Soho

November 21, 2019

City’s Soho/Noho report addresses affordable housing, zoning, and small business success

The Department of City Planning (DCP), along with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Margaret Chin, released on Wednesday the Envision Soho/Noho report, a comprehensive summary of findings and recommendations that address issues and guide future plans for downtown Manhattan's Soho and Noho neighborhoods. The report represents the result of a six-month-long community engagement series on the two historic neighborhoods, aimed at addressing their unique challenges in the 21st century. Contained in the report is a detailed summary of the engagement process that presents the perspectives of participants, as well as recommendations for guiding future plans for improving quality of life, addressing housing concerns, and supporting the unique mixed-use character of these neighborhoods.
More from the report, this way
November 19, 2019

My 1,600sqft: In her eponymous shop and Soho loft, designer Michele Varian celebrates creativity

For the design-minded, Michele Varian’s Soho storefront is a must-visit destination, stocked to the brim with her own designs alongside a rotating cast of 100+ designers. Since opening her first store in 2001, Michele has sought to create an oasis for quality pieces that straddle the line between tradition and modernity. Like a cabinet of curiosities, the shop offers an antidote to the increasing homogeneity of the retail experience in Soho. Just a couple blocks away on Broadway, Michele lives in a quintessential Soho loft with her rock star husband, Brad Roberts of the Crash Test Dummies. Michele’s signature aesthetic and eye for the handmade is apparent in the duo’s eclectic and inviting space, which is a testament to their lives together. Filled with bold pattern plays, curiosities from their travels, and Brad’s collection of musical instruments, there’s hardly a surface that doesn’t catch the eye or capture the imagination. Ahead, tour Michele’s shop and loft and find out how she balances (and often intertwines) work with life.
Take the tour
October 30, 2019

Soho loft from first ‘Real World’ season is back on the market for $6.8M

This iconic Soho loft at 565 Broadway comes with a storied past and a newly reduced price: $6.8 million. Located on the corner of Prince Street and Broadway, the building was originally designed by John Kellum as the headquarters of Ball, Black & Co, the top 19th-century jeweler before Tiffany’s. In 1992, the loft was the inaugural setting for MTV's first season of "The Real World." A few years later in 1995, sculptor Edwina Sandys—the granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill—bought the duplex with her husband, architect Richard Kaplan, for $950,000, according to the New York Post. Originally listed in 2013 for $10.95 million, it's been on and off the market since.
Take a look around
September 23, 2019

The original honeycomb skylight shines at this $2.65M Soho loft

If you're looking for a quintessential downtown loft, 16-foot ceilings, exposed brick, lofted bedrooms and all, but don't want to deal with renovations and taming a raw space, this two-bedroom co-op at 41 Crosby Street  (also known as 428 Broome Street) fits the bill. Traditional loft proportions and 1870s detail frame modern necessities like central air, heated floors, custom closets and a mansion-worthy kitchen. Asking $2.65 million, this Soho home spans 2,452 square feet, with a layout that emphasizes privacy (for a loft, that is) and comfort.
Tour the loft
September 19, 2019

Just listed for $4.7M, Kanye West’s former Soho home wears ego-soothing neutral hues

This sleek and civilized condo at 25 West Houston Street was the long-time Soho residence of musician and fashion powerhouse Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian. Designed by Italian minimalist architect and designer Claudio Silvestrin, the home is a study in tobacco and beige, guaranteed not to upstage the personality of its owners. And like its (former) owners, it has been showcased in the pages of Vogue and Elle Décor. The 2,427-square-foot Soho one-bedroom  (easily convertible to two) just hit the market for $4.7 million.
Soft lighting, ample closets, this way
September 11, 2019

A classic Soho loft with an industrial-chic renovation and expansive rooftop terrace asks $4M

This 1,800 square-foot loft at 55 Prince Street has all the elements of a classic Soho loft with the benefits of a fresh, gut renovation. All the original details—wood beams and columns, exposed brick walls, oak floors, and arched windows—were restored while industrial-chic elements were added, including a floating staircase and steel doors. A rooftop terrace adds 1,800 square feet of private outdoor space and the unit also comes with air rights to build up an additional 2,000 square feet. The modern pad is now listed at $4 million.
Take a look inside
August 22, 2019

The future of retail: Museum of Ice Cream to launch 25,000-square-foot NYC Soho flagship

After a celebrity-sprinkled Meatpacking District pop-up three-years ago drew raves and Instagram likes from Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, The Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) will open a 25,000-square-foot "flagship" location at 558 Broadway in Soho. The three-story permanent paean to frozen dessert will feature 13 installations devoted to creating "IRL experiences" in New York; the museum calls it "the future of retail" in a press release–and given the number of vacant storefronts in the neighborhood, they could well be right.
MMore MOIC this way
August 13, 2019

Birdbath in Soho’s iconic green Vesuvio Bakery has closed

City Bakery announced Friday that Birdbath bakery in the Vesuvio storefront at 160 Prince Street has closed for good, Gothamist reports. City Bakery founder Maury Rubin moved into the familiar green storefront in 2009 after the death of Anthony Dapolito, whose family created Vesuvio in 1920. Now, neighbors are wondering if new owners will alter the familiar face of the iconic Soho landmark.
Find out more
August 5, 2019

‘Friends’ pop-up in Soho will let fans experience the iconic (if unrealistic) interiors of the hit series

It’s been 25 years since the world met Ross, Rachel, Joey, Monica, Chandler, and Phoebe in the hit 90s sitcom Friends. But it wasn’t just the characters who became iconic—the interiors portrayed throughout the show, Monica and Joey’s (completely unrealistic) apartments, and of course, Central Perk, became influential “characters” in their own right. To celebrate this year’s big anniversary, New Yorkers will have a chance to experience those interiors first-hand in a new, immersive pop-up featuring set recreations that will bring you right into the center of the Friends universe.
More details
July 23, 2019

$6.8M Soho penthouse is a modern glass oasis with a roof deck and a fire pit

Listing images by DDreps, Courtesy of Compass This 1,953-square-foot contemporary aerie at 109 Greene Street has all the elements of an ideal Soho penthouse loft. The three (or four) bedroom duplex condo, asking $6.795 million, is framed by dramatic glass walls that look out over the neighborhood–and three levels of landscaped outdoor space complete with an outdoor kitchen and a fire pit.
Check out the views from here
June 7, 2019

Federal government puts Paul Manafort’s Soho loft on the market for $3.6M

The federal government is selling former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's Soho apartment for $3.663 million. As first reported by the New York Post, the loft at 29 Howard Street is one of five properties in New York City seized by the government after Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges last September. The listing, posted by the United States Marshals, describes the pad as being a "classic full-floor Soho loft" with "remarkable open sky and city views."
Get the details
June 4, 2019

Dating app Bumble will open a permanent cafe and wine bar in Soho this fall

A dating app wants to make planning first dates in New York City easier by narrowing down the choices of cafes and bars to just one. Bumble, the app that prompts women to make the first move online, is opening a permanent cafe and wine bar in Soho for people to meet, as Bloomberg first reported. Bumble Brew, opening this fall, will operate as a coffee shop during the day, with wine and small plates offered later.
Learn more
May 24, 2019

This $1.1M duplex is on the main floor of an old Soho police precinct

Listing images by Rise Media, courtesy of Compass One of a lovely row of classic buildings at the crossroads of the Village and Soho, 196 Sixth Avenue, built in 1893, is a former police precinct with gorgeous tall arched windows overlooking newly-renovated Father Fagan Park. This loft-style one-bedroom duplex co-op, asking $1.1 million, comprises part of the building's main floor–which explains the soaring 14-foot ceilings–and the ground floor below.
See more, this way
May 2, 2019

Loft in Soho’s first building designated to low-income artists is now asking $3M

In 1978, a ragtag band of artist residents of Soho's 45 Crosby Street won what the New York Times called "an impressive victory." The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development had granted the former industrial building's title to its residents in exchange for merely the "sweat equity" of getting it up to code (estimated cost: $164,000), making it the city's first loft building exclusively set aside for low-income artists. Now, a 2,100-square-foot loft co-op in the building, which has been home to artists ever since, is asking $3 million.
Times change, the loft remains a classic
April 25, 2019

Soho loft with a 40-foot rooftop lap pool can be yours for $75,000 a month

You wouldn't need to worry about where to get away this summer if you lived in this ultra-luxurious Soho penthouse, which comes with a stunning 40-foot lap pool and two landscaped roof terraces. Part of an overall building renovation by COOKFOX, this glamorous six-bedroom, 6,900-square-foot unit at 62 Wooster Street comes with all the best modern amenities—and a price tag to match! The residence is currently available to rent for $75,000 a month.
Get the full tour
April 9, 2019

Bethenny Frankel chops nearly $1M off her Soho apartment

Bethenny Frankel, one of the original cast members of “The Real Housewives of New York City” and founder of Skinnygirl, has just relisted her Soho apartment for $4,375,000, a price chop from the 2017 asking price of $5,250,000 and an optimistic move after listing it as a $13,000/month rental (h/t New York Post). Despite the 17 percent price reduction, Frankel still stands to make a small profit on the unit, which she bought for $4.2 million in 2014. Located on a cobblestone block in the neighborhood’s historic cast-iron district, the residence at 22 Mercer Street is a roomy 2,392-square-foot two-bedroom outfitted with chic designer furnishings.
Take a look inside
March 19, 2019

$8M Soho loft includes two units, no tax or co-op fees and a share of commercial rent

$7.995 million might seem steep for this grand 3,600-square-foot cast iron loft at 148 Greene Street, but the Soho co-op property comes with some great perks in addition to keyed elevator access, 13-foot ceilings, and 12 massive windows. First, the space contains two units, giving you the flexibility to use it for live/work purposes or reconfigure it for one sprawling full-floor home. More benefits: There are no tax or maintenance fees. Also, owners in the building benefit from proceeds of the commercial lease space on the ground floor.
More loft loveliness, this way
March 6, 2019

Bespoke finishes and hanging gardens create an enchanted oasis at this $10M Soho penthouse

The interiors of this fifth-floor co-op at 12 Greene Street in Soho bring to mind a perfectly redesigned deco-era London terrace house or a dreamy country estate more than the average Manhattan penthouse. To top it off, three levels of private roof terrace gardens wouldn't be out of place in either, complete with mature trees and a reflecting pool. As unusual as it is expensive–it’s asking $9.95 million–this three-bedroom downtown oasis boasts a renovation that spared no luxury and considered every angle, from a rustic loft-like kitchen and a fabulous array of bespoke floor tiles to the aforementioned gardens.
Take the tour
February 27, 2019

Trump’s Soho hotel experiences business boom after rebranding without the president’s name

After a prolonged economic slump and a not-so-subtle rebranding, Soho’s Dominick Hotel—formerly known as the Trump Soho—has experienced a formidable increase in revenue, as Bloomberg reports. The revenue per available room rose more than 20 percent from last year. The hotel’s average nightly rate increased by $51 (a 20 percent increase compared to just 2 percent among the hotel's competitors) and had 7,000 more bookings in 2018 than in 2017.
More info
February 27, 2019

My 1,300sqft: Artist Rob Wynne’s glass installations mix with eclectic decor in his Soho loft

"If you have something to say, you figure out what material will help you fulfill that destiny," said artist Rob Wynne, referencing the various mediums in which he works, from hand-embroidered paintings to sculpture to molten glass. It's this "alchemy" that is currently being explored through his exhibit "FLOAT" at the Brooklyn Museum, a show of 16 works that "seemingly floating within the American Art galleries." But Wynne's talent is perhaps on display nowhere more so that his home and studio in Soho. Wynne moved to the artist's loft in the '70s, and what has resulted is an organic and eclectic mix of decor and furniture from decades of travel, meeting fellow NYC artists, and finding inspiration through various disciplines. 6sqft recently visited Rob at his home and explored his collections of curiosities. We also got an up-close look at the process behind his large-scale mirrored glass installations, as well as many of his other incredible works.
Hear more from Rob and explore his studio
February 26, 2019

An unusual layout and original details paint a pretty picture at this $4.25M Soho artist’s loft

A rare find, this quintessential Soho artist’s loft in original condition has hit the market for the first time in 40 years, seeking $4,250,000. Located at 133 Wooster Street in the heart of Soho's Cast-Iron Historic District, the sprawling 3,300-square-foot space has no shortage of pre-war details. The sunny corner unit boasts 17 oversized windows with southern and eastern exposures, 10-foot tin ceilings, and original cast-iron columns. Currently the home and studio of a painter, the space is configured with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths, but the open, angular layout offers a lot of flexibility for future owners.
Peek inside
February 12, 2019

McNally Jackson bookstore, safe in Soho, plans expansion to Downtown Brooklyn and Seaport

Bad news took a U-turn at the start of this year when beloved independent bookstore McNally Jackson announced that it would not be closing its doors on Prince Street in Soho after all. The news came a few months after after owner Sarah McNally, who opened the store in 2004, announced the store would be moving out of the neighborhood due to a 136 percent rent increase (from $350,000 to $850,000). The flagship location of the bookstore is not merely staying open; it will be launching new branches in Williamsburg and Laguardia Airport, and as New York Magazine reports, is on an expansion binge of sorts with stores planned for South Street Seaport and Downtown Brooklyn's new City Point complex.
More books for everyone
January 11, 2019

City’s plans for Soho and Noho may include rezoning and removal of Artist In Residence law

The Department of City Planning, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Margaret Chin announced today the launch of a six-month public engagement process addressing the future of NYC's Soho and Noho neighborhoods. The series of public meetings and consultation with local stakeholders are an early phase in outlining a vision for the future of those neighborhoods; the city's plans include updating what many consider outdated zoning laws, including the removal of rarely-enforced restrictions on ground floor retail tenancy and Soho's Artist In Residence law.
Find out more
December 24, 2018

After four price cuts, Justin Timberlake sells Soho penthouse for $6.35M

Justin Timberlake is finally saying "bye, bye, bye" to his Soho penthouse, even though that meant taking a loss on it. He and wife Jessica Biel first bought the three-bedroom spread at Soho Mews for just over $6.5 million in 2010. But after they then purchased a $20 million penthouse at celeb-hotspot 443 Greenwich in March 2017, they listed their former Soho penthouse for $8 million. Since then, they've had to drop the price four times, most recently to $6.35 million, meaning the duo would take a loss on the sale. Now, The Real Deal reports that Timberlake and Biel have finally found a buyer at that price who is listed in city records anonymously as "Hudson Broadway LLC."
See Justin and Jessica's former digs
November 8, 2018

Uber’s co-founder Travis Kalanick picks up $36M Soho penthouse with heated rooftop pool

Travis Kalanick, the co-founder of Uber who was forced to resign last year after failing to report sexual harassment allegations at the company, has purchased a Soho penthouse for $36.4 million. According to the Wall Street Journal, Kalanick now owns a full-floor duplex penthouse at 565 Broome Street, a 30-story tower, still under construction, designed by Renzo Piano. The sprawling 6,655-square-foot home features four bedrooms, three terraces, and a private rooftop with a heated pool. It was first listed in April for $40.5 million.
Take a peek at the penthouse
October 30, 2018

Artist JR takes over Houston Bowery Wall with a thought-provoking mural about guns in America

French street artist JR and TIME magazine have paired up for a collaborative project, "The Gun Chronicles: A Story of America," consisting of a special issue due out on November 5, as well as a video mural to be featured in exhibits throughout the country and an interactive web feature at Time.com. The topic–the larger-than-life relationship America has with guns–needs little explanation; last Friday the “The Gun Chronicles” was installed on the Houston Bowery Wall in Soho. The building-sized cover story image is comprised of portraits photographed by the artist.
Find out more