EMP Capital breaks ground on 99-unit tower in Long Island City

Heavy machinery is active at 37-09 36th Avenue in Long Island City as the earthwork phase begins for a new 26-story mixed-use development. The project will replace a two-story building that was recently demolished. The new structure will rise 285 feet and cover 243,359 square feet.

Permits filed in May 2026 outline the building's interior layout. It will contain 99 residential units totaling 133,607 square feet, with an average size of 674 square feet. The remaining space is divided into 105,349 square feet of commercial area and 4,403 square feet for a community facility. A cellar is also included in the design.

Elie Pariente of EMP Capital Group is developing the project. Ralph Kowalcyzk of Issac and Stern Architects served as the design architect. EMP Capital Group signed an $86.5 million construction loan with QuadReal Property Group in September. That loan covers this site as well as a companion 99-unit property located at 35-43 37th Street.

To finance the build, EMP Capital Group also paid $2.5 million for development rights to a triangular parcel. The parcel is owned by BedRock Real Estate Partners and spans approximately 1,900 square feet. On the ground, a drilling rig is currently installing soldier piles for the perimeter shoring wall that will brace the excavation.

The site is accessible via the 36th Avenue and 39th Avenue subway stations, which serve N and W trains. The 36th Street and Steinway Street stations provide M and R service. Bus routes Q63, Q66, Q101, and Q102 also stop nearby. The Museum of the Moving Image, Playground Thirty-Five, and several local schools are located in the immediate vicinity.