Renovation Contractor in SoHo
SoHo lofts were built as factories and warehouses, and most of them sit inside a landmark district. That changes how a kitchen, bathroom or full loft renovation gets designed, filed and built. Euro Restoration has worked in Manhattan since 2001 and quotes a fixed price before work starts.
What renovating a SoHo loft actually involves
Four things come up on almost every SoHo loft job. Knowing them before you sign a design keeps the schedule and the budget honest.
Landmark district sign off
Most SoHo buildings fall inside the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District, designated in 1973 and extended in 2010. Interior work that needs a DOB permit also needs Landmarks Preservation Commission approval first, usually a Certificate of No Effect. Purely interior jobs can often use the expedited version. Anything on the facade, including replacing windows, always goes to LPC. We build that filing time into the schedule from day one.
Timber joists and cast iron columns
Many SoHo lofts have wood joists on brick bearing walls with a line of cast iron columns down the middle. Floors are often out of level by an inch or more across a loft. Leveling, cutting joists for new drains, or moving a wall near a column needs an engineer's review. We open up and measure before finalizing the layout so the design matches the structure.
Plumbing in an open floor plate
A loft usually has one or two old risers, often far from where you want the new kitchen or bathroom. Moving fixtures means long horizontal drain runs that need proper pitch, which can mean a raised floor platform or a soffit in the unit below. We plan fixture locations around riser locations first, then talk finishes.
Artist loft status after the 2021 rezoning
Many SoHo lofts are certified as Joint Living Work Quarters for Artists. The SoHo/NoHo rezoning adopted in December 2021 lets owners convert those units to regular residential use by paying into the SoHo NoHo Arts Fund, set at $100 per square foot in 2021 and adjusted yearly. That is a legal and zoning question, separate from construction. Settle it with your attorney before buying or filing.
Services in SoHo
Kitchens
SoHo loft kitchens are usually open to the living space, so the island, venting and lighting are on display. We plan exhaust routes that work with high ceilings and landmark rules on what can exit the facade, set cabinetry on floors leveled first, and coordinate gas and electrical permits with the building.
Kitchens details →Bathrooms
Loft bathrooms are often new rooms carved out of open space, far from the riser. We work out drain pitch, any platform height, and waterproofing over wood joists before tile is chosen. Curbless showers are possible in many lofts, but only when the floor structure allows the recess.
Bathrooms details →Full Apartments
A full loft gut covers layout, structure, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and finishes as one project. We handle the DOB filing and the LPC sign off, coordinate the engineer on joist and column work, and keep exposed brick, columns and timber where you want them while bringing systems up to current code.
Full Apartments details →SoHo buildings we renovate in
SoHo was built for manufacturing and warehousing in the 1800s, so the building stock is mostly loft space. Each type below brings its own structural and approval questions.
- Cast iron front loft buildings
- Masonry store and loft buildings
- Former warehouses converted to co-ops
- Artist loft co-ops (JLWQA units)
- Elevator loft condos
- Walk up loft buildings on side streets
- Newer condo buildings on the district edges
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Landmarks approval to renovate my SoHo loft?
If your building is in the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District and the work needs a DOB permit, yes. Interior only work usually gets a Certificate of No Effect from LPC, and simple interior jobs can qualify for the expedited version. Windows, storefronts, rooftop equipment and anything else visible from outside need a full LPC review. DOB will not issue the permit until LPC signs off.
Can I move my kitchen or bathroom across the loft?
Often, yes, but distance from the riser is the limit. Drains need continuous pitch, so a long run may need a raised floor or a soffit in the unit below, which needs approval from the board and the owner below. In a co-op, a wet over dry rule may block a bathroom placed over a neighbor's living space. We check both before you commit to a layout.
My loft floors are uneven. Can that be fixed?
Usually. Old timber joists sag over time, and dips of an inch or more across a loft are common. Depending on the cause, we level with sistered joists, shims and new subfloor, or a leveling compound over a stable base. If a joist is damaged or was cut by earlier work, an engineer specifies the repair. We assess this before quoting, so it is in the fixed price.
Does Euro Restoration handle the artist certification conversion?
No. Converting a Joint Living Work Quarters for Artists unit to residential use under the 2021 rezoning is a legal and zoning process with a payment to the SoHo NoHo Arts Fund. Your attorney and the building handle that. We handle the construction side: design, DOB and LPC filings for the work itself, and the build at a locked price.
Guides for SoHo owners
- Do You Need a Permit to Renovate an Apartment in NYC?
- Wet Over Dry in NYC: Moving a Kitchen or Bathroom
- Kitchen Renovation Cost Manhattan: 2026 Price Guide
Other areas we serve
Renovating in SoHo?
We review your building’s requirements, walk the space and return a fixed price. What we quote is what you pay.