- This article is about an area of Manhattan, New York City. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York The City of New York For the area in London, UK see Soho. This article is about an area of Manhattan, New York City. For the area in London UK see Soho. For Tampa, see Soho, Tampa, Florida. SoHo Tampa, short for " So uth Ho ward Avenue" is an entertainment district within Hyde Park section of Tampa. For other meanings see Soho (disambiguation)
SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Cast-iron architecture is a form of Architecture where Cast iron plays a prominent role The City of New York In New York City, a borough is a unique form of government which administers the five fundamental constituent parts that make up the consolidated city Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Originally associated with the arts, it has since become famous for both destination shopping and its downtown scene. Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual Downtown is a term primarily used in North America to refer to a city's core usually in a geographical commercial and community sense The name is a blend of "South" and "Houston", from "south of Houston Street", and has no relation to the district called Soho in London, England. This article is about an area of Manhattan, New York City. For the area in London UK see Soho. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Its name is the model for other new neighborhood descriptions in New York City, such as TriBeCa and DUMBO. TriBeCa is a Neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. DUMBO, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in the New York City, New York borough of Brooklyn Before its incarnation as a trendy locale, it was known as the Cast Iron District. Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic.
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Geography
It is bounded roughly by Houston Street on the north, Lafayette Street on the east, Canal Street on the south, and Sixth Avenue on the west. Houston Street redirects here For the Major League Baseball player with a similar name see Huston Street. Lafayette Street is a city street in New York City 's Lower Manhattan. Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west (via the Holland Tunnel Sixth Avenue is a major Avenue in New York City 's borough of Manhattan.
It should be noted that Encyclopaedia Britannica's 1956 article on “New York (City)” states that the southern border of Greenwich Village is Spring Street. Greenwich Village (ˌgrɛnɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ often simply called the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern Manhattan If Britannica was correct, SoHo may have encroached on the southern two blocks of the village’s traditional borders. This enabled it to be called “SoHo” (South of Houston) rather than “SoSp” (South of Spring).
Geography purists from the neighborhood insist SoHo's borders are Houston Street to the North and Canal Street to the South, while Lafayette Street and West Broadway are the eastern and western borders respectively, since the SoHo Cast-Iron Historic District as well as SoHo's unique zoning define these boundaries. The neighborhood to the west of West Broadway is the South Village, which reflects the 1956 Britannica cite. East of Lafayette Street is the northern part of Little Italy, now more commonly called Nolita.
Cast Iron District and LoMEX
What became SoHo was to have been the locale of two enormous elevated highways, comprising the two branches of the Lower Manhattan Expressway. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve The Lower Manhattan Expressway (also known as the Canal Street Expressway or LOMEX) was a controversial plan for an Expressway through lower Manhattan The highway was intended to create an automobile and truck through-route connecting the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges on the east with the Holland Tunnel on the west. This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. The Manhattan Bridge is a Suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street with The Williamsburg Bridge is a Suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan The Holland Tunnel is a highway Tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey
The young historic preservation movement and architectural critics, stung by the destruction of the original Pennsylvania Station and the threat to other historic structures, challenged the plans because of the threatened loss of a huge quantity of 19th century cast-iron structures, which were not then highly valued by the general public or contemporary business community. Historic preservation or heritage conservation is a professional endeavor that seeks to preserve the ability of older (e The term architecture (from Greek αρχιτεκτονικήarchitektoniki) can be used to mean a process a profession or documentation Pennsylvania Station (commonly known as “Penn Station”) is the major intercity rail station and a major Commuter rail hub in New York City Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but identifies a large group of Ferrous Alloys which solidify with a Eutectic. When John V. Lindsay became mayor of New York City in 1966, his initial reaction was to try to push the expressways through with political spin, dubbing the Robert Moses project the Lower Manhattan Expressway (or Lomex), depressing some of the proposed highway in residential areas and stressing the importance of the artery to the city. John Vliet Lindsay ( November 24, 1921 – December 19, 2000) was an American Politician who served as a member of the The Mayor of New York City is the chief executive of the Government of New York City, as stipulated by the Charter of the City of New York. Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions Robert Moses ( December 18 1888 – July 29 1981) was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long The Lower Manhattan Expressway (also known as the Canal Street Expressway or LOMEX) was a controversial plan for an Expressway through lower Manhattan Nevertheless, through the efforts of Jane Jacobs, George Maciunas and other local leaders, the project was derailed and abandoned. Jane Jacobs, OC, OOnt ( May 4, 1916 – April 25, 2006) was an George Maciunas ( Jurgis Mačiūnas, pronounced ma-chew-nas; born Kaunas, Lithuania, November 8, 1931; died May 9
Artist studios and residences
After abandonment of the highway scheme, the city was still left with a large number of historic buildings that were unattractive for the kinds of manufacturing and commerce that survived in the city in the 1970s. Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, "making by hand" is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Many of these buildings, especially the upper stories which became known as lofts, attracted artists who valued the spaces for their large areas, large windows admitting natural light and cheap rents. A Manhattan loft is a one room residence in a formerly commercial building Introduced in 1977 Natural Light is a reduced-calorie light beer Lease Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary Most of these spaces were also used illegally as living space, being neither zoned nor equipped for residential use; yet, this zoning violation was ignored for a long period of time as occupants were using space that would have most likely been dormant or abandoned as a result of the poor economy in New York City during that time. Zoning is a term used in Urban planning for a system of land-use Regulation in various parts of the world including North America the United Kingdom House generally refers to a Shelter or Building that is a Dwelling or place for Habitation by Human beings. An economy is the realized social system of production exchange distribution and consumption of goods and services of a country or other area
SoHo boasts the greatest collection of cast iron structures in the world. Approximately 250 cast iron buildings stand in New York City and the majority of them 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 were able to 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 the cast iron.
An American architectural innovation, cast iron was cheaper to use for facades than materials such as stone or brick. Molds of ornamentation, prefabricated in foundries, were used interchangeably for many buildings, and a broken piece could be easily recast. The buildings could be erected quickly, some were built in only four months' time. Despite the brief construction period, the quality of the cast iron designs was not sacrificed. Previously, bronze had been the metal most frequently used for architectural detail. Architects now found that the relatively inexpensive cast iron could form the most intricately designed patterns. Classical French and Italian architectural designs were often used as models for these facades. And because stone was the material associated with architectural masterpieces, cast iron, painted in neutral tints such as beige, was used to simulate stone.
There was a profusion of cast iron foundries in New York, including the major firms of Badger's Architectural Iron Works, James L. Jackson's Iron Works, and Cornell Iron Works.
Since the iron was pliable and easily molded, sumptuously curved window frames were created, and the strength of the metal allowed these frames considerable height. Thus, the once somber, gas-lit interiors of the industrial district were flooded with sunlight through the newly enlarged windows. The strength of the cast iron permitted high ceilings with sleek supporting columns, and interiors became more expansive and functional.
During cast iron's heyday, many architects thought it to be structurally more sound than steel. It was also thought that cast iron would be fire resistant, and facades were constructed over many interiors built of wood and other inflammable materials. But, when exposed to heat, cast iron buckled and later cracked under the cold water used to extinguish fire. In 1899, a building code was passed mandating the backing of cast iron fronts with masonry. Most of the buildings which stand today are so constructed. It was the advent of steel as a major construction material that brought a rapid end to the cast iron era. "
Historic district
As the artist population grew, the city made some attempts to stem the movement, especially concerned about the occupation of space that did not meet residential building codes, and the possibility that the space might be needed at some time for the return of manufacturing to New York City.
Pressured on many sides, the city eventually gave up on attempting to keep all of the Cast Iron District as industrial space, and the area received historical designation as SoHo in 1973. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious"
The historic district is officially bounded by Houston Street, West Broadway, Canal Street and Crosby Street. Houston Street redirects here For the Major League Baseball player with a similar name see Huston Street. West Broadway is the name of two north-south streets in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west (via the Holland Tunnel It is noted for the elaborate cast-iron architecture of many of its buildings, most of which date from the late 19th century. These buildings originally housed warehouses, factories and sweatshops. It is also noted for its cobblestone streets, which were eventually repaved with the exception of Crosby Street, Wooster Street, Mercer Street and part of Howard Street.
The neighborhood rose to fame as a neighborhood for artists during the 1960s and 1970s, when the cheap spaces vacated by departing factories were converted by artists into lofts and studios. SoHo's lofts were especially appealing to artists because they could use the wide spaces and tall ceilings that factories and warehouses required to create and store their work. During this period, which lasted into the 1980s, living in SoHo was often of dubious legality, as the area was zoned for light industrial and commercial uses rather than residential, and many residents had to convert their apartments into livable spaces on their own, with little money. However, beginning in the 1980s, in a way that would later apply elsewhere, the neighborhood began to draw more affluent residents. However, due to rent protection and stability afforded by the 1982 Loft Law, in addition to the fact that many of the artists owned their co-ops, many of the original pioneering artists remained despite the popular misconception that gentrification forced them to flee. Many residents have lived in the neighborhood for decades. In the mid-90s, most of the galleries moved to Chelsea, and chain stores and restaurants replaced them.
SoHo's location, the appeal of lofts as living spaces, its architecture and, ironically, its "hip" reputation as a haven for artists all contributed to this change. The pattern of gentrification is typically known as the "SoHo Effect" and has been observed in several cities around the United States. Gentrification, or urban gentrification, is the change in an Urban area associated with the movement of more affluent individuals into a lower-class A backwater of poor artists and small factories in the 1970s, SoHo became a popular tourist destination for people looking for fashionable (and expensive) clothing and exquisite architecture.
SoHo's boutiques and restaurants are clustered in the northern area of the neighborhood, along Broadway and Prince and Spring streets. Broadway, as the name implies is a wide avenue in New York City. The sidewalks in this area are often crowded with tourists and with vendors selling jewelry, t-shirts, and other works, sometimes leaving no space for pedestrians to walk. SoHo is known for its eclectic mix of different boutiques for shopping, including Prada, Chanel, Apple, popular skateboard/sneakerhead stores such as Supreme and Clientele and Kid Robot. In recent years, however, more chain stores have crept into SoHo, such as Bloomingdale's, H&M, Victoria's Secret, and J. Crew. SoHo has become fairly commercialized. Yet, the southern part of the neighborhood, along Grand Street and Canal Street, retains some of the feel of SoHo's earlier days. Canal Street is a major street in New York City, crossing lower Manhattan to join New Jersey in the west (via the Holland Tunnel There are even a few small factories that have managed to remain. Canal Street at SoHo's south boundary contrasts with the former's posh shopping district in offering cheap imitation clothing and accessories.
In recent years, the neighborhood has seen several upscale developments including the much discussed Jean Nouvel and Andre Balazs' 40 Mercer and Trump Soho. Jean Nouvel (born 12 August 1945) is a French Architect. Nouvel studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was a founding Andre Tamás Balázs (b 1957 in Budapest, Hungary) is a New York City hotelier and residential developer
Nearby neighborhoods include:
- To the north: Greenwich Village and NoHo
- To the east: Little Italy, NoLIta, and the Lower East Side
- To the south: Chinatown, TriBeCa
See also
- Joyce SoHo, contemporary dance theatre
- Soho Repertory Theatre, Off-Off-Broadway theatre
External links
Greenwich Village (ˌgrɛnɪtʃ ˈvɪlɪdʒ often simply called the Village, is a largely residential area on the west side of downtown (southern Manhattan NoHo, for No rth of Ho uston Street (as contrasted with SoHo, So uth of Ho uston is a neighborhood Little Italy is a neighborhood in lower Manhattan, New York City, once known for its large population of Italians. "Nolita" redirects here For the Italian fashion designer see No The Lower East Side is a Neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. ||-||-||-||}The Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan &mdash (紐約華埠 a borough of New York City &mdash is an Ethnic enclave with a large TriBeCa is a Neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York in the United States. The Joyce Theater is a 472-seat Dance performance venue located in the Chelsea area of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Contemporary dance is the name given to a group of 20th century Concert dance forms The Soho Repertory Theatre, sometimes better known by its nickname Soho Rep, is a 70-seat Theatre company in New York City, that has won six Obie Off-Off-Broadway refers to theatrical productions including plays, musicals or Performance art pieces performed in New York City in smaller theatres
Dictionary
SoHo
-abbreviation
- Small Office, Home Office
-proper noun
- A particular neighborhood of Manhattan.