Meatpacking District office space is located between Chelsea and Greenwich Village in Midtown South. It used to be a hub for meat wholesalers and house hundreds of meatpacking plants and slaughterhouses, though today only a few meat wholesalers remain in the area. The district houses the popular Gansevoort Market, and it’s a fashionable neighborhood full of high-end boutiques, trendy restaurants, various art galleries, and an impressive nightlife scene.
The Meatpacking District’s most well-known tenant is Google, which also owns or leases many office buildings in Chelsea. However, the neighborhood is home to many other media and technology companies, finance companies, and businesses in other sectors.
What our brokers say about Meatpacking District
In 2005, Google moved in the Meatpacking District, leasing office space at 111 Eighth Avenue, and ever since then, office space in the neighborhood has been in high demand, especially among media and tech companies. Today, the Meatpacking District houses a large number of creative, advertising, tech, and media companies, such as Theory, Bumble & Bumble, and the Food Network. “It’s the cutting edge neighborhood for creative companies to be,” said Bruce Singer, president of Sinvin Realty Corp., the company that represented the landlord who helped Theory move to the Meatpacking District.
Earlier this year, Google expanded its footprint in the area with the acquisition of the Milk Building at 450 W. 15 Street. “This purchase will help us meet our short-term growth needs in Chelsea-Meatpacking,” said William Floyd, Google’s director of external affairs. JLL director Craig Leibowitz predicts Google’s presence in the area will continue to highlight and increase the neighborhood’s desirability to other tech companies. “Google’s historical and continued expansions in the Meatpacking Districts underlie its overall desirability within the tech sector and other industry segments as well,” he said.
A large number of company headquarters operating in a variety of sectors work out of the Meatpacking District, such as Argo Group, Armani Exchange, Ticketmaster/Live Nation, Chandler Chicco Companies, Code Union, Samsung 837, WeWork, LG Capital Investors LLC, Fairfax & Sammons Architects, and Giphy. In particular, finance companies have been moving to the Meatpacking District, especially in recent years.
The Meatpacking District constantly bustles with activity and draws tourists, fashion-lovers, and businesses. It’s centrally located and absolutely full of places to eat, drink, socialize, and do business. Along with all the office space development and business activity, the Meatpacking District has also been through various reconstruction projects designed to beautify the area. “The City replaced century-old infrastructure, upgraded utilities, and created 20,000 square feet of Belgian block plazas, complete with new planters, leafy trees, chairs, tables, and umbrellas,” Meatpacking District executive director Jeffrey C. LeFrancois writes. “The Nine Avenue project added 4,000 square feet of lush plantings.” The High Line, an old railway track that’s now a walking path, offers one of the few breaks from the 24/7 hustle of the neighborhood. Walk from Gansevoort to West 30th Street on this elevated walkway and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city. Grab lunch with coworkers at one of these Yelp-recommended business lunch destinations in the Meatpacking District: RH Rooftop Restaurant, Blackbarn Cafe, Intersect by Lexus, Hillstone Restaurant, or Resca.
Meatpacking District commercial space for lease | By the numbers
| Office Space for Lease | Price per square foot |
| Average | $98 |
| Class A | $114.25 |
Lease data & trends
The Meatpacking District is part of the Midtown South office market. As of Quarter 3 2019, Midtown South contains nearly 69 million square feet of total inventory, with 1.8 million more square feet under construction. Overall, about 5 percent of Midtown South office spaces are vacant and available for lease. Meatpacking District office spaces tend to rent for around $98 per square foot, on par with the Midtown South average. Class A office spaces in the Meatpacking District can be pricier at approximately $114.25 per square foot.
The Meatpacking District lies between Chelsea, which offers office rental prices on the cheaper side for Midtown South, and Greenwich Village, which tends to have higher office space rental costs. On average, Chelsea office space costs just over $93 per square foot to rent, while Greenwich Village office space can cost up to $118 per square foot to rent.
Businesses may want to consider subleasing as a cost-cutting option in the Meatpacking District. Office subleases are arranged directly with a current office tenant and may lack the assurances that come with a direct lease through a landlord. However, for businesses that need additional flexibility, lower costs, and privacy unavailable at a coworking office, subleasing could be a good strategy.
Getting around: Transportation
The Meatpacking District’s north to south boundary runs from West 14th Street to Gansevoort Street, and its east to west boundary runs from Hudson Street to the Hudson River.
Meatpacking District locals and visitors can reach Columbus Circle in 24 minutes by train or 13 minutes by car; get to Grand Central in 26 minutes by train or in 12 minutes by car; travel to Union Square in 20 minutes by train or 5 minutes by car; or get to Wall Street in just 10 minutes by train or 23 minutes by car.
The nearest subways include A, C, E, and L. Buses that serve the area include M11, M14D-SBS, M20, and M7. The PATH train is also available. Two of the best airport options near the Meatpacking District include LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
One of the best places to walk in the Meatpacking District is the High Line, a linear park constructed on what used to be a train viaduct. Visitors can explore gardens, view street performances, study art, and grab some food along the way. The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street near the Javits Center. Most of the rest of the viaduct had been demolished in 1960 and was effectively abandoned in the early 1980s. Construction on the park began in 2006 and first opened to the public in 2009. An additional stretch near 10th avenue and 30th street opened in 2018. The High Line’s success has served as an inspiration to other cities looking for ways to transform obsolete infrastructure into public space and inspire accompanying real estate development.
Top commercial real estate listings in Meatpacking District
Ready to secure office space in this up-and-coming tech and media hub, where the business deals and activity never slow down? The Meatpacking District is characterized by low-rise buildings and streets that are off the grid. Its landmark guidelines ensure that the neighborhood retains vestiges of its past; Greek Revival townhouses, old brick converted lofts, and modern buildings can all be found within the neighborhood. Contact one of our experienced brokers, who will help you find Meatpacking District office space to meet and exceed your business needs. Or, inquire about 450 West 14th Street, 75 9th Avenue, or 61 9th Avenue, all top-rated office buildings in the neighborhood:
– 450 West 14th Street: The High Line Building, a top-rated office building located at 450 West 14th Street, was built around the time the High Line elevated park was constructed. This Class B office building features factory-style windows and a design that reflects the industrial character of the district. Current tenants of the High Line Building include Atlantic Development, Palantir Technologies, Chandler Chicco, Stryker, and Toms Capital. Currently, four units are available for rent, and all of the units are 7,800 square feet in size. Contact us for pricing details or for a tour. The High Line Building has a Walk Score of 98 and can be reached via the 14 Street—8th Avenue subway stop. That station is served by trains A, C, E, and L. Nearby restaurants include Chelsea Market Passage, Lobster Place, Spice Market, and Dos Caminos.
– 75 9th Avenue: 75 9th Avenue, often called the Chelsea Market Building, is mostly known for housing Google but also provides space for Ny 1 News and ELF Cosmetics. The 1.2 million square foot office and retail property is also a tourist destination full of shops and restaurants. Employees working at 75 9th Avenue will have plenty of options for coffee breaks and lunch restaurants during the work day. Try out MatchaBar Chelsea, Grape Leaf, Old Homestead, Dizen Goff, Bangkok Bar, or Le Pain Quotidien. Easily access the Chelsea Market Building via trains 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, or L. Nearby, get a break from the workday by taking a stroll through Mulry Square or the Chelsea Historic District.
– 61 9th Avenue: 61 9th Avenue overlooks Apple’s Meatpacking Flagship Store, as well as the Chelsea Market and Google’s NY headquarters. Rafael Vinoly Architects designed this 165,000 square foot office building, which was constructed in 2018. Recently, online brand management company Yext announced plans to take over space at 61 9th Avenue that was previously utilized by Aurora Capital Associates and Vornado Realty Trust. Other tenants of the property include Aetna and Starbucks Roastery. Right now, eight units ranging from 15,129 to 21,128 square feet in size are vacant and available to new renters. Contact SquareFoot to schedule a tour or to learn more about pricing. Reach this property via trains 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, or L. Grab coffee nearby at Starbucks, MatchaBar Chelsea, or Le Pain Quotidien.
History
The modern-day Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District used to be marked by Sapohanikan, a Native American trading station on the riverbank. For a long time, the area was known as Fort Gansevoort and was just an extension of Greenwich Village. In the mid-19th century, developers began to build residences in Meatpacking District, and later on, the Hudson River Railroad brought increased activity to the neighborhood.
Around the 1880s, the Meatpacking District area shifted from being mostly residential to hosting various farmers’ markets, usually dedicated to selling produce. Eventually, as refrigeration became more available, dairy and meat markets became more popular. That’s when the number of meatpacking plants, slaughterhouses, and meat wholesalers increased, eventually earning the neighborhood its name. As supermarkets became more and more common beginning in the 1970s, meatpacking plants became less relevant, and many of them shut down. By 2003, only 35 of the original 250 slaughterhouses and packing plants in the area were still standing. During this period of decline, the Meatpacking District acquired a less than reputable reputation, as prostitution, drugs, and crime gradually increased in the neighborhood.
In the 1990s, things started looking up for the Meatpacking District when designers began opening shops in the neighborhood, and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation as well as the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Preservation Department worked together to make the Gansevoort Market a historic district and NYC landmark. The district excludes the neighborhood’s waterfront and the 14-story luxury hotel (The Hotel Gansevoort), which opened in 2005.
When Google moved to the Meatpacking District in 2005, the Meatpacking District turned into a popular location for technology, media, and advertising companies. Today, commercial real estate in the neighborhood commands high prices and attracts highbrow tenants.