New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the next phase of the Gansevoort Square redevelopment, a project that includes 590 mixed-income apartments and new ground-floor retail and community space in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District.
Following a competitive request-for-proposals process, Gansevoort Square Partners, a joint venture of Douglaston Development and Kinwood Partners, was selected to lead the project on Little West 12th Street between Washington Street and 10th Avenue. The development will exceed the city’s affordable housing goals, with up to 55 percent of units permanently affordable, funded entirely with private capital without city subsidies.
“Gansevoort Square represents everything we believe affordable housing should be — ambitious in scale, exceptional in design, and built to last,” said Jeffrey E. Levine, founder and chairman of Douglaston Development. “By delivering these permanently affordable homes without city subsidy, we’re proving the private sector can meet New York’s housing crisis head-on while honoring the creative DNA of the Meatpacking District.”
The redevelopment, first announced in October 2024, will transform the historic Gansevoort Meat Market site into residential units, new open space, and an expansion of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the High Line maintenance and operations facility. The full project is expected to generate 3,700 construction jobs, more than 160 permanent jobs, and roughly $1.1 billion in economic impact.
“We welcome the city’s selection of a development team to advance affordable housing in our neighborhood,” said Scott Rothkopf, director of the Whitney Museum of American Art. “The Whitney looks forward to working with city partners and our neighbors as part of the broader Gansevoort Square project.”
The development will include a mix of neighborhood retail and community space on the ground floor, designed to complement the surrounding cultural corridor, which includes the Whitney Museum, Hudson River Park, Little Island, the High Line, and the historic Meatpacking District.
Douglaston Development has a record of delivering mixed-income housing across New York City, including West Chelsea and Hudson Yards. Kinwood Partners brings experience managing major Meatpacking District projects such as Chelsea Market, Milk Studios, and Pier 57. World-class architects MVRDV and CetraRuddy will collaborate on the project.
Site investigations and design work will begin immediately, with residential construction projected to start in 2028. The project aims to enter the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure by early 2027 and obtain approval by the end of that year.
Local labor and community groups praised the project for its potential economic and workforce benefits. Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, highlighted the project’s commitment to wage standards and workforce development. Ken Jockers, executive director of Hudson Guild, noted the opportunities for training, OSHA certification, and pathways to construction and building operations jobs for local residents.
Community engagement has been a priority, with multiple public sessions and presentations to Community Board 2. The developers have committed to ongoing collaboration with local stakeholders, elected officials, and cultural institutions.
“This is a transformative development that combines affordable housing, cultural enrichment, and community investment,” said Steven Charno, president of Douglaston Development. “Gansevoort Square will be a project the neighborhood embraces today and for generations to come.”
