The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency had dug its heels in the sand, barring developers from setting foot on the beachfront property for decades. However, in a surprising turn of events, they finally opened to allow the creation of nearly 440 condos and apartments on this so-called “Superblock.” After many years of disputes, iStar approved the settlement of a $105 million lawsuit by developer iStar.
The long-awaited groundbreaking of the long-vacant site has finally arrived. The controversial Superblock property was once the location of a garden apartment and a bowling alley. These buildings gradually degraded and were destroyed in the 1960s. Twenty years later, the city reclaimed the site for unpaid taxes and sold it to a development group run by the Haberman family, whose plans for high-rise towers fell through. Then, in the 1990s, the city attempted to use the legal concept of eminent domain to obtain the property. Unfortunately, previously issued requests for development proposals never materialized, leaving the property vacant again.
A few years ago, iStar presented a proposal for luxury apartments. The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency denied the plans, leading iStar to sue the city for neglecting to support their bid. In 2021, a settlement was finally reached, which involved selling the Superblock property to Engel Burman.
Real estate developer Engel Burman will take on this $369 million project. Driven by a vision of luxury and grandeur, this development will feature 6,500 square feet of retail accompanying two nine-story condo buildings and a 10-story apartment building. The condos are predicted to sell around the $700,000 range, and rentals will likely run between 3,000 and $5,000 monthly. Residents and developers alike look forward to the new infrastructure and welcome its pleasing aesthetic.
The project is predicted to create $130 million in taxes in the next 25 years, $32 million of which will go to the city, $75 million to the school district, and $13 million to Nassau County. In addition, the IDA granted tax exemptions for mortgage recording tax, sales tax, and tax breaks that save the development company $49 million dollars in tax liability. Engel Burman says that there will continue to be significant investments in Long Beach.
The city’s economy will likely see a ripple effect, as people living in these new complexes will be spending money. Construction of the Superblock is set to take two years for completion, with the first move-ins scheduled for the second half of 2023.
Society depends on construction workers for the growth of the economy. However, with rapid development across the nation, worker safety continues to be horrendous. Many workers sustain injuries and even lose their lives to on-site accidents. The construction industry ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Some of the most common types of injuries on the job site include:
These accidents can have long-lasting physical, mental, emotional, and financial repercussions.
Even with safety precautions, accidents on the job do happen. If you or someone you know sustained an injury in a construction site accident, seek medical attention immediately, then report the accident to ensure you have documentation of the injury. These documents could later help improve safety on the job site, preventing future injuries. The next step is to gather the contact information of any witnesses to the accident; this may provide evidence essential to the investigation. If you can, take pictures of the scene and your injury; this strengthens your case and could entitle you to a larger settlement. Also, be sure to file for worker’s compensation and keep documentation of your medical records for future reference.
Finally, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. It is invaluable to have someone on your side who understands what you are going through. Goldstein and Bashner’s legal professionals understand the complexities of construction site accidents. Contact us today to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Goldstein and Bashner
