A Multi-Generational Real Estate Owner, Developer and Manager

Werwaiss Properties is a multi-generational, family-owned real estate management and development company based in Long Island City, New York, where we have been active members of the community for more than a century. We are long-term owners and hands-on operators who own, develop and manage approximately 1.5 million square feet of commercial, industrial, residential and retail real estate in more than 75 buildings located primarily in and around Long Island City with additional properties located in Manhattan, Pennsylvania and Florida. Our first multi-family project in Long Island City was completed in 2023, with a second development scheduled for completion in 2025.

Werwaiss Properties is closely connected with Long Island City and our history of active involvement in this dynamic, mixed-use neighborhood spans more than a century.

Our History

Our history began in Long Island City at the turn of the twentieth century, around the same time that Long Island City ceased to be an independent municipality and became part of New York City. William B. Welsh (great-grandfather to Gretchen and John) was born in 1886 in Long Island City. He had limited formal education but a strong work ethic and desire to succeed. He began his career as a ditch digger and then began driving teams of horses to collect materials and debris. As his business grew, he earned the contract to collect ash from the coal furnaces feeding the Ravenswood power station and built that into a business producing asphalt and paving local roads. He then won the contract to pave the roadway for the newly constructed Queensboro Bridge. The bridge, which was completed in 1909, connected Queens and Manhattan for the first time and launched the development of Long Island City that continues to this day.

In the ensuing years, Welsh Bros. Improvement Company and its affiliates acquired numerous, centrally located properties across Western Queens and built one and two-story manufacturing and warehouse buildings to facilitate its growing construction and real estate leasing businesses. Many of those original properties remain part of the Werwaiss Properties portfolio today.

In the late 1970s, John A. Werwaiss, a NYC commercial real estate broker, began to focus his efforts on Werwaiss Properties, having previously owned, developed and managed multifamily properties in Florida and led and successfully sold a national REIT. In the following decades the company built upon the legacy portfolio by acquiring and developing other properties in Long Island City and Western Queens and expanding its portfolio to include commercial and residential properties in Manhattan, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Today, our properties include a wide range of warehouse and manufacturing buildings, distribution centers, kitchens and commissaries, retail storefronts, office spaces, parking facilities, and multi-family residential apartment buildings. Our tenants represent a diverse array of individual residents, as well as a cross section set of businesses large and small – manufacturers/fabricators, contractors, distributors, technology companies, non-profits, caterers, retailers and restaurants – all of which play a vital role in the diversity and success of the area.

Long Island City sits at the geographic center of New York City and today is one of America’s fastest growing neighborhoods.

Long Island City

For many decades, Long Island City has been an active, mixed-use business community and one of the largest manufacturing and distribution centers in New York State. Today, it is home to more than 6,600 businesses with over 130,000 employees and is one of the city’s eight Central Business Districts.

Businesses located in Long Island City range from Fortune 500 companies to local supply companies, food purveyors and restaurants, artists and cultural institutions. The neighborhood is a center of culture, education and business training programs, serving as a home to cultural institutions such as MoMA PS1, Socrates Sculpture Park and the Noguchi Museum as well as educational institutions including LaGuardia Community College, CUNY Law School and APEX Technical School.

Recently, Long Island City has evolved into a desirable residential neighborhood, with more than 30,000 residential units completed since 2006 and another 12,000 proposed or under construction. Vibrant retail corridors have grown along Jackson Avenue, Queens Plaza and Vernon Boulevard attracting an ever-expanding list of food and shopping destinations as well as health and fitness amenities. Also supporting this burgeoning residential community are several local parks along the East River including Hunters Point South Park, Gantry Plaza State Park and Queensbridge Park, while further inland Murray Playground, Court Square Park and Dutch Kills Green offer welcome green space.

As one of the metropolitan area’s most highly accessible transportation hubs, Long Island City offers unparalleled access to Midtown Manhattan and direct access to Brooklyn and Long Island via eight subway lines along with buses, ferries, tunnels, bridges and the Long Island Rail Road. The heart of Long Island City also lies just 15 minutes from LaGuardia Airport and 25 minutes from John F. Kennedy Airport.

With a century-long legacy in Long Island City, Werwaiss Properties is an active member of the community, working with local businesses, non-profit organizations and cultural institutions to support residents and employers and encourage the vibrancy of the neighborhood.

Learn more about Long Island City

Featured Properties

23-10 42nd Road

Residential | Luxury Multifamily

Arriving in 2025, this 35-story tower will feature 240 carefully-crafted luxury residential apartments, many with a protected view of the East River and Manhattan skyline. The residential development will be positioned as a boutique alternative to the large glass towers prevalent throughout the neighborhood.

The Lion Match Building

22-15 43rd Avenue

Office | Retail

Located in the thriving Court Square district of Long Island City, The Lion Match Building was built in 1924 as a matchstick manufacturing and warehouse location for the Lion Match Company. The four-story building was converted from an industrial property into a 60,000 RSF boutique commercial office and retail building in the early 2000s. Recently, the lobby was refreshed, including the expansion of an existing mural, and the second, third, and fourth floors were completely renovated to include multiple pre-built offices with new HVAC systems and new common corridors and restrooms.

38-01 35th Avenue

Commercial | Retail

A prime location just one block from Astoria’s main thoroughfare, Steinway Street, this two-story commercial/retail property was repositioned from a former factory into the home of two long-term franchise restaurants. The building is situated within blocks of the famed Kaufman Astoria Studios and The Museum of the Moving Image and is across the street from a proposed $2 billion, five block mixed-used development known as Innovation QNS.

56-07 48th Street

Commercial | Distribution

Located in the Maspeth section of Queens, blocks away from the existing UPS and FedEx distribution centers and the planned 1mm SF Amazon distribution center, this 78,000 SF property serves as a conveniently located, last-mile fulfillment facility delivering goods into Manhattan and across New York City. The property features a 32-door, single-story cross docked warehouse, finished office space and a garage with four overhead doors as well as ample on-site truck parking.

36-50 31st Street

Warehouse | Industrial

Encompassing nearly 34,000 SF, these single-story warehouse buildings are strategically located at the intersection of the emerging mixed-use neighborhoods of Long Island City and Astoria and just steps away from several subway lines. These buildings are currently divided into four separate tenant spaces, including a commercial commissary space, fabrication and distribution facilities and offices.

36-01 47th Avenue and 45-54 37th Street

Warehouse | Industrial

A pair of adjacent single-story warehouse buildings located in the East of the Yards section of Long Island City, these properties are located just off of Queens Boulevard and sit within a city block of similar buildings largely owned by Werwaiss Properties. These buildings are typical of many of the properties in our portfolio which are tenanted by a cross section of distribution, light manufacturing and contracting companies who value the convenient access to Queens, Long Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan by both road and subway.

9-11/17 43rd Avenue

Warehouse | Office

Located two blocks from both the East River and Queens Plaza, this pair of adjacent buildings combine to offer 12,000 SF of ground floor warehouse space with drive-in loading/access as well as finished second floor office space.

39-15 29th Street and 39-20 30th Street

Warehouse | Office

Situated in the vibrant, mixed-use Dutch Kills neighborhood of Long Island City and within a short walk of several subway lines, this through-block site encompasses two buildings which combine to provide nearly 25,000 SF of rentable space. On 29th Street, a two-story building with ground floor warehouse/garage and second floor finished office space is connected to a two-story building on 30th Street with an upper level warehouse and office and lower level garage.

38-78 Review Avenue

Warehouse | Industrial

A 15,000 SF, single-story building on 25,000 SF of land used by the tenant as a private parking lot in the more industrial section of Long Island City. Located just south of the LIE/495 and just east of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, the BQE/278 and the Queensboro Bridge, the location provides convenient access and multiple paths for distribution.

8 Court Square

25-34 Jackson Avenue

Mixed Use | Luxury Multifamily and Retail

Inspired by its landmarked surroundings, 8 Court Square, a contemporary classic, offers premium boutique rental residences in the heart of Long Island City. The 20-story tower includes 157 thoughtfully crafted residential apartments, as well as more than 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a dedicated amenity floor with double height resident lounge, bookable dining room, co-working and conference rooms, game room and fitness center, all set off a large outdoor landscaped terrace. The two-building development also includes more than 16,000 square feet of retail space with frontage on Jackson Avenue. Click here to visit the site.

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Location	Use	SF/RSF	Details	Possession	Zoning	Rent ($/month)
LIC/Astoria 22-15 43rd Avenue (Suite 430 Map	Office	745	Suite 430, 4th Floor Pre-Built Small Office/Conference Room - can be taken with either Suite 410 or Suite 420 4-Story building Elevators (passenger and freight) Lobby with full time, on-site attendant 12' ceilings New common bathrooms New tenant-controlled a/c On-site parking Sprinklered/fire alarm Subway location (3 blks from Court Square & Queens Plaza)	Upon Lease Signing	M1-5	Upon Request
LIC/Astoria 27-06 44th Drive Map	Retail	6,100	Prime Retail Space in Long Island City 5,109 SF of lower-level space, with a 991 SF vestibule entrance and private elevator Perfect for boutique fitness or medical/spa use Located just off the best retail corner in LIC and at the base of 8 Court Square, a brand new 157-unit luxury rental building Prime location on 44th Drive, just steps away from Jackson Avenue and the E, G, M, and 7 subway lines Visit the site	Upon Lease Signing	Retail	Upon Request
LIC/Astoria 22-15 43rd Avenue, Suite 410 Map	Office	6,736	Prebuilt Office Space> Suite 410, 4th Floor 4-Story building Elevators (passenger and freight) Lobby with full time, on-site attendant 12' ceilings 2 skylights Large pantry New common bathrooms New tenant-controlled a/c On-site parking Sprinklered/fire alarm Subway location (3 blks from Citigroup Bldg)	Upon Lease Signing	M1-5	Upon Request
LIC/Astoria 22-15 43rd Avenue, Suite 420 Map	Office	7,260	Prebuilt Office Space Suite 420, 4th Floor Includes 112 RSF mechanical/storage room 4-Story building Elevators (passenger and freight) Lobby with full time, on-site attendant 12\' ceilings Large pantry New common bathrooms New tenant-controlled a/c On-site parking Sprinklered/fire alarm Subway location (3 blks from Citigroup Bldg)	Upon Lease Signing	M1-5	Upon Request

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The Team

John Werwaiss | Partner

For close to half a century John has led the business. Active in both business and civic affairs, he is currently Vice Chairman and board member of the Long Island City Partnership and a board member of Doyle New York. He was previously a board member of Fidelis Care New York and former Chairman and board member of Regis High School, a tuition-free and merit-based school in New York City giving special consideration to families in need of financial assistance. He was also actively involved in the establishment of the James Weldon Johnson Community Center in Harlem. Additionally, he served on the Board of Regents of his alma mater Georgetown University and is a former Chairman and CEO of Realty Growth Investors (REIT). He received his B.A. from Georgetown University and attended Bernard Baruch Graduate School of Business.

John A. W. Werwaiss | Partner

John joined the firm in 2017 to lead new development efforts. Previously, John was a Partner at Lindsay Goldberg, a private investment firm that facilitated long-term growth and value creation in partnership with family-owned and closely-held businesses. During his 16-year tenure he led, co-led or was actively involved in nearly 50 acquisitions across a wide variety of industries representing approximately $6 billion in transaction value. Previously, he held positions at Bessemer Holdings and in mergers and acquisitions for Merrill Lynch & Co. John earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University and his B.A. from Williams College. John is responsible for new residential development, including the recently completed 8 Court Square and 23-10 42nd Road, which is currently under construction.

Gretchen Werwaiss | Partner

After practicing law for 14 years, Gretchen joined the business in 2009. She focuses on leasing, marketing, tenant-relations and legal matters, and oversees the commercial portfolio. She is the former President and a current and longstanding member of the Board of the Queens Museum of Art. She also serves on the board of the Long Island City Business Improvement District (LIC BID). Gretchen earned a B.A. and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

Brian Lee | Controller

Since 2019 Brian has managed accounting and finance operations including current and future development projects. He has over 12 years of accounting experience in the real estate industry in both property management and development of residential and commercial properties. He earned a B.A. in Accounting from Bernard Baruch College and a Certificate in Real Estate Finance and Investments from New York University.

Allison Plunkett | Property Management & Accounting Associate

Allison has assisted with daily business operations since 2012. Among other things, Allison handles all matters related to utility accounts at the managed properties, she manages all required tenant and contractor insurance certificates, and she coordinates the processing of tenant security deposits. Allison holds an Associate Degree in Business Management from the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Kevon Beckles | Property Accountant

Kevon joined the firm in 2022, with a focus on managing and administering accounting processes for our managed properties. Kevon has over 9 years of accounting experience in public and private organizations in areas such as Accounts Payable, Invoice Management, Taxation and Credit Card Reconciliations. He holds an Associate's Degree in Accounting from CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Samantha Long | Office Coordinator

Samantha is the newest member of the team, having joined the firm in November 2023. Among other things, Samantha handles all aspects of the day-to-day operations of both the Werwaiss office and the Lion Match Building, and she assists with the clerical work of the firm. She is also a professional opera singer. Samantha earned her M.M. from Rice University and her B.M. from Vanderbilt University.

Contact Us

22-15 43rd Avenue, Suite 300 Long Island City, New York 11101 Phone: 212.983.0044 info@werwaiss.com

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Contact Us

Werwaiss Properties

22-15 43rd Avenue, Suite 300
Long Island City, New York 11101

Phone: 212.983.0044

info@werwaiss.com

Get Directions

"All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sourced deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and it is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing, or withdrawal without notice. BROKERS PROTECTED BY AGREEMENT ON FILE."

A Multi-Generational Real Estate Owner, Developer and Manager

Our History

Long Island City

Featured Properties

23-10 42nd Road

The Lion Match Building

22-15 43rd Avenue

38-01 35th​ Avenue

56-07 48th​ Street

36-50 31​st Street

36-01 47th​ Avenue and 45-54 37th​ Street

9-11/17 43rd Avenue

39-15 29th Street and 39-20 30th​ Street

38-78 Review Avenue

8 Court Square

25-34 Jackson Avenue

Availabilities

Join Our Mailing List

The Team

John Werwaiss | Partner

John A. W. Werwaiss | Partner

Gretchen Werwaiss | Partner

Brian Lee | Controller

Allison Plunkett | Property Management & Accounting Associate

Kevon Beckles | Property Accountant

Samantha Long | Office Coordinator

Contact Us

Contact Us

Werwaiss Properties

38-01 35th Avenue

56-07 48th Street

36-50 31st Street

36-01 47th Avenue and 45-54 37th Street

39-15 29th Street and 39-20 30th Street