[2]Rendering of Whitney Museum.

The New York Times reported yesterday [3] that the Whitney Museum has signed its contract with New York City's Economic Development Corporation to take over a city-owned site next to the southern end of the High Line.  The Whitney is planning a new museum designed by Renzo Piano, with 50,000 square feet of exhibition space-- nearly twice what the Whitney's Madison Avenue location has.

The agreement gives the Whitney 4 years to pay the $18 million for the site, and five years to begin construction. Design renderings released a couple of years ago show a six-story building, stepping down from the West Side Highway towards the High Line in a series of terraces. The plan also calls for a large street-level public plaza, and public indoor space on the ground level, to complement the High Line's Gansevoort Plaza and Gansevoort stairs.

Whitney Advances Plans for Museum Near the High Line [3] [NY Times]