Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is set to reinvigorate Gowanus with a bold new residential project at 175 Third St., marking a departure from earlier designs proposed by previous site owner Aby Rosen’s RFR Realty.
The newly envisioned 27-story tower will feature approximately 1,000 rental apartments and will encompass over 1 million square feet, positioning it as a significant addition to the rapidly evolving Gowanus neighborhood.
The project is being developed by Charney Companies and Tavros, who have already made their mark with multiple buildings along the eastern side of the Gowanus Canal.
Upon acquiring the site for $164 million in May after years of interest, Sam Charney, principal of Charney Companies, expressed excitement about finally seizing the opportunity.
“We had our eyes on the site forever,” Charney noted, happy that the price finally dropped to a point where they could proceed.
Despite providing proposals from several renowned architects, Charney and Tavros found that Ingels’ new design was superior to the previous iteration, which they deemed inefficient and lacking visual appeal.
The previous design, characterized by red bricks, clashed with the neighboring Powerhouse Arts structure, which prompted the developers to seek a fresh perspective.
Ingels’ revised vision presents a cascade of angular concrete volumes that ascend towards the canal, enhancing the waterfront view, which symbolizes the area’s industrial heritage.
Charney remarked that the textured architectural concrete would resemble rock, further integrating the new build with Gowanus’s historical narrative.
The neighborhood has undergone a dramatic transformation, spurred by a federal-supervised cleanup of the Gowanus Canal that began a decade ago.
This cleanup led to the rezoning of 82 blocks for residential use, facilitating the construction of nearly 9,000 new rental apartments and stimulating a construction boom after years of stagnant development.
Once riddled with toxic waste, the canal has become an unexpected focal point for the community, providing a scenic environment amid modern apartment towers.
As part of the new development’s commitment to affordable housing, 25% of the units at 175 Third St. will be designated as affordable, in accordance with the neighborhood’s Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning requirements.
This project follows the recent opening of 224-unit Union Channel, also developed by Charney and Tavros, which is already 60% rented, along with additional projects Douglass Port and Nevins Landing that are currently under construction.
Charney estimates the total development cost for 175 Third St. will reach around $1 billion, encompassing land acquisition and construction expenses.
The project will also feature 100,000 square feet of retail space and hopes to become the centerpiece of the “Gowanus Wharf campus,” even though the buildings will not be directly adjacent.
Among its many amenities, the development will include a 30,000 square-foot public park, a canal boardwalk that stretches 250 feet, sports facilities, a dog run, rooftop lounges, spa pools, and a three-acre landscaped courtyard, complemented by 35,000 square feet of indoor luxury amenities.
As part of a broader plan, a waterfront promenade is set to line the entire canal, with each developer responsible for landscaping the areas adjacent to their buildings.
Construction of 175 Third St. is anticipated to commence approximately one year from now, once the ongoing projects at Nevins and Douglass Streets reach completion.
image source from：https://nypost.com/2025/06/01/business/1b-residential-project-going-up-in-gowanus/
