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Manhattan Notes -
Neighborhood Profiles
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Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00 |
SoHo is within the streets of Houston to the north, Canal Street to the south, Lafayette to the east and Sixth Ave to the west. SoHo was the first neighborhood in New York City to create its own acronym for its area. Created from a play on the name of the famous shopping district in London, South of Houston Street, pronounced "HOUSE-tin" (it helps if you say it with a British accent)SoHo was created and soon other area's had done the same such as TriBeCa and DUMBO.
SoHo is also referred to as the Cast Iron District. Many of the buildings built between the 1850's and 1880's feature facade's of cast iron that was mass produced locally in the area. This former industrial area had declined severely for much of the 20th century and in the 1960's there was an attempt by the then mayor to construct two elevated highways connecting the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges to the Holland Tunnel. Challenged by the historic preservation movement because it would mean the destruction of several historic buildings, the plan for the highways was eventually defeated and the area was designated as the Cast Iron Landmark District.
With many of the industrial buildings empty and undesired by the manufacturers in the 1970's, the buildings began to fill with artists. Attracted by the large upper floors with tall ceilings and vast amounts of natural light the artists had discovered the perfect area to set up their studio's and homes. Thus, the artist's loft was created.
The renaissance in the 1970's of SoHo has made the area into a upscale residential neighborhood and is one of the most desired areas to live. The once industrial buildings have been lovingly restored and renovated into luxurious loft homes with many of the tenants having boutiques and galleries located in the same buildings at street level.
SoHo is still home to many artists but has also become famous for its fashion. Fashion designers and clothing manufacturers have set up shop here and it's not uncommon to catch a glimpse of a fashion model strolling along Broadway.
A popular place for tourists, Soho is abundant with shopping and dining experiences from it's unique boutiques to first class restaurants. Also home to the Guggenheim Museum and off Broadway theaters, tourists can always experience a perfect day in New York City.
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