Soho: How It Came To Be

Today when one mentions ‘Soho’ the images that come to mind are likely to include huge galleries displaying original abstract paintings by artists such as Jackson Pollack or Julian Schnabel and/or a sprawling loft/studio space linked to some avant-garde artist. Since the 1960’s, what began as a bohemian enclave for a small group of pioneering artists has steadily evolved into an internationally renowned contemporary Art Center in conjunction with a highly desirable residential community, where the premium is firmly on ‘Loft-living’

‘Soho’, the word is actually an acronym for ‘South of Houston Street’ and was derived by truck drivers who were transporting goods to and from the area. The district of ‘Soho’ proper encompasses the region running North / South from Houston Street to Canal Street and East / West from Broadway to West Broadway. Currently, Soho is an eclectic neighborhood in lower Manhattan, which previously had a long and diverse history before becoming synonymous with art

On the commercial end, what surrounds us today in this small area is nothing short of an Urban Mecca. There are quaint specialty shops comprised of fashion-forward boutiques, from the ultra-trendy high-end to discount copy-cats, hip ethnic restaurants and naturally, a host of assorted Art Galleries, which indeed were the catalyst that inspired the post-1960 revitalization. On the residential end, there is a vast mixture of ‘Loft’ spaces, from the raw to the highly decorative finished variety, a number of which are currently valued in the millions, where many young professionals and long-time established artists call their home today.

Stepping back a couple of hundred years, prior to the 1850’s, this vicinity was also a thriving residential community. As the city grew and continued its development North, the residents followed suit and also migrated uptown because at the time, this represented progress, as well as one’s advance in society.

This provocative milieu that is witnessed today arose from the ashes of these small wooden residences of yesteryear. The massive buildings that line the cobblestone streets today are representative of a classic ‘cast-iron’ construction and include ornate iron detail of the Beaux-Arts Period. Other notable details include soaring 14-20 foot ceilings elegantly supported by original Ionic columns. The sheer grandeur of these spaces is breathtaking to behold.

Many buildings, because of their spectacular cast-iron design, are considered to be representative of America’s ‘Golden Age’ of iron and therefore have been awarded ‘Landmark Status’, thus preserving their history and protecting their integrity.

Initially, these enormous new buildings housed a diverse cross-section of products that were manufactured, stored, displayed and, eventually sold to the general public at ground level. However, by the early 1900’s these fashionable businesses, like Lord and Taylor and Tiffany’s followed the mass migration and relocated uptown as well. The area then declined and was known as ‘Hell’s hundred Acres’ due to its seedy slum-like appearance, where sweat-shops became the norm.

Over the course of time, new labor laws were implemented and the ‘sweat-shop’ industry was shut down, effectively turning the area into a virtual ghost town. As a consequence of this chain of events, the area was now ripe for an astounding transition.

What was once a thriving industrial hub of New York City at the turn of the 20th century had become an economic wasteland of abandoned buildings. Yet, the old saying, what is for some just a pile of junk is for others a diamond in the rough, could never ring truer. It became a matter of simple math. Cash strapped artists who were losing their studios in other artists communities, could now, for a ridiculously low amount, rent entire 5,000-10,000 square foot floors. Therefore, it was the combination of these two economic forces that led to the slow yet steady migration of pioneering artists into Soho.

From the 1960’s with many of these ex-factory building now standing tall yet empty, artists, sculptures, writers, designers etc. gradually began assuming these abandoned warehouse spaces because of this opportune combination of cheap rent and abundant (loft) space. Consequently, many of these ambitious artists became the vanguards of Soho’s immanent acclaim in the art world by establishing their studios and setting-up makeshift galleries within the confines of these historic loft buildings.

Early on the city of New York ignored the obvious fact that artists and the like were working and living in buildings that were non-compliant and which lacked the required residential Certificate of Occupancy, commonly known as a ‘C of O’.

In many instances a struggle ensued and over time the city would declare these buildings’ unsafe for living and subject to the state’s multiple dwelling laws – meaning that owners and landlords were not entitled to collect rent until the buildings raw spaces were made ‘code compliant’. In other words, because these spaces lacked adequate basic features like proper heating, plumbing, electrical wiring and, safety measures, these buildings were not eligible to receive a C of O and operate as any normal residential building would.

Revitalized from economic ruin, Soho quickly developed an avant-garde reputation as the epicenter of Manhattan’s contemporary art scene. One by one, block-by-block, old warehouse buildings were transformed from a previous commercial usage into what are today truly amazing multi-million dollar residential lofts, symbolizing the best of Manhattan living.

By the late 1970’s Soho had come full circle and embarked on a monumental transformation that remains ongoing. What we experience in Soho today is a vibrant pulsating community attracting shoppers, tourists and, the insatiably curious art connoisseurs. Apart from the mushrooming nature of its distinctive retail shops, Soho has developed into a unique and widely envied residential neighborhood aligned with a world-class Artistic center. This historic revival was the result of a select group of Maverick artists who ignited a spark that fueled this enduring surge of enthusiasm and thus ushered in the novelty of ‘Loft-living’ in America.