Hamptons Cheat Sheet: Longtime staff take over Ben Krupinski’s construction firm after his tragic death … & more

Clockwise from top left: Longtime staff helm Hamptons construction firm after owner's death in a plane crash, sunflower-themed Southampton home trims price to $5.85M, Southampton mayor shakes up regulatory boards after outcry over developments and Rechler Equity's Hampton Business District gets Suffolk County tax break.
Clockwise from top left: Longtime staff helm Hamptons construction firm after owner's death in a plane crash, sunflower-themed Southampton home trims price to $5.85M, Southampton mayor shakes up regulatory boards after outcry over developments and Rechler Equity's Hampton Business District gets Suffolk County tax break.

Longtime staff assume leadership of Ben Krupinski’s Hamptons construction firm after his tragic death
After developer Ben Krupinski’s June 2 death in a plane crash in the waters off Amagansett, two longtime employees of his luxury home building business, Ben Krupinski Builder, have begun running the company, 27East reported. The two men, Stratton Schellinger and Ray Harden, assumed leadership at the end of that month. They’d worked their way up from construction jobs to leadership positions with Krupinski’s firm for 31 and 16 years respectively. Before his death, Krupinski had laid the groundwork for the transition with the two men. The company, which is headquartered in East Hampton, engages 150 carpenters and other contractors, building luxury homes throughout New York and Connecticut. [27East]

Southampton mayor shakes up regulatory boards after outcry over developments
Southampton Village Mayor Michael Irving announced on Monday changes in staffing for the towns various regulatory boards overseeing planning, preservation and zoning, 27East reported. Susan Stevenson will now chair the Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review. Alan McFarland will take the top seat on the Planning Board. Robert Devinney will now helm the Zoning Board of Appeals. The mayor said constituent pressure didn’t play into his decisions, though local groups have been calling for new leadership on the boards. [27East]

Sunflower-themed Southampton home trims price to $5.85M
A Southampton home dubbed “Girasole” — Italian for sunflower — has cut its price down to $5.85 million, down about $750,000 from its original ask in April. The floral abode, built in 1985 on one acre, has 5,312 square feet, seven bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, cathedral ceilings, a tennis court, pool and outdoor kitchen. It wasn’t immediately clear if the sunflower decor that adorns seemingly every room in the house would come with it. Brown Harris Stevens’ Andrea Ackerman is handling the listing. [Curbed]

Suffolk officials approve funding for $24.3M plan to connect public water to 520 Wainscott homes
East Hampton will issue a 20-year bond to pay for a $24.3 million project to connect 520 Wainscott homes to the public water supply, after private wells in the town were recently found to contain toxic chemicals. Town officials also voted unanimously on an agreement with the Suffolk County Water Authority, which will hire contractors for the project, Newsday reported. All homeowners in town will also pitch in to the project, with owners of properties worth more than $1.2 million paying up to $38 per year. Homeowners are also expected to pay for their hookups to the new water mains through taxes. The hookups could cost up to $6,000, but officials are trying to get grants to offset those new expenses. Roadwork Construction Corp. of Hampton Bays and Asplundh Construction Co. will try to complete the project by the end of the year. [Newsday]

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Rechler Equity project gets Suffolk County tax break
Suffolk officials issued a preliminary approval of tax breaks for the Rechler Equity Partners’ expansion of the Hampton Business District in Westhampton Beach. The breaks, which came from the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, will go towards a $10.8 million, 64,360-square-foot building, which is the third of nine planned for the 50-acre business district. Offering spaces ranging from 2,000 square feet to more than 30,000 square feet in size, the new building is expected to create at least 42 new jobs when it’s complete. Two of the buildings there that’re already up and running offer 120,000 square feet of warehouse, distribution, manufacturing and office space to clients, which include Tate’s Bake Shop, Carrier Enterprises and Westhampton Beach Brewing Company. [LIBN]

Berkshire Hathaway lands on Long Island with Laffey International deal
Laffey Fine Homes International, based in Greenvale, will join Berkshire Hathaway franchise network founded and run by Warren Buffett. The new Long Island franchise is the California-based Berkshire Hathaway’s first foray into the Long Island market, Long Island Business News reported. The local company, which currently has locations in Glen Cove, Williston Park and Woodbury in addition to Greenvale, will become Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Laffey International Realty. The firm announced that it will open additional offices in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn. [LIBN]

Correction: This article previously stated that Ben Krupinski Builder employed 150 carpenters. The company in fact hires the carpenters on a contract basis.