In a February 2010 Q&A with LIBN, with the housing crisis still swamping the national economy, Beechwood Organization President Michael Dubb cited many challenges facing Long Island homebuilders. Four years later, things are looking up.
Where are you with the Country Pointe development in Plainview? We’ve had our public hearing and the public comment period has been closed by the Town of Oyster Bay. The town is now evaluating all the input and they’ll be acting on it when they’re ready.
What was discussed in the hearing and the public comment? There was much more support for this project than against it. We’ve assembled over 5,000 signatures of support for our development.
What are some of the other projects you’re working on? We’re in the process of approval for a project in East Rockaway that would be condos with boat slips in the backyard. We’ve also just acquired two properties in Aquebogue that will involve houses on a golf course. In partnership with the Benjamin Development Co., we’re doing a tremendous amount of Rapid Repairs and Build it Back work in Queens and Brooklyn associated with Superstorm Sandy.
Do you find you’re still dealing with a lot of clean up from Sandy? Yes, we do in the city. The process has been slow coming, but it’s ready to break and we anticipate doing work for hundreds if not thousands of different homes.
How are sales for the 55-and-older condo market? That market is dependent on people selling their homes and the resale market is very strong right now. There’s a lot of confidence in the market and the 55-and-overs are finally able to get out of their homes and enjoy less maintenance and a much more enjoyable lifestyle.
