Statement From Source Document Poa
• In order to preserve and strengthen the cultural life of Soho and Noho as well as the surrounding communities, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) will designate and enter into a legal agreement with a nonprofit fund administrator to create and manage the SoHo/NoHo Arts Fund. DCLA will establish program guidelines and oversight measures, similar to its application-based regranting process with the borough arts councils, to ensure that the funding is distributed in a competent and equitable manner, while recognizing the needs of artists and cultural workers in underserved areas throughout lower Manhattan.
• The fund will distribute grants to artists and nonprofit organizations to support cultural events and programming, preserving and building on these communities' rich artistic legacy. The Fund can also potentially support small scale capital projects at cultural organizations, as long as they align with the goals of the Fund to support and preserve existing cultural assets in the neighborhoods. Funding priorities will be determined by the non-profit fund administrator in consultation with DCLA on a yearly basis. For each cycle of Arts Fund grants, an open and competitive application process will be used to solicit funding proposals from eligible individuals and organizations in the designated area (defined as based in, or providing services within Manhattan Community Districts 1, 2, and 3); these applications will be reviewed by peer review panels convened by the non-profit administrator. DCLA will post information on its website documenting the amount of funds distributed and recipients of the funds over time.
• The SoHo/NoHo Arts Fund will be supported via contributions from future conversions of JLWQA to residential units, should an existing JLWQA owner elect to convert and/or sell to the general public rather than a certified artist. This contribution process will be managed within the City via an interagency process involving DCLA, DCP, DOF, and DOB. The process will include:
• A requirement via local law that going forward, new property owners of JLWQAs record with the city register a statement that the property is a JLWQA and therefore subject to the JLWQA rules and regulations
• A database at DOB that centralizes information on transactions occurring on JLWQA units, applications for residential Certificates of Occupancy, artist certifications via DCLA, and completed payments of the Arts Fund contribution in coordination with DCP, in order to effectively track the requirement
• Enforcement steps as necessary by DOB, including complaint-driven enforcement and potential audit actions
• DOB will issue a formal Buildings Bulletin clarifying the process for future applicants and enforcement provisions.
• Rules and requirements regarding DCLA Artist Certifications remain unchanged when the Arts Fund is established. DCLA Artist Certifications do not expire, and occupancy is subject to succession rights for family. DCLA will ensure its informational web materials on the Artist Certification are updated to continue to clarify any questions about the process.
Narrative
DCLA is finalizing legal agreements to establish final details of SoHo/NoHo Arts Fund. DOB is in the process of drafting a Buildings Bulletin clarifying the process for converting a JLWQA unit to residential use and expects to finalize that Buildings Bulletin this year. Additionally, DOB will work with its partner agencies to establish a database that centralizes information pertaining to such conversions as interagency work to accomplish this commitment progresses.