature cast iron.
Nearby Attractions
- One World Observatory is located at 117 West St, New York, Manhattan, NY.
- The Museum of Interesting Things is located at Georgetown Plaza, 60 E 8th St, New York, NY.
- Empire State Building is located at 20 W 34th St, New York, NY
Check out other neighborhoods like Tribeca
