SoHo Residents Protest 5-Story Nike Store in Heart of Neighborhood

SOHO, NY — Angry SoHo locals gathered Thursday in front of the New York City Department of Buildings headquarters to protest the five-story, 55,000-square-foot Nike flagship store that will open its doors in SoHo on Friday. The protesters alleged the builders had completely ignored zoning laws, and that a franchise would bring congested sidewalks and tear apart the historic character of the neighborhood.

The new Niketown has a basketball court and 23-foot ceilings.

Council Member Margaret Chin and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer were present at the protest.

"We live in New York City, not Niketown," said Chin in a statement. "That is why I am proud to join members of the SoHo community to demand that the Department of Buildings prioritize the concerns of residents and small business owners over the interests of developers and corporate tenants. SoHo’s residents, artists, and businesses all deserve robust, fair enforcement from the Department of Buildings so that stores like this one don't illegally gobble up space, burden the community, and change its character."

The Niketown store will be at 529 Broadway, at the corner of Spring Street, in an area already heavily congested with shops.

Protesters said the DOB deceived them into believing builders were merely altering an existing property, instead of constructing a new building in the place of a completely demolished one. After all was said and done, the DOB only left a portion of a wall adjoining a historic property on Spring Street, protesters said.

Tobi Bergman, chair of Manhattan Community Board 2, said the DOB is "addicted to secrecy and non-responsiveness" and "in SoHo they have allowed property owners to work around zoning requirements in a way that undermines the special mixed use character of SoHo."

Manhattan Borough President Brewer and Council Member Chin have fought against gigantic developments in SoHo for several years. In February of 2015, they along with the community board wrote a letter to the DOB saying they were concerned about "big box" retail development in the area.

"It's important that big box retail not box out the small businesses and innovative spirit that has made SoHo such a special part of the city," said State Senator Daniel Squadron in a statement. "Retail zoning protections exist for a reason, and it's important they be enforced."

Photo credit: Courtesy of Margaret Chin's office