Developer abandoned plan to convert loft to residential. 96 Springs LLC sought a special permit to allow ground floor retail use and 14 residential units at 96 Spring Street, an eight-story, 53,700-square-foot loft located on the corner of Spring and Mercer Streets in a manufacturing zone within the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. Currently the building contains a mix of commercial uses, with the fourth and fifth floors vacant and the ground floor occupied by a non-conforming retail use.

At the April 13, 2005 Commission hearing, the attorney for 96 Springs described the proposal and the need for the special permit. There were no speakers in opposition. Following the hearing, 96 Springs withdrew the original application and filed a modified plan, requesting 14 joint living-work units for artists instead of the original purely residential units.

With the revision, the Commission voted unanimously on May 11, 2005 to approve the application, noting that many SoHo lofts have been converted to joint living-work units and SoHo supports a broad range of ground floor retail uses. Further, Landmarks had approved a maintenance program that would result in preservation of the building.

ULURP Process A negative declaration was issued for the original project on December 20, 2004, and on April 11, 2005 for the modified project. Community Board 2 and Borough President C. Virginia Fields approved the conversion of the building to live-work units.

CPC: 96 Spring Street (C 040201 (A) ZSM – special permit for living-work units and retail) (May 11, 2005). CITYADMIN