Mayor Adams Statement on Intro 2443A-2021

January 14, 2022

It is a top priority of the Adams Administration to find ways that ensure all neighborhoods are helping solve our city’s housing crisis, particularly those that are centrally located and well-resourced. That is why I have proudly supported the SoHo/NoHo rezoning for more than a year, and it is why I am proud the rezoning has become law.

“There was a small piece of legislation that passed at the same time as the rezoning that addresses recording requirements and fines related to Joint Living Work Quarters for Artists (JLWQA). 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. In order to do that together, today I will veto that legislation to give us time to continue to work on it with the City Council.

“We are still committed to increasing options for existing JLWQA owners by providing a legal pathway to residential use for non-artists in the neighborhood should they elect to legalize or sell, and to make sure windfall profits of those sales get invested back into the artistic legacy for SoHo and NoHo in perpetuity via the SoHo/NoHo Arts Fund. But we will take a little more time to make sure we are right-sizing any fines associated with this process and clarifying the associated enforcement mechanisms going forward.

“We are crystal clear in our 100 percent support of the SoHo/NoHo rezoning. We look forward to working with the City Council to build on this important legacy and make sure all neighborhoods are doing their part for fair housing and more equitable communities.”