Adams Vetoes Proposal To Fine Non-Artist SoHo & NoHo Residents $15,000 For Their Lofts

[TexasTowelie]

Mayor Eric Adams vetoed a controversial provision Friday in the newly-enacted rezoning of SoHo and NoHo that would have sharply hiked fines on non-artists buying lofts that are reserved for artist residency and workspace.

The veto of the increased fines on the non-artist residents of the Joint Live/Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA) zone does not affect the enactment of the rest of the zoning bill, which was passed by the City Council last month.

“We’ve been hearing concerns about that specific legislation, and are going to make sure that we can productively work together to improve it over the coming months,” Adams said in a statement Friday announcing his intent to issue the veto, his first as mayor.

Though rarely enforced, the city policy to require non-artist residents to pay fees when buying a JLWQA unit came out of a push to help artists stay in the increasingly gentrified SoHo and NoHo neighborhoods.

Read more: https://gothamist.com/news/adams-vetos-proposal-fine-non-artist-soho-noho-residents-15000-sell-their-lofts

[NJCher]

1. We wouldn't want to help out any

Artists, now would we?

[jimfields33]

2. Seems discriminating to the general population

I’ve never heard of only renting to a certain type of profession. Are we really going to start that now?

[NJCher]

3. artists come into a distressed area

in time, it becomes "the" place to live

rich people come in, chase out artists through elevated property values

the cycle begins and so artists manufacture places for rich people to live

you're ok with that?

[jimfields33]

4. I just don't like preferential treatment based on career choice.

A dangerous slope that we need to squash immediately or the result could be devastating. What next only biologists get to rent or buy in San Diego?

[NJCher]

7. FWIW

in Newark, there is an entire building where teachers can rent or buy in for a reasonable amount.

We need teachers, we need artists: but we are apparently not willing to pay them so they can live in the areas where we need them, so people attack this problem in different ways.

Do a search using "residential rent subsidies artists" and you will find all kinds of arrangements. This attempt is nothing more than a variation on that theme.

I know both housing developers and artists who have participated in these arrangements. The developers gain a certain cache' by having artists in the community or development. Yes, they pay less but other residents are generally accepting of this. It is said art cuts across all class lines.

The artists have the opportunity to live in a nice place and continue to do their work.

It's sort of like tenure for professors so they can speak out without fear of their job. We have these arrangements so artists can create what they want and live in areas that are safe and healthy to live in.

One area we do not do this is retail workers. Here in NJ, retail workers take the bus out to big shopping centers in wealthy areas to work.

[Scrivener7]

5. Soho and Noho have not been distressed for generations.

[NJCher]

6. of course

thank the artists for that.

[Scrivener7]

8. A miniscule percentage of the population in those areas are artists. And it has been that

way for a very long time. To penalize people who live there for not being artists is very random. It would make as much sense to penalize people who are not doctors, or who aren't members of the Carpenter's Union, which is headquartered in the neighborhood.

If you want to protect artist areas, do it in places where there are artists. Like Long Island City.

[NJCher]

9. you're missing the essence of keeping artists in the area

oh, the old "it's been that way for a long time" argument.

Long Island City is not Manhattan.

Did you read my post above, "FWIW"?

I think not, because it's apparent you don't get it. And if you don't get it, fine. I'm not spending my time to educate you. That's on you.

[Scrivener7]

10. Lol. Yes, thank you for sparing me your "education."

[NJCher]

11. happily

no time to waste.