Meatpacking BID: One of the city’s newest business improvement districts - by Lauren Danziger

Lauren Danziger, Meatpacking Business Improvement District

The Meatpacking District is a world-class destination known for cutting-edge fashion and design, technology, food and hospitality, art and culture.

This iconic, 24-hour neighborhood, located on the far west side of Manhattan, bordered by Chelsea to the north and the West Village to the south, offers distinct vibes in daytime versus the night. In the last 20 years, fashion and graphic designers, architects, artists, restaurateurs, stylists and corporate headquarters, have moved in alongside existing meatpacking plants. This evolution created an incredibly interesting and diverse dynamic that befits an area already full of contrasts.

When you visit, breathe it in and look around. You’ll see high heels straddle Belgian block stone streets. Look up and marvel at the historical architecture as contemporary structures are built above and feel the grit of an industrial backbone against the chic of today’s industry. In this place of storied history, some of the most relevant technology companies are blazing the path for tomorrow.

Meatpacking District Map

The Meatpacking Business Improvement District (BID) is the not-for-profit business alliance of area tenants and property owners. The organization manages the district’s public spaces and works to keep the area clean, safe and beautiful. The BID also works to support the business community through a robust calendar of marketing initiatives, events and public relations efforts.

Recently, the neighborhood saw the opening of the Whitney Museum to much acclaim, adding even more institutional depth to the already existing NYC highlights like the famed High Line Park and Chelsea Market. The neighborhood boasts the headquarters of DVF, Theory, rag & bone to name just a few; acts as home base for Milk Studios, Google, The Food Network – and so much more. The district is not simply a tourist destination. It is home to some of the most interesting commerce occurring in this metropolis. Its zoning, as M1-5, manufacturing with no residential overlay, has created a fascinating dynamic where varied businesses and commerce thrives.

Breakfast for Dinner

When the New York Times came out with the annual top ten restaurants of the year, the 2015 list included two establishments located in the Meatpacking District. This Leap Day, Monday, February 29th, the BID will honor the district’s incredible food and hospitality culture, which matured in recent years. It’s hosting “Breakfast for Dinner.” A battle of the breakfasts, Meatpacking chefs will go skillet-to-skillet whipping up their best breakfast items and compete to win attendees love and praise for the People’s Choice Award. As guests mingle and taste different offerings, they can imbibe on favorite breakfast cocktails by Belvedere and Chandon, along with and Six Point beer, while jamming out to live music.

The event will feature: Bubby’s vs. STK vs. Bodega Negra vs. Dos Caminos vs Untilted vs. Toro vs. Chelsea Creamline vs. Spice Market vs. Serafina vs. Giovanni Rana vs Bagatelle vs. Fig & Olive vs. BEC vs. Doughnutery vs. Colicchio & Son’s vs. The Chester vs. Soho House

Spend some time in the neighborhood with an open mind and you’ll find its so much more than you remember or perceive it to be. Come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Stay for the culture, the shopping, and the community.

Lauren Danziger is an executive director for the Meatpacking District Management Association, Manhattan, N.Y.