On October 28, 2024, Mayor Eric Adams introduced an ambitious plan to transform 66,000 square feet in the heart of the Meatpacking District into a dynamic cultural and residential hub called Gansevoort Square. The project, developed in partnership with the Gansevoort Meat Market, includes 600 mixed-income housing units (with up to 300 affordable homes), new open public space, and potential expansions for iconic institutions like the Whitney Museum and the High Line.
As part of a broader strategy to create 24/7 “live, work, play, and learn” communities, the redevelopment aims to attract New Yorkers and tourists while promoting affordable living — all without public subsidies. This initiative aligns with the city’s post-COVID revitalization efforts and emphasizes a multi-agency approach to foster economic growth, cultural enrichment, and housing solutions. Community engagement sessions are planned to ensure neighborhood collaboration on the next steps.
Mayor Adams Unveils new Vision
for Gansevoort Square
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new vision to transform approximately 66,000 square feet in the heart of the Meatpacking District into a 24/7 live, work, play, and learn community and cultural hub for New Yorkers. Known as Gansevoort Square, this vision will build upon the success of the Meatpacking District and reimagine the site as a one-of-a-kind destination for New Yorkers, with mixed-income housing, new public space, and the opportunity to expand the Whitney Museum of American Art and the High Line — some of the city’s most iconic cultural institutions. Unveiled by First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer this morning at the Association for a Better New York, this project will deliver needed affordable housing and open space and cement the Meatpacking District as a global destination and economic engine for the city.
“We’re tackling generational, city-changing projects in all five boroughs, because our administration doesn’t shy away from challenges — we embrace them as opportunities to deliver for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we’re thrilled to unveil our next big project — transforming 66,000 square feet at Gansevoort Square into 600 mixed-income housing units, a massive new open pavilion, and the city’s next cultural and artistic hub. The potential we have here is endless, and we’re excited to take the next steps towards turning our vision into a reality. I’m grateful to our partners at the Gansevoort Meat Market, Councilmember Bottcher, the Whitney, the High Line, and more with whom we’re embarking on this next chapter in Gansevoort Square’s history together.”
“The new vision for Gansevoort Square is the type of exciting, forward-looking project our administration is known for and the exact kind of project we want our city to continue to dream up and deliver,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “In one area, we are delivering on much-needed affordable housing, creating more public space, and offering opportunities for two cultural icons to expand. This endeavor requires strong partnership amongst many stakeholders and is a multi-agency collaboration that shows government’s capacity to reinvent.”
“Alongside our partners in the cultural and business communities, we are transforming our central business districts into true live, work, and play hubs with desperately-needed homes, vibrant street life, public art, and all of New York’s creativity on full display — making them irresistible to New Yorkers, both new and lifelong,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Gansevoort Square is our newest exciting step to make permanent Manhattan’s reawakening post-COVID. I can’t wait to see it come to life.”
“This is an incredible opportunity to not only deliver needed housing for New Yorkers, but create a vibrant 24/7 live, work, play, and learn community right in the heart of one of New York’s most iconic neighborhoods,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “Through a mutual decision with the Gansevoort Meat Market to leave the site early, we are able to unlock enormous potential to further expand upon what is becoming a premier cultural destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike.”
“The Meatpacking District is an iconic neighborhood, steeped with the city’s social, economic, and cultural history,” said New York City Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “Reimagining Gansevoort Square provides an exciting opportunity to build on that history, while introducing critical new housing, public open space, and expansion opportunities for important cultural institutions.”
“Culture is at the heart of thriving, healthy neighborhoods, and the potential for this vision to expand space for the Whitney and the High Line alongside new housing would make for a dynamic new hub in the heart of the Meatpacking District,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “One bold project at a time, our administration is working with partners to build extraordinary amenities that will foster a more affordable and vibrant New York for all of us.”
“The reimagining of Gansevoort Square exemplifies how we can address citywide priorities and integrate green spaces to create a more vibrant and accessible city for all New Yorkers,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “By expanding public open space as well as adding affordable units, we ensure that this neighborhood will continue to thrive as a destination for recreation and community connection.”
“The Whitney and the High Line are treasured institutions on the West Side, and I’m excited that they’re considering this opportunity,” said New York City Councilmember Erik Bottcher. “I look forward to working with all stakeholders and the wider community to envision this site for cultural and park uses, along with the potential for much-needed affordable housing.”
“The Gansevoort Market is fortunate to have made our home in the Meat Packing District for nearly a century,” said John Jobbagy, president, Gansevoort Market, Inc. “Many of our members are multigenerational family businesses, employing hundreds of dedicated New Yorkers who serve our city’s restaurant and stores. With technological advances, our industry processing practices have changed, and the market building does not meet up-to-date standards for processing and distribution. For the last decade, we have been exploring options for new facilities and better ways of serving our customers. This opportunity has come along at the right time and meets our needs. Our city thrives on advancement and improvement — and we look forward to the creation of new housing for New Yorkers, new open space, and the potential for much more.”
Gansevoort Square — located on Little West 12th Street between Washington Street and 10th Avenue in Manhattan — will be partially built on the lot of the Gansevoort Market Co-op. In August, the Gansevoort Meat Market — the site’s current tenant — elected to leave the site early in cooperation with NYCEDC and the City of New York. The initial proposal for this new project includes:
- Up to 600 mixed-income housing units to further the city’s ambitious housing policy goals and deliver needed affordable units. The city anticipates that this will include as many as 300 affordable units, without the need for any public subsidy.
- A new, 11,200-square-foot public open space.
- The opportunity for additional development on a 45,000 square foot space, including a potential expansion of the Whitney Museum of American Art — which has a Right of First Offer on the former Meat Market site — with new gallery, education, and learning spaces, as well as potential new High Line facilities.
There will be an upcoming community engagement process that will kick off with conversations with Councilmember Bottcher, Community Board 2, and local partners.
Gansevoort Square stems from the set of recommendations made in the ‘New’ New York panel’s Making New York Work for Everyone action plan, a set of 40 proposals to reimagine New York City’s commercial districts as vibrant 24/7 destinations. The action plan focuses on creating business districts that are vibrant, resilient, healthy, and globally competitive in attracting and retaining businesses.
“The Whitney Museum is engaged in promising talks with the City and Friends of the High Line about a unique opportunity to expand onto a neighboring city-owned site, which would allow us to better serve artists and audiences from New York and around the world,” said Scott Rothkopf, Alice Pratt Brown director, Whitney Museum of American Art. “Our recently launched, sector-leading free admissions programs have welcomed hundreds of thousands of new, younger, and more diverse visitors to our exhibitions and educational programs. They will be at the center of an inspiring vision for our future in the community. We look forward to further discussions.”
“Friends of the High Line has been in early conversations with the city and the Whitney Museum about an exciting opportunity to expand our operations building to meet the growing demands of the park,” said Alan van Capelle, executive director, Friends of the High Line. “Since opening 15 years ago, the High Line’s physical footprint has tripled in length and grown to welcome 7 million annual visitors — more than 20 times initial expectations. Additional space would give us room to dream big, better serve the appetite of New Yorkers for year-round programming, and increase our impact on New York City.”
“As New York City continues to reinvigorate its economy, we must invest in development projects that will help expand our housing stock and generate family-sustaining careers in our local communities,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “I applaud Mayor Adams and NYCEDC for prioritizing Gansevoort Square and for advancing this project, which will create needed housing and open space for all New Yorkers. This administration’s continued commitment to driving forward bold initiatives that are built with labor standards and pave accessible pathways to the middle class for hard working New Yorkers is crucial to the future of our city.”
“The Meatpacking District has been defined by the meat processing industry for over a century,” said Jeffrey LeFrancois, executive director, Meatpacking District Management Association. “The transition of the municipal meat market site marks an important milestone in the district’s history, as we make way for an expanded arts and culture footprint on the west side, and more housing, too. The Meatpacking Business Improvement District looks forward to playing an integral role with neighborhood stakeholders and the city as this process moves forward.”
“Friends of the High Line has been in early conversations with the city and the Whitney Museum about an exciting opportunity to expand our operations building to meet the growing demands of the park,” said Alan van Capelle, executive director, Friends of the High Line. “Since opening 15 years ago, the High Line’s physical footprint has tripled in length and grown to welcome seven million annual visitors — more than 20 times initial expectations. Additional space would give us room to dream big, better serve the appetite of New Yorkers for year-round programming and increase our impact on New York City.”
“The Gansevoort Market is fortunate to have made our home in the Meatpacking District for nearly a century,” said John Jobbagy, president, Gansevoort Market, Inc. “Many of our members are multigenerational family businesses, employing hundreds of dedicated New Yorkers who serve our city’s restaurant and stores. With technological advances, our industry processing practices have changed, and the market building does not meet up-to-date standards for processing and distribution. For the last decade, we have been exploring options for new facilities and better ways of serving our customers. This opportunity has come along at the right time and meets our needs. Our city thrives on advancement and improvement —and we look forward to the creation of new housing for New Yorkers, new open space, and the potential for much more.”
“The redevelopment of Gansevoort Square builds on decades of investment in the West Side of Manhattan that has created dynamic new neighborhoods from the Battery through Hudson Yards,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “The Adams administration continues to open up new opportunities for high-quality development that will ensure the city’s future vitality.”
“This project is yet another example of the kind of innovative approach we need more of to successfully address the affordable housing crisis,” said Jolie Milstein, president and CEO, New York State Association for Affordable Housing. “I appreciate the Adams administration’s willingness to think outside the box and its commitment to building more housing in desirable neighborhoods to meet the needs of all New Yorkers.”
“Great to see the administration walking the walk with innovative new ways to produce mixed income housing without the use of public subsidy,” said Craig Livingston, president, New York Real Estate Chamber. “It is a perfect equilibrium of creating affordable housing without saddling taxpayers with the cost.”
“This plan reflects the ingenuity and creativity needed to foster 21st century vibrant neighborhoods,” said Basha Gerhards, senior vice president of planning, Real Estate Board of New York. “After a historic tenure as one of the city’s longest operating meat markets, we look forward to seeing Gansevoort Square’s next era.”
“The New York Housing Conference commends the Adams administration for requiring affordable housing in the redevelopment of this mixed-use site,” said Rachel Fee, executive director, New York Housing Conference. “It’s also a win for New York City taxpayers as the affordable housing will be built without public subsidy. Future residents, who would otherwise be priced out, will enjoy the benefits of this neighborhood packed with history and cultural amenities.”
“Creating affordable housing and supporting our treasured cultural institutions are core principles of our work at Community Board 2,” said Susan Kent, chair, Community Board 2. “We are eager to learn more and do our part to achieve the best possible results for our community and our city.”
October 28, 2024 New York City Hall
Sources: NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune ,
Big New York news BigNY.com
