Living in SoHo

SoHo, the cultural heart of Manhattan, has transformed itself to a lively, pulsating hub, attracting artisans from the four corners of the globe to revel in its magical beauty. It was known as the Cast Iron District due to its myriad of architectural structures employing cast iron elements in their construction. Rivaling Madison Avenue in its high-end residential and retail neighborhoods, SoHo showcases some of the trendiest houses and commercial edifices. Cramped up-scale boutiques, contemporary art galleries and restaurants that tantalize the palette, SoHo offers something for everyone.

The area, although only a quarter square mile has approximately 250 art galleries, 4 museums, around 200 restaurants and more than a 100 stores. It is home to some of New York's highest concentration of cast-iron facade buildings that functioned as manufacturing spaces and warehouses and are now converted to high-end lofts, providing a wide living space for sculptors and artists. These massive, 19th-century architectural wonders, Italianiate, Victorian Gothic and neo-Grecian being among them, are sought after by the well-heeled bohemians and preservationists who call SoHo home.

Housing

The SoHo neighborhood is restricted, and can get noisy on weekends when people throng the streets to visit shops, or get together with friends at nights. SoHo is well known for its high rents and wide, generous living spaces. Most of SoHo's loft apartments are conversions but there are some new homes within the bevy of cast-iron buildings. 40 Mercer that opened in 2007 was sold out at $2,300 a square foot, with critics applauding its clever combination of innovative architecture, historical references and appropriate scale. SoHo offers the ultimate in loft living: high ceilings, bare walls, and wide, open windows looking over the city abuzz. Some of New York's trendiest trendsetters live behind the cast iron embellishments, often in 4,000 sq. foot harmonious spreads. If you enjoy the minimalist feel and require a space that can hone your imagination and creativity, SoHos lofts will be ideal!

Notable buildings in SoHo include the 34 Green Street, which is a 2873 cast-iron building converted to a condo, standing between Grand and Canal Street on a cobblestone block. Designed as a boutique condo, the building is made of private keyed-elevators that are connected to its loft apartments over its seven floors. Its finishes are what add to its aesthetic appeal, featuring Calacata marble islands, restored brick, wide plan oak floors and soaking tubs made of bidet cast iron. The apartments are fully equipped with fully functional Schiffini kitchens and private laundry rooms and some of its apartments have terraces, fireplaces and wetbars. SoHo 25 - 25 West is what began the wave of downtown development in SoHo. Its 9-stories are gorgeously laid out, and its apartments are ultimate in style and luxury. Some of the best penthouses and apartments are contained within this condo, in addition to its numerous smaller sized ones. Most of its living quarters have kitchens with Subzero refrigerators, wine refrigerators, washers and dryers, and most finishes of the original building.

The Police Building is a remarkable piece of architecture in all of New York, with its Baroque revival style being encapsulated by ornate details and a massive dome. Two huge lion statues made of stone guard its main entrance, and the Baroque theme continues well into its main lobby - which is exquisitely detailed with stone and wood. Looking more like an Italian castle than a co-op, the building houses a wide range of apartments, some with unique pre-war windows, and others with large loft ceilings. The building gets its name from housing the Police Headquarters from the 1920s to the 1940s, being one of America's first commercial building conversions to residential apartments.

Other boutique buildings include 300 Spring Street Condominium, 505 Greenwich Street, The Trump SoHo Hotel Condominium, The Urban Glass House, No. 22 Renwick, Soho Mews, 40 Mercer Street, and Cantre Street.

People

According to SoHo demographics, 53% of all SoHo living structures house the unmarried, 30% of married people, 7% of separated, 4% widowed and another 7% divorced. 87% of the households do not have children.

Parks and Recreation

SoHo isn't widely popular for its parks and recreation, with visitors normally frequenting this part of town more for other forms of entertainment, namely its bars, clubs and live music. The SoHo Park is one place that provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, with its innovate garage-garden offering an escape from fashionistas and tourists while indulging one in great food and drinks. Not a park in the true sense of the word, this little piece of heaven provides much needed quite-time that any outdoor park would.

Pubs, Clubs and Entertainment

SoHo has a wide variety of entertainment options that include casual lounges, nightclubs, pubs and restaurants. Some of the most popular include the La Sirene, a gorgeous restaurant that has many non-residents throng to taste its delicious French delectables; The Anchor Bar, popular for its late-night scene and festive atmosphere; Antarctica, unpretentious appeal, allowing visitors to have some casual fun while playing pool, watching a game on the wide-screen television, or chatting with friends; Greenhouse, the first Environmentally friendly Nightclub in New York, opening its doors to hundreds of singles every night; and the infamous Madam X, a bordello-style lounge and bar with an abundance of private party rooms and intimate nooks to allow conversation and amazing gathering. Its atmosphere is lively, and it remains open till 4 AM every night.

Brooklyn

Manhattan

Living in New York | ©2018 Kirsty Henderson