SoHo Broadway Initiative
SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District, operating since 2014, that delivers sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal, waste containerization, and community advocacy for the Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in Manhattan, funded by property owner assessments.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SoHo Broadway Initiative does
SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District (BID) that has operated since October 2014 to maintain and improve the Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in SoHo, Manhattan, New York City. The organization delivers neighborhood services including daily sidewalk cleaning through its Clean Team (contracted via Streetplus), graffiti removal (4,725 incidents per year), waste removal (48,250 bags per year), and trash containerization via Citibin green roof bins. It also coordinates greening initiatives with The Horticultural Society of New York and serves as a liaison between local stakeholders (residents, small businesses, property owners) and city agencies including DSNY, DOT, SBS, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The Initiative is governed by a multi-class board of directors representing commercial property owners, residential property owners, commercial tenants, residential tenants, government officials, and Community Board 2 appointees. Major commercial property holders on the board include Vornado Realty Trust, GFP Real Estate, Meringoff Properties, SHVO, and Crale Realty LLC, while tenant representatives include Uniqlo, Nike SoHo, and Westwood Gallery. The district encompasses 98 buildings, serves 22,000+ workers, and intersects with 10 subway lines carrying 20M+ annual rides.
The business model is funded entirely by statutory BID assessments levied on property owners within the district boundary — the Initiative does not sell products or services commercially. It operates with a lean core staff of approximately 6 (Executive Director Erin Piscopink, Deputy Director Brandon Zwagerman, and program staff) supplemented by an outsourced Clean Team of 5 field workers. The organization has expanded its scope beyond cleaning into strategic planning, producing the SoHo Zoning Guidebook with Karp Strategies and a Public Realm Framework + Vision Plan.
SoHo Broadway Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SoHo Broadway Initiative
- Legal name
- SoHo Broadway Initiative
- Website
- https://sohobroadway.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District, operating since 2014, that delivers sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal, waste containerization, and community advocacy for the Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in Manhattan, funded by property owner assessments.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SoHo Broadway Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban District Management Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Janitorial Services (561720)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning) (BPALAAAE)
Keywords
Where SoHo Broadway Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SoHo Broadway Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- BID Assessment Fees: As a Business Improvement District (BID), the SoHo Broadway Initiative is funded through special assessments levied on commercial and residential property owners within the district. Property owners pay into the BID to fund maintenance, improvement, and promotion of the SoHo Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
SoHo Broadway Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District (BID) that manages the SoHo Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in Manhattan. It delivers daily Clean Team sidewalk cleaning and graffiti removal (4,725 incidents/year, 48,250 bags of garbage/year), full trash containerization with Citibin bins, greening/plantings with The Horticultural Society of New York, stakeholder resources (zoning guidebook, business directories), community programming, monthly newsletters, and advocacy coordinated with NYC agencies (DSNY, DOT, SBS, LPC). The organization does not sell commercial products; it provides neighborhood services funded by statutory BID assessments on property owners within the district.
Product overview
SoHo Broadway Initiative is a neighborhood improvement district (Business Improvement District/BID) that serves the SoHo Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in Manhattan. The organization does not offer commercial products; instead, it provides neighborhood services and programs including district cleanliness maintenance through its Clean Team, business support and stakeholder resources, community engagement activities, public realm planning, and newsletter communications. The Initiative coordinates with city agencies including the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and Department of Transportation (DOT), manages partnerships with vendors such as Citibin for trash containerization and The Horticultural Society of New York for greening, and supports local businesses through resources and promotional activities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clean Team Sidewalk Maintenance and Graffiti Removal
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,725 graffiti incidents removed per year (13 per day)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SoHo Broadway Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SoHo Broadway Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
SoHo Broadway Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CitibincoreSoHo Broadway Initiative partnered with Citibin to implement full trash containerization along the district. Citibin provides specialized bins designed to keep all bags of trash collected by the Clean Team off of sidewalk corners while awaiting collection by DSNY, away from pedestrians and inaccessible to rats. The Initiative was the launch customer for Citibin's innovative green roof bin model.
- The Horticultural Society of New York (The Hort)coreThe Horticultural Society of New York installs and maintains the new ornamental shrubs and summer blooms planted adjacent to the new bins and in curb extensions throughout the SoHo Broadway district. The plantings add green space and color to Broadway and cross streets.
- NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY)coreDSNY is the city agency responsible for residential trash collection in the SoHo Broadway district. The Initiative works closely with DSNY on the full trash containerization program, coordinating with the agency on bin placement, collection schedules, and DSNY holiday suspension calendars. DSNY also provides updates on collection schedules through the Initiative's communications channels.
- NYC Department of Transportation (DOT)coreDOT is an agency partner collaborating with the Initiative on infrastructure improvements including curb extensions where new planters are installed. The Initiative also works with DOT on events and activations on sidewalks and streets.
- Streetplus (Clean Team Provider)coreStreetplus provides the SoHo Broadway Initiative's Clean Team — field workers who perform daily sidewalk cleaning, graffiti removal (4,725 incidents/year), and garbage collection (132 bags/day) throughout the district. Team members include Bobby Canty (Field Supervisor), Cheikh Dieng, Modou Dieng, Babacar Jallo, and Babacar Sene.
- NYC Small Business Services (SBS)coreSBS is a key city agency partner that provides resources for small businesses in the district, including free business courses, compliance consultations, the NYC Future Fund financing program, Business Help Desk, and emergency response services. The Initiative regularly promotes SBS programs to its business stakeholders.
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)minorLPC designated the SoHo Cast-Iron Historic District in 1973. The Initiative maintains awareness of LPC regulations for property owners and has partnered on business recovery programs for historic building tenants.
- NYC Police Department (NYPD) 1st and 5th PrecinctsminorThe Initiative works with NYPD Neighborhood Coordination Officers in the district, including officers who participate in the SoHo Retail Security Council to reduce larcenies and Build the Block neighborhood policing meetings.
- Manhattan Community Board No. 2minorCommunity Board 2 has a representative (Susan Wittenberg) on the Initiative's board. The Initiative participates in Community Board No. 2 monthly meetings and coordinates on district issues.
- Karp StrategiesminorUrban planning consulting firm that collaborated with the Initiative to produce the SoHo Zoning Guidebook, working alongside a dedicated committee of SoHo Broadway stakeholders.
- SoHo Memory ProjectminorSoHo Memory Project, founded by Yukie Ohta, is a community partner that documents and preserves SoHo neighborhood history. Yukie Ohta is a 2018 Cast Iron Partner Award recipient. The Initiative has partnered with the SoHo Memory Project on projects including the SoHo Stories oral history initiative.
- ACE (Association of Community Programs for the Homeless)minorACE provides sanitation services for the Initiative. Executive Director Jim Martin is a Cast Iron Partner Award recipient.
- Reclaimed OrganicsminorReclaimed Organics operates a compost collection program for SoHo Broadway businesses, picking up food scraps by bicycle. Operations Manager Gwen Ossenfort is a Cast Iron Partner Award recipient.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SoHo Broadway Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Union Square Partnership: BID serving the Union Square area in Manhattan. Directly comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative as a mixed-use commercial corridor BID providing supplemental cleaning, public programming, retail support, and district advocacy funded by property owner assessments.
- DUMBO Improvement District: BID serving the DUMBO neighborhood in Brooklyn. Directly comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative as a creative-class commercial corridor BID providing supplemental cleaning, beautification, events, and stakeholder advocacy funded by property owner assessments.
- NoHo NY Hospitality District: Adjacent BID-style organization covering the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, directly bordering SoHo. Highly comparable because both serve historic Lower Manhattan mixed-use arts and retail corridors with similar stakeholder profiles, historic district oversight, and small-business emphasis.
- Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership: Manhattan BID serving the Flatiron District around 23rd Street. Directly comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative as a similarly sized NYC BID delivering Clean Team sanitation, public realm improvements, and stakeholder programming funded by property assessments on a defined commercial corridor.
- Bryant Park Corporation: Nonprofit managing Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan through a public-private BID-style arrangement. Comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative because both operate and program dense public spaces in NYC, deliver supplemental cleaning and beautification services, and are funded through stakeholder assessments rather than commercial revenue.
Broad incumbents
- Times Square Alliance: The largest and most prominent BID in New York City, managing the Times Square district. It is comparable to the SoHo Broadway Initiative because both are nonprofit BIDs funded by property owner assessments that deliver supplemental sanitation, public safety, beautification, and district marketing services, though the Times Square Alliance operates at a much larger scale and budget.
- Grand Central Partnership: One of the largest BIDs in NYC, covering the area around Grand Central Terminal. Comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative because it provides supplemental sanitation, public safety, beautification, and district management services funded by commercial property assessments in a high-traffic Manhattan corridor.
- Hudson Yards Experience: Management entity for the Hudson Yards district on Manhattan's West Side. Comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative as a BID-like organization managing a dense mixed-use district with supplemental services, public realm programming, and assessment-based funding.
- Fifth Avenue Association: Long-standing BID managing Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative because both operate premium retail corridor BIDs in NYC, deliver sanitation, security, and marketing services, and are funded by assessments on high-value commercial property owners.
Regional players
- Lower East Side Partnership: Manhattan BID serving the Lower East Side. Comparable to SoHo Broadway Initiative as a NYC BID delivering Clean Team sanitation, stakeholder advocacy, and community programming, though serving a different residential-commercial mix than SoHo.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SoHo Broadway Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceSoHo Broadway Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SoHo Broadway Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
SoHo Broadway Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SoHo Broadway Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SoHo Broadway Initiative
What does SoHo Broadway Initiative do?
The SoHo Broadway Initiative is a not-for-profit Business Improvement District (BID) that manages the SoHo Broadway corridor between Houston and Canal Streets in Manhattan. It delivers daily Clean Team sidewalk cleaning and graffiti removal (4,725 incidents/year, 48,250 bags of garbage/year), full trash containerization with Citibin bins, greening/plantings with The Horticultural Society of New York, stakeholder resources (zoning guidebook, business directories), community programming, monthly newsletters, and advocacy coordinated with NYC agencies (DSNY, DOT, SBS, LPC). The organization does not sell commercial products; it provides neighborhood services funded by statutory BID assessments on property owners within the district.
Is SoHo Broadway Initiative a public or private company?
SoHo Broadway Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SoHo Broadway Initiative founded?
SoHo Broadway Initiative was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SoHo Broadway Initiative based?
SoHo Broadway Initiative is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does SoHo Broadway Initiative make money?
One revenue line is on record: BID Assessment Fees.
Who are SoHo Broadway Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Union Square Partnership, DUMBO Improvement District, NoHo NY Hospitality District, Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Bryant Park Corporation. Broad incumbents are Times Square Alliance, Grand Central Partnership, Hudson Yards Experience and Fifth Avenue Association. Lower East Side Partnership is listed as a regional player.
Does SoHo Broadway Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for SoHo Broadway Initiative.
What industry is SoHo Broadway Initiative in?
SoHo Broadway Initiative's product category is Urban District Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIABAM, State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development, with a secondary code of BPALAAAE, Street & Public Space Litter Collection (Municipal Cleaning). Its NAICS code is 925 and its SIC code is 7340.