Manhattan's Gansevoort Square, once the heart of the city's meatpacking industry, is set to become the site of a major mixed-income housing development designed by Dutch architectural firm MVRDV and New York-based CetraRuddy. The project will deliver 590 housing units to one of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods, where housing has become increasingly scarce as luxury developments have transformed the area's character.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) has announced that Gansevoort Square Partners, a joint venture between Douglaston Development and Kinwood Partners, will lead the redevelopment of the city-owned site on Little West 12th Street between Washington Street and 10th Avenue. Up to 55 percent of the new units will be designated as permanently affordable housing, addressing a critical need in Manhattan's Community District 2.
The housing crisis in the Meatpacking District and surrounding West Village reflects a broader citywide trend. According to a 2023 New York Times analysis, these wealthy neighborhoods have actually lost housing units as smaller apartments are combined into sprawling single-family residences. Citywide, such apartment consolidations have contributed to the loss of more than 100,000 homes since 1950, even as demand for affordable housing continues to grow.
The new residential building will feature ground-floor community and retail spaces designed to extend the cultural corridor that connects the Whitney Museum of American Art, Little Island, Hudson River Park, and the High Line. This development is part of a broader initiative to reimagine Gansevoort Square, first announced in 2024, which also includes plans for expanding the Whitney Museum and improving the High Line's operations facility.
Gansevoort Square carries a rich historical legacy spanning more than two centuries. Originally known as Old Kill Road, the area was renamed in 1837 to honor Revolutionary War hero General Peter Gansevoort. During the War of 1812, Fort Gansevoort was constructed on the site to defend against potential British invasion. After the fort's demolition in 1851, the land was used as landfill for what would become Gansevoort Market, an open-air farmers market that officially opened in 1884.
By the early 20th century, the district had evolved into the Meatpacking District, a dense industrial hub of slaughterhouses and processing facilities. The construction of the High Line elevated railway in 1929 further reinforced its working-class character by connecting the area to Manhattan's broader freight network. However, the district began declining in the 1960s before undergoing dramatic revitalization in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as its cobblestone streets and warehouses attracted galleries, boutiques, and cultural institutions.
"We're honored to help shape the next chapter of the Meatpacking District," said David Himmel, founder and managing partner of Kinwood Partners. "We're creating a place where world-class architecture, inviting retail, new public spaces and meaningful affordable housing come together to ensure this neighborhood thrives as one of New York's most dynamic and inclusive places to live."
Construction is expected to begin as early as 2028, following completion of the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which is anticipated to conclude by the end of 2027. The full Gansevoort Square redevelopment, encompassing both the housing project and Whitney Museum expansion, is projected to generate 3,700 construction jobs, 160 permanent positions, and $1.1 billion in economic activity.
The project represents a significant component of the Adams administration's strategy to utilize city-owned properties for housing development. Under Executive Order 43, issued in 2024, city agencies were directed to identify public sites suitable for residential development. The administration reports that it has advanced plans for nearly 10,000 new homes through this initiative.
"The Gansevoort Square project is a critical opportunity to use scarce public land to bring over 300 affordable homes to Manhattan's Community District 2, which is twice as many as the district built over the last decade," said Andrew Fine, chief of staff and policy director at Open New York. "Our housing crisis demands that every neighborhood take action to create more housing, and yet the West Village lost housing last year. This project is an important step toward making the West Village once again a place for everyone—not just the wealthy few."
