Hotels with more than 100 rooms would be subject to a special permit. Residential development and community facilities with sleeping accommodations would require certification by the City Planning Commission if the zoning lot contains a qualifying building but otherwise would be allowed as-of-right. of floor area, in which the existing amount of non-residential floor area must be retained on the zoning lot by either keeping the existing building or incorporating the amount of non-residential floor area within new construction, although the same type of use is not required. In order to maintain the commercial and manufacturing uses once prevalent in the area, the special district establishes a definition of a “qualifying building” with a minimum of 70,000 s.f. Height limitations prevent out-of-scale development that disrupts the established neighborhood character. Surrounded by the Greenwich Village, Soho and Tribeca neighborhoods, the special district comprises 18 blocks generally bounded by West Houston Street, Canal Street, Greenwich Street and Sixth Avenue. The Special Hudson Square District (HSQ) preserves a former warehouse and manufacturing district with a concentration of large, industrial buildings while encouraging residential and retail development in a vibrant mixed use district. Existing commercial spaces with frontages exceeding what is permitted along Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues in EC-2 are not affected. Overall store sizes are not restricted, and stores can be laid out with any configuration, including the basement, second story, wrapping behind, or along corner frontages. The special district provisions apply ground floor frontage limitations for most new and expanding retail and commercial establishments and residential lobbies, and retail transparency requirements for new buildings. EC-2 was created to maintain, over time, the general multi-store character of Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, while promoting a varied and active retail environment. The Special Enhanced Commercial District 2 (EC-2) includes Amsterdam Avenue bounded by 75th Street and 110th Street on the west side, excluding the blocks between 100th – 101st and 102nd-103rd Streets, and bounded by 73rd and 87th Streets, and 105th and 109th Streets on the east side of the Avenue and Columbus Avenue bounded by 72nd and 87th Streets. Opportunities for housing are expanded by increasing residential density in certain areas and offering affordable housing through the Inclusionary Housing designated areas Program. The district establishes an innovative arts bonus - the first in the City - to provide an incentive for the creation of nonprofit visual or performing arts spaces. Moreover, within the Core Subdistrict, the district requires the inclusion of arts and entertainment uses for developments over a certain size. To ensure active and diverse retail uses, special regulations restrict the amount of ground floor street frontage that may be occupied by banks, office and residential lobbies, and other non-active uses. The aim of the district is to generate new mixed use development while protecting the scale of the 125th Street corridor’s commercial and historic rowhouse areas by establishing street wall and height limits.

The district includes 24 blocks in East, Central and West Harlem, within an area generally bounded by 124th Street, 126th Street, Broadway and Second Avenue.

The Special 125th Street District (125) is part of a city initiative to support and enhance 125th Street - Harlem’s “Main Street” - as a major arts/entertainment destination and regional business district.

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