Recently, New Construction Manhattan noted that changes in zoning could have a major impact on a neighborhood. It’s no secret that, square foot by square foot and new construction Manhattan condominium for new construction Manhattan condominium, New York City is one of the nation’s most expensive cities in which to buy an apartment. But, as anyone who has searched Manhattan apartment listings recently knows, condominium prices in Manhattan -- while not exactly cheap anywhere -- are highly variable from neighborhood to neighborhood, and even between neighborhoods that share borders. In practical terms, this reveals some practical conclusions -- averaging prices for Manhattan studio apartments, one-bedroom apartments, and two-bedroom apartments reveals that Tribeca condo listings are the priciest in Manhattan, while Harlem is home to the cheapest. That may not surprise you all that much, but other revelations -- for instance, condos on the Upper East Side are less expensive per square foot than apartments in the East Village or on the Upper West Side -- may elicit a head-shake or a whaddaya-know. These numbers didn't come out of nowhere, of course -- these are established neighborhoods with established brands. But what happens when, as recently happened in North Tribeca, an old section of an established neighborhood gets a new life thanks to a new zoning designation? The answer, we think, is something very promising indeed.

The neighborhood of SoHo, or South of Houston Street, is known as one of the most popular -- and one of the priciest -- neighborhoods in Manhattan, alongside the trendy high-rise condos of Chelsea, the stalwart and pre-war Upper East Side, and raucous Greenwich Village. Back in the day SoHo was a haven of artists looking for low rents in the manufacturing district’s industrial work spaces. But now this NYC neighborhood is known less for its poor artists and more as a growing district of affluent families, lush boutiques and converted condo listings. With the demand for SoHo residences at a peak and many artists fleeing to cheaper pastures, some SoHo dwellers are crying foul about an old law that requires residential lofts to be set aside strictly for certified artists. SoHo residents say the law is -- wait for it -- certifiably nuts.