SoHo Broadway Initiative unveils Public Realm Vision

Manhattan, NY The SoHo Broadway Initiative (SBI), the neighborhood-focused business improvement district committed to fostering a unique, vibrant, mixed-use district in the SoHo Broadway corridor, unveiled a new vision for how the streets of the district could better welcome residents, visitors, shoppers and businesses. As one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the world, the lack of visitors and slow return of office workers has hit SoHo particularly hard with economic challenges since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the Public Realm Framework + Vision Plan is to reignite interest and excitement around SoHo into the future, with increasing space for pedestrians being a top priority. Through four key moves, the Vision Plan aims to improve quality-of-life issues that have consistently been raised by local residents and businesses for years.

If the Vision Plan is realized, SoHo’s Broadway corridor will:

• Create more space for people on Broadway: Broadway will be transformed into a curbless bus and pedestrian priority street from Houston St. to Canal St., seamlessly linking the east and west sides of the street. By diverting all non-local vehicular traffic from Broadway to the perimeter of the SoHo ‘superblock’ (defined by Houston St., the Bowery, Varick St., and Canal St.) and improving and streamlining bus, emergency, freight, service, and for-hire vehicle operations, sidewalks can be expanded to improve pedestrian flow and create more comfortable spaces that include amenities such as greenery, seating, and public art.
• Share Crosby St. and Mercer St.: Mercer St. and Crosby St. will become beautifully restored, pedestrian-friendly curbless streets that effectively incorporate and streamline the District’s curbside operational activity. These low-traffic streets remain quiet, providing a green and comfortable respite from the bustle of Broadway. Mercer St. also provides a much-needed southbound bikeway connection through SoHo.
• Pedestrianize Prince St. and Howard St.: Prince and Howard Sts. adjacent to Broadway will become public plazas featuring seating, greenery, a cafe kiosk, and  neighborhood-appropriate programming. These plazas will increase the District’s supply of usable public space and enhance pedestrian comfort and safety, while improving access and relieving congestion around subway entrances.
• Reclaim Broome as a local street: Broome St. will no longer operate as a tunnel on-ramp, and instead offer expanded, usable public space, greenery, and cycling facilities that serve the needs of SoHo residents, workers, and visitors. This will be achieved through diverting all tunnel-bound traffic to the perimeter of the SoHo ‘superblock;’ reducing vehicular travel lanes from two to one, adding a dedicated westbound bikeway linking Chrystie St. and Hudson St.; and allocating remaining space for public realm amenities.

In addition to demonstration projects, in the near-term, the Initiative will engage with elected officials, City agencies, and community stakeholders to further study, refine and advance tactical projects, strategic initiatives, and supporting actions, which test and support the advancement of the key moves. In the long-term, major capital investment must be secured to deliver permanent transformation of the District’s public realm.

The four key moves and the overall plan were derived through extensive public input. The SoHo Public Realm Framework + Vision Plan process engaged more than 300 people between December 2020 and September 2021. Activities included administering two streetside intercept surveys (December 2020, August 2021); conducting two focus groups with residential and business stakeholders; disseminating a digital survey; with periodic updates to the SBI Board and Board Executive Committee as well as at Community Roundtable meetings.

In addition to the public engagement activities, a Public Realm Task Force comprised of members of SBI’s Executive Committee, political leaders, representatives of City agencies, and members of SoHo Broadway’s residential, business, and property-owning communities served in an advisory role and acted as a sounding board for the planning process and the recommendations proposed within the Vision.