As Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy list their Village home for more space, See upscale developments coming to the neighborhood (2024)

In August 2024, actors Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy put their Greenwich Village townhouse on the market. The celebrity couple bought the house in 2012, when Ms. Danes was pregnant with the first of their three children; they embarked on a significant renovation shortly after closing, and have no plans to leave New York, but listing broker Tamar Howard told The New York Times that they need more space for their growing children and extended families.

The townhouse was listed for $9.75 million, but will likely not stay on the market for long. Between its rich history, artistic residents past and present, eclectic architecture, bustling dining and cultural scenes, and close proximity to other popular areas, Greenwich Village is one of New York's most celebrated neighborhoods. According to CityRealty data, it is also one of New York's most expensive.

Scarcity is undoubtedly a factor in the high prices: CityRealty listings show only 201 public listings in Greenwich Village, indicating that few residents are selling. By this point, many of the neighborhood’s industrial buildings that could be converted to residential have already done so. Moreover, because much of the neighborhood is located within the boundaries of the Greenwich Village Historic District, and because locals are fiercely protective of the stretches that aren't, new construction in Greenwich Village is few and far between.

However, it is not nonexistent: Below, we check in on eight boutique projects in various stages taking shape throughout Greenwich Village (defined here as Houston to 14th Streets, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue). While not likely to be the most amenity-rich new buildings to take shape, their greatest perk may be close proximity to green spaces like Washington Square Park and Union Square, historic clubs and theaters, popular restaurants and boutiques, gourmet supermarkets, and numerous transportation options.

The new projects are in various stages of construction, but none will be ready to move into in the near future. For those who don't want to wait that long to move to the Village, we look at listings in recently constructed and converted condos available for immediate move-in.

Rendering of 16 Fifth Avenue (Rendering via Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Acheson Doyle Partners, Hill West Architects for Landmarks Preservation Commission)

Plans for 16 Fifth Avenue date back to fall 2017, when the first designs for a 27-story, limestone-clad tower were revealed. If this had gone forward, it would have outstripped the nearby 1 Fifth Avenue as the tallest building in the neighborhood. Local preservationists objected to the planned height, as well as to the fact that two five-story buildings that had been home to a number of luminaries, inventor Isaac Singer and actress Celeste Holm among them, would be demolished to make way for thew new tower. However, the planned building's height shrunk over the course of multiple Landmarks hearings, and a 213-foot-tall building was ultimately approved in May 2021.

16 Fifth Avenue, summer 2024 (CityRealty)

In early 2023, work on the site undermined the structure of the nearby 10 Fifth Avenue to a point where cracks formed in the facade and it was deemed unsafe for residents to stay there (h/t New York Post). But in November 2023, new bracing structures were put in place to keep the existing building safe while foundation work proceeded on the new one. A more recent site visit saw the new building rising a few stories aboveground.

64 University Place (Douglas Elliman)

Up the street from the long-delayed 16 Fifth Avenue, construction is winding down on 64 University Place. The new building’s brick facade is a tasteful complement to its historic neighbors, and the oversized arched windows immediately set it apart. The windows promise incredible light; interiors by SPACE Copenhagen will offer serene spaces, and its address between East 10th and 11th Streets puts it right between Washington Square and Union Square Parks. The combination has proven irresistible to luxury buyers: The building is reportedly sold out.

However, preservationists were none too happy about this condo, either. At 125 feet tall, 64 University Place is the tallest building on its block. Moreover, Village Preservation lobbied for the protection of the four-story office building previously on the site because influential publisher Grove Press completed successful legal challenges on behalf of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Tropic of Cancer while they were working in the building.

Rendering of 38 West 8th Street (Morris Adjmi Architects)

On the corner of West 8th Street and MacDougal Street, the Morris Adjmi-designed 38 West 8th Street is taking shape. Renderings show a light gray building with frontage on West 8th and MacDougal, a brick and stone facade, windows in line with its red brick neighbor, and a distinctive cornice. Construction has topped out, and the windows are visible behind the construction netting.

38 West 8th Street, summer 2024 (CityRealty)

Rendering of 44 West 8th Street (Inworkshop Architecture)

In June 2024, Landmarks approved a new building to rise at 44 West 8th Street, up the street from 38 West 8th Street (see above). The low-rise commercial buildings have been sitting empty, and the replacement by InRise Architecture offers a context-sensitive design with its six-story height, terra cotta base, brick facade, and thoughtful fenestration. Floor plans included with the Landmarks presentation call for only five floor-through units with direct elevator entry, large living/dining areas with open kitchens, as many as four bedrooms, and private terraces.

307-309 Sixth Avenue (Issac & Stern for Landmarks Preservation Commission)

In April 2024, the Landmarks Preservation Commission signed off on a new building for 307-309 Sixth Avenue. The two low-rise buildings previously on the site will have to be demolished (though even the staunchest preservationists will not be sorry to see them go), and Landmarks calls the red brick replacement “more than acceptable.” Floor plans included in the presentation depict large floor plates, kitchens with center islands, and in-unit laundry. Condos would be the first guess; but an offering plan has not been filed yet (if indeed at all), and high-end rentals would not be unthinkable.

Rendering of 118 West 13th Street (CityRealty)

In September 2021, Slate Property Group bought The New School's dorm at 118 West 13th Street for $22.85 million. More recently, a site visit saw Landmarks-approved work underway to transform the interiors into an eight-unit boutique condominium. A recently filed offering plan did not include a sellout price, but it is worth noting that the dorm was once at the top of the list of the country's most expensive dorms.

118 West 13th Street, spring 2024 (CityRealty)

Axion diagram of 525 Sixth Avenue (NYC Department of Buildings)

In July 2024, developer Izaki Group secured financing for its latest project, this one on the corner of Sixth Avenue and West 14th Street. 525 Sixth Avenue is a stone’s throw from two edgy new projects (101 West 14th Street and Forena), but an early axion diagram indicates that it will make a statement without overshadowing its neighbors. Excavation is currently underway, and completion is estimated for spring 2026.

Alternative unbuilt vision for an office conversion of the existing property

In May 2024, shortly after closing on a six-story building that once housed the New York City Human Resources Administration for $57.5 million, developer Legion Investment Group filed permits to demolish it. A 20- to 30-story condominium is rumored for its replacement, but that has not yet been confirmed. Demolition permits for the existing building on site were filed in May.

Google Streetview of 5 West 13th Street

Greenwich Village listings in new construction and recently converted buildings