Vaja Group acquired a $26.39 million Astoria development site with nearly 150,000 buildable square feet, expanding its footprint along Queens’ 31st Street corridor.

EMP Capital Group is forging ahead with its plan to bring new residential buildings to Astoria, Queens. The real estate investment and development company has filed two new plans with the New York City Department of Buildings calling for the construction of a 99-unit building at 35-13 Steinway Street and a 77-unit residential property next door at 35-08 41st Street. Elichai Pariente, founder of EMP Capital, and registered architect Ralph Kowalczyk of Issac & Stern Architects

New York's leading developers pressed forward in 2025, filing plans for 19 million square feet of new projects among the city's 20 most active firms — a clear signal that confidence in the market remains strong despite ongoing trade policy headwinds. Related Companies led the pack, propelled by its massive 70 Hudson Yards office project — a 1.35 million-square-foot, 72-story tower that ranks as the nation's largest ground-up office development since the pandemic began. The fi