AIR regulations

short story: Artist In Residence regs permit (some) people to legally reside in buildings that are otherwise only for Manufacturing, including most of Soho. That part is a zoning question. The people who *are* permitted to reside there are "artists" certified as such by the City. That part is a Department of Cultural Affairs question.

But the long story is very long, and includes the sense that the City does not enforce the rules except haphazardly and a controversy about who such regs help. I have blogged about this extensively and would be happy to give you more info off-line. Find me at www.ManhattanLoftGuy.com

Here is a thread within a thread that might shed some light.

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/27439-artist-in-residence-enforcement