New York Real Estate Journal

RFR sells development site at <br>175 3rd St. in Gowanus for $160 million

May 13, 2025 - Brokerage

Brooklyn, NY RFR sold its development site located at 175 3rd St. in the Gowanus neighborhood. Tavros Capital and Charney Companies acquired the 750,000 s/f site – one of the largest development sites in in the newly rezoned Gowanus submarket – for $160 million. After several years of pre-development stewardship, RFR sold the site as a fully-entitled development opportunity.

“We’ve always made our mark by staying ahead of the curve,” said Aby Rosen of RFR. “With Gowanus, we recognized the potential early. We secured critical tax incentives, pushed forward a best-in-class design, and positioned the project to meet the area’s surging demand for housing. The result was a standout development opportunity — the kind of value creation we’re known for.”

RFR added significant value to the site by collaborating with Bjarke Ingels Group on a host of world-class design schemes while also working diligently over several years to secure an extension of the 421a tax abatement. Additionally, RFR vacated the site and obtained excavation and foundation work permits, managed a significant environmental remediation program, and qualified the site for critical tax incentives such as the Brownfield Credit Program.

RFR acquired the three-acre site for $115 million in 2018, over three years prior to the city’s rezoning of the neighborhood to allow for more multifamily development. The firm envisioned and executed on comprehensive pre-development plans to revitalize this former industrial hub in the Gowanus Opportunity Zone.

Ackman-Ziff advised RFR on the sale.