Permits & development · Deals & development · 11/09/2026, 10:49 AM
Construction Starts on 27-Story, 1,071-Unit Gowanus Tower by Powerhouse Arts
Foundation work has begun at 175 3rd St. in Gowanus, a former Verizon parking lot. The Bjarke Ingels Group design will rise 281 feet with 1,071 apartments, about 250 of them affordable under the Gowanus rezoning. The city issued the new-building permit in 2026. No completion date or affordable-housing application schedule has been announced.
Reported by BK ReaderRead the original ↗
What happened
Construction has started on a 27-story apartment complex at 175 3rd St. in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The site sits at the corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue, beside the Gowanus Canal and Powerhouse Arts. It was a Verizon parking lot with single-story industrial structures, all since razed. Brownstoner reported the start on 11/05/2026. BK Reader followed on 11/09/2026, citing Brownstoner.
Bjarke Ingels Group designed the project. Brownstoner says Dencityworks|architecture is also working on it. Plans call for 1,071 apartments in a 1.08-million-square-foot complex rising 281 feet. About 250 apartments are expected to be affordable under the city's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, which the Gowanus rezoning requires. The building will be all-electric, with ground-floor retail, artist workspaces and a rooftop pool.
Charney Companies and Tavros bought the property from developer RFR for $160 million in 2025, according to BK Reader. Brownstoner reports that RFR had already secured a 421-a tax abatement. Excavation and foundation permits were issued in 2025. The new-building permit was issued in 2026. Brownstoner says the current plan almost triples the number of apartments in designs first pitched for the site, made possible by the rezoning.
Crews have excavated parts of the lot. They are installing concrete and rebar foundations next to Powerhouse Arts and along 3rd Street near the bridge. The rezoning also requires a 28,000-square-foot public esplanade along the canal. Field Operations is designing it with the city's Parks Department. BIG says the sloped waterfront park is meant to absorb stormwater and reduce flooding. No completion date, leasing details or affordable-housing application schedule has been announced.
Key facts
- Address
- 175 3rd St., Gowanus, Brooklyn (corner of 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue)
- Units
- 1,071 apartments, about 250 expected to be affordable under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing
- Size
- 27 stories, 281 feet, 1.08 million square feet
- Developers
- Charney Companies and Tavros
- Purchase price
- $160 million, bought from RFR in 2025
- Tax benefit
- Prior owner RFR secured a 421-a tax abatement (per Brownstoner)
- Permits
- Excavation and foundation permits issued in 2025; new-building permit issued in 2026
- Public space
- 28,000-square-foot canal esplanade designed by Field Operations with the Parks Department
What it means
Tenants and voucher holders
About 250 affordable apartments are planned, but no application schedule, rents or income limits have been released. There is nothing to apply for yet.
Caseworkers
This is a long-range lead for clients seeking affordable units in Gowanus, not a current opening. No eligibility details or timeline have been published.
Landlords
More than 1,000 new apartments will add rental supply in Gowanus once complete. No completion date has been announced.
The highlights
- About 250 units are expected to be affordable under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.
- Charney Companies and Tavros bought the site from RFR for $160 million in 2025.
- Plans include a 28,000-square-foot public canal esplanade and a rooftop pool.
Why it matters
About 250 new affordable units are coming to Gowanus, but no application timeline has been released yet.
What to do: Watch for the project's affordable housing application announcement.
Not known yet
- When the affordable units will open for applications
- Rents, income bands and unit sizes for the affordable apartments
- Expected completion date
- Whether the 421-a abatement carries over to the new owners and what terms apply
Background
Under New York City's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, new buildings in rezoned areas must set aside a share of apartments as permanently affordable. Those apartments are usually rented through the city's housing lottery on NYC Housing Connect, overseen by HPD. Rents and income limits are tied to a percentage of area median income, and applicants must meet household size and income rules for each unit. Lotteries typically open near the end of construction, not when foundation work begins.
Also drawn from: Work Starts on Giant Gowanus Tower Next to Powerhouse Arts (Brownstoner)
Summary written by Bulwark from BK Reader’s reporting. The original story is at bkreader.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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