Dispatches

This Is What We’re Seeing, This Is What We’re Not Seeing

Contrary to certain “ghostly” claims, at the close of a year that’s upended urban life as we know it, New York City has, to a large degree, managed to adapt. New Yorkers’ expectations have adjusted to all sorts of new normals: social distancing; remote working and learning; (semi-)open streets and permanent sidewalk dining. It’s almost easy to forget the sheer confusion of navigating and negotiating space which marked the early days of the pandemic. Almost. For Mark Dicus of the SoHo Broadway Initiative, that inflection point — March 16, 2020 to be exact — ushered in a radically-altered streetscape along one of New York City’s most heavily-trafficked pedestrian corridors. From shutdowns and boarded-up stores, to protests and looting, SoHo (along with other destination neighborhoods) has seen more than its fair share of jarring contrasts in 2020. Amid a cautious reopening, Dicus reflects on the dramatic changes he’s witnessed, and how the public realm will play a key role in the recovery of a neighborhood — and city — whose future remains an open question.

The corner of Broadway and Spring Street, April 2020.
The corner of Broadway and Spring Street, April 2020.
A boarded up storefront along Broadway in SoHo, June 2020.
A boarded up storefront along Broadway in SoHo, June 2020.
Boarded up storefronts in SoHo, June 2020.
Boarded up storefronts in SoHo, June 2020.
Scenes from Broadway, August 2020.
Scenes from Broadway, August 2020.
The corner of Broadway and Prince Street, September 2020.
The corner of Broadway and Prince Street, September 2020.
All photos courtesy of the SoHo Broadway Initiative.

Mark Dicus has been the Executive Director of the SoHo Broadway Initiative since 2014, guiding the organization’s sidewalk maintenance, community development, advocacy, and pedestrian and public safety efforts.