Soho, Manhattan’s quintessential loft neighborhood, is located south of Houston Street and north of Canal Street, with Lafayette Street and 6th Avenue serving as the eastern and western borders.
Known for its distinctive 19th century cast iron architecture, Soho is a historically industrial area that fell into decline before being converted to live/work loft studios by artists, sculptors, designers and other creative professionals in the early 1960s. It was nearly bulldozed to make room for a highway in the late 1960s, but architectural preservationists spared it from the wrecking ball, allowing the renaissance to continue.
Today, it’s hard to imagine Soho’s hardscrabble past. It is one of the most beautiful and sought after neighborhoods in the world, with numerous loft conversions, beautiful cobble stone streets and a thriving nightlife.
What to do:
Soho is an extraordinarily popular recreation spot, offering world-class clothing and furniture boutiques, hip bars and fashionable restaurants.
Soho loft culture:
Soho is home to Manhattan’s most venerable and historic residential and live/work lofts. The original pioneering artists’ aesthetic remains dominant. Exposed pipes, brickwork, large industrial windows, and industrial elevators still characterize the bulk of Soho lofts. For more upscale living, newer conversions offer more amenities and a modern design.
