Long Island Cheat Sheet: Contractor dies in plane crash off Amagansett beach … & more

Long Island contractor dies in plane crash off Amagansett beach
Contractor Ben Krupinski died Saturday when a plane carrying his family crashed in the waters off of Amagansett’s Indian Wells Beach. His wife, Bonnie Bistrian Krupinski, his 22-year-old grandson William Maerov and pilot Jon Dollard also died in the crash. In the past, Krupinski had worked with architects like Herzog & de Meuron, Peter Marino & Associates along with Robert A.M. Stern Architect and others on residential projects throughout the Hamptons and Connecticut. The real estate empire he built with his wife was worth about $150 million. [TRD]

The number of construction jobs grow on Long Island
Long Island added about 2,700 construction jobs in the past year, according to Associated General Contractors of America. That’s about a three percent rise, bringing the local total up to 82,400 people working in construction. Nearby New York City saw even larger growth with a five percent rise, gaining 6,800 between April 2017 and April 2018. Staff with the association attributed the growth to federal changes to taxes, reductions in regulations and a boost in infrastructure funding. [LIBN]

Lindenhurst halts build contracts with architects after corruption indictment
The Village of Lindenhurst will not go ahead with planned building contracts with Westbury-based D&B Engineers and Architects PC after the firm was indicted on bribery and corruption charges. The town’s board in December had selected the firm for road raising and bulkhead repair among other projects. D&B would’ve been in charge of design and construction inspection. The town hadn’t signed any contracts with the firm. [Newsday]

More than 900 apply for 45 affordable apartments at Peconic Crossing in Riverhead
The Community Development Corp. of Long Island and Conifer Realty LLC held a lottery to pick the tenants for the Peconic Crossing mixed-use apartment building that’s set to be finished in July. Officials said they received more than 900 applications for 45 units by the May 25 deadline. To qualify, applicants needed to make from 50 to 90 percent of the area’s median income, or, for two people, up to $76,160. The rents range from $976 for a one-bedroom up to $1,562 for a two bedroom. [Riverhead News-Review]

LI firm buys up six 7-Eleven convenience stores 
Petrakis Properties, a commercial real estate company based in Seaford, has bought up six 7-Eleven locations in New York State for $2.7 million. The properties, some of which include fuel stations, total 15,811 square feet and are located in Attica, Corning, Elmira Heights, Hornell, Rochester and Warsaw. Silber Investment Properties, based in Hicksville, represented Petrakis and the seller, Saunders Management, which is headquartered in Rochester. [LIBN]

Hicksville LIRR garage repair costs leap up to $18M
Officials in the Town of Oyster Bay now think that the cost of repairs in and around a 1,441-space parking garage serving LIRR commuters in Hicksville will cost about $18 million. The town had previously planned to use about $14 million in bonds set aside for the project. Officials posted a public notice on May 25 announcing the $4 million dollar cost jump, but didn’t elaborate on what exactly the money would go toward. Since its opening in 2011, the garage has faced a series of construction-related issues. Last year, town officials sued Freeport-based Peter Scalamandre & Sons Inc. and Mineola-based Sidney B. Bowne & Son LLP for “substandard work.” [Newsday]