You’ve seen it from the 7 train. That massive, tan-brick behemoth sitting at 37-18 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City. It’s the Standard Motor Products Building, and honestly, if you live in Queens or work in New York real estate, you probably have a specific opinion about it. Some see an industrial relic. Others see the ultimate "cool" office space. But really, it's a massive case study in how a building can survive a century of economic shifts without losing its soul.
It’s big.
Six stories tall and sprawling across an entire city block, the structure contains roughly 285,000 square feet of space. Back in 1919, when it was first built, the area wasn't a hub for tech startups or artisanal coffee shops. It was the industrial heart of the city. Standard Motor Products (SMP), a company that makes automotive parts, didn't just rent a floor here; they owned the narrative of the neighborhood for decades.
The Industrial DNA of 37-18 Northern Boulevard
Walking through the lobby today, you get a sense of the scale that early 20th-century manufacturing required. This wasn't built for aesthetics, though the Art Deco flourishes on the exterior suggest the architects—Herman F. Nordheim and others involved in that era of LIC construction—had some pride in the work. It was built for weight. The floor loads are heavy. The ceilings are high.
Standard Motor Products occupied the building for about 90 years. Think about that. Most companies today barely last five years in a single lease. SMP was a fixture. They manufactured ignition parts, sensors, and wires that went into millions of American cars. When you talk about the "Standard Motor Products Building," you’re talking about a site that literally helped keep the U.S. automotive industry moving through the Great Depression, World War II, and the transition to the digital age.
Accutra and Acumaster brands were born in rooms that now host media companies and non-profits. It’s a weird juxtaposition.
By the early 2000s, things changed. Manufacturing in New York City became prohibitively expensive. Real estate values in Long Island City started to climb as the neighborhood transitioned from "industrial wasteland" to "the next big thing." In 2008, the building was sold to Acumen Capital Partners for around $40 million. That was a turning point. It wasn't just a factory anymore; it became an asset.
How the Standard Motor Products Building Redefined Adaptive Reuse
A lot of developers would have gutted the place. They would have slapped on some glass and called it "The Ignition Hub" or something equally cringe-worthy. But Acumen did something smarter. They leaned into the grit.
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They kept the industrial elevators. They kept the massive windows. They realized that the "standard motor products building" had a brand equity that was worth more than a fresh coat of white paint. One of the most famous features of the building today isn't even inside it. It's on the roof.
The Brooklyn Grange Connection
If you’ve ever eaten a salad in a trendy NYC restaurant, there’s a non-zero chance the greens came from the roof of this building. In 2010, Brooklyn Grange launched a massive commercial rooftop farm here.
It’s incredible.
One acre of intensive green roof space that produces over 50,000 pounds of vegetables a year. It’s not a "garden." It’s a farm. They have honeybees. They have rows of tomatoes and kale. This wasn't just a nice PR move for the building; it actually solves real engineering problems. The soil helps manage stormwater runoff, which is a massive issue in LIC's aging sewer system. It also acts as insulation, keeping the heating and cooling costs for the floors below much lower than a standard black-tar roof would.
A Tenant Mix That Actually Works
Who works there now? It's a weird, vibrant mix. You’ve got:
- Jim Henson Foundation: Yes, the Muppets people.
- The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission: A very "Queens" tenant if there ever was one.
- Various Architects and Design Firms: People who appreciate 12-foot ceilings.
- Non-profits: Organizations that need space but can’t afford the $100-per-square-foot prices of Hudson Yards.
The building manages to feel professional without feeling "corporate." There is a distinct lack of marble and mahogany. Instead, you get polished concrete and exposed ductwork. It’s the aesthetic that every WeWork tried to replicate, but here, it’s authentic. It’s not a costume.
The Economic Reality of Long Island City Real Estate
We have to be honest about the challenges. While the Standard Motor Products Building is a success story, the surrounding neighborhood is in a state of constant friction. Rents in LIC have skyrocketed.
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What happens to a building like this when the luxury residential towers across the street start charging $5,000 for a studio? The pressure to "reposition" the building into high-end residential or medical suites is always there. But for now, 37-18 Northern Blvd remains a bastion of the "maker" economy. It provides a middle ground.
One of the nuances people miss is the zoning. This part of Northern Boulevard has different restrictions than the waterfront. That "M" zoning (manufacturing) is what saved the building's character. It kept the developers from tearing it down to build a 60-story glass needle. It forced them to be creative with what was already there.
The Sustainability Factor
Sustainability isn't just about the rooftop farm. The building’s thick masonry walls provide a thermal mass that modern buildings struggle to match. It stays cool in the summer and holds heat in the winter. When we talk about "embodied carbon" in construction, the Standard Motor Products Building is a gold mine. The most sustainable building is the one that’s already built. By keeping the structure, the owners prevented tons of demolition debris from hitting landfills and avoided the massive carbon footprint of a new steel-and-concrete project.
Misconceptions About the Location
People often think being on Northern Boulevard is a disadvantage because it’s noisy. It is noisy. It's a six-lane thoroughfare. However, the Standard Motor Products Building is basically a fortress. Once you're inside, the noise of the traffic and the elevated train fades into a dull hum.
Also, the proximity to the M and R trains at 36th Street, and the N and W at 39th Avenue, makes it surprisingly accessible. You can be at Grand Central in 15 minutes. That’s the secret sauce. You get Manhattan-level accessibility with Queens-level floor plates.
Is it still "Standard Motor Products"?
The company still exists, by the way. They didn't vanish. They moved their headquarters to a different part of LIC (on Northern Blvd still) and shifted much of their manufacturing elsewhere, but their name stays on the flagship building. It’s a legacy thing. It’s rare in New York to see a building keep its name after the original tenant leaves. Think of the Pan Am Building becoming the MetLife Building. Or the Sears Tower becoming Willis. People in LIC still just call it the SMP Building.
Lessons for Future Urban Development
What can other cities learn from this?
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First, don't kill the industrial past. The "standard motor products building" works because it feels like New York. It doesn't feel like a generic office park in Plano, Texas. People want to work in places with history.
Second, mix your uses. Having a farm on top of a government office on top of a tech startup creates a resilient ecosystem. If one sector of the economy dips, the building doesn't go vacant.
Third, invest in the bones. Acumen spent money on the windows and the lobby, but they didn't try to hide the building's identity. They showcased it.
If you’re a business owner looking for space, or just someone interested in how cities evolve, you have to look at this building. It’s a survivor. It survived the decline of American manufacturing, the 2008 crash, and the pandemic-era shift to remote work. It’s still nearly full. That says something about the value of physical space that has character and utility.
Actionable Insights for Property Owners and Tenants
If you are looking at industrial space or managing an older asset, consider these takeaways from the SMP model:
- Evaluate Floor Loads First: Before planning a creative office conversion, ensure the structure can handle the weight of modern infrastructure. SMP’s heavy-duty floors were its biggest selling point.
- The "Fifth Elevation": Don't ignore the roof. Whether it's solar or a farm like Brooklyn Grange, the roof is an underutilized revenue and sustainability stream.
- Zoning is Destiny: Understand the specific "M" or "MX" zoning of your district. It can protect you from residential encroachment but also limits your tenant pool.
- Authenticity Over Polish: Tenants in the 2020s are increasingly allergic to "sterile" offices. Keep the original materials wherever possible.
- Connectivity Trumps Everything: A building can be beautiful, but if it's a 20-minute walk from the subway, it’s a tough sell. The SMP Building’s 15-minute commute to Midtown is why it stays relevant.
Take a trip to the roof if you get the chance. Looking out over the LIC skyline from a field of tomatoes on top of an old auto-parts factory is the most "New York" experience you can have. It reminds you that the city is always changing, but it doesn't have to forget where it came from.