Drilling rigs start earthwork at 37-09 36th Ave. for 99-unit tower

Construction crews began the earthwork phase at 37-09 36th Ave. in Long Island City on November 3. The site is scheduled to host a 26-story mixed-use building containing 99 housing units.

Permits filed in May 2026 specify the structure will reach 285 feet in height and cover 243,359 square feet. The residential portion comprises 133,607 square feet. With an average unit size of 674 square feet, the units are expected to be rentals. The remaining space includes 105,349 square feet for commercial use and 4,403 square feet for a community facility. A cellar is also part of the plan.

The previous two-story structure at this address has been demolished. Drilling rigs are currently installing soldier piles to build a perimeter shoring wall. This wall will brace the excavation site during construction.

Elie Pariente of EMP Capital Group is developing the property. Ralph Kowalcyzk of Isaac and Stern Architects designed the building. A design architect has not yet been named publicly.

In September 2026, EMP Capital Group signed an $86.5 million construction loan with QuadReal Property Group. The financing covers this project and a companion 99-unit building at 35-43 37th St. The developer also paid $2.5 million to BedRock Real Estate Partners for development rights on a triangular parcel measuring approximately 1,900 square feet.

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 train service. Bus lines Q63, Q66, Q101, and Q102 stop nearby. Local landmarks include the Museum of the Moving Image, Playground Thirty-Five, and three public schools.