Wang in contract with home builder for Plainview land

New York Islanders owner Charles Wang is handing over the right to build on his 144 acres of Plainview property to home builder Michael Dubb, of the Beechwood Organization in Jericho, Dubb said Wednesday.

Newsday reported last week that the Shinnecock Indian Nation was eyeing the same swath of wooded land as a potential casino site. Dubb said Wednesday that he and Wang have been in talks for months. Dubb would not discuss the terms of the transaction.

Dubb said he hopes to build a residential development on the site similar to his Meadowbrook Pointe project in Westbury, which has 720 units. While that project is only for people 55 and older, Dubb said the Plainview project will feature a mix of ages and housing types.

"My first desire is to create a lifestyle community that will be an asset to the neighborhood - and an asset to Nassau County," Dubb said.

When asked if he would consider a casino at the site, Dubb added: "In the event approvals are not attainable, then we'll keep all of our options open."

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said the transaction may help a project to succeed on a parcel long dogged by opposition.

"I think the infusion of new blood into the Plainview project is a good idea," Venditto said. "I think [Dubb] is just what the doctor ordered."

Dubb and Wang are currently in contract. While not an outright sale, the transaction will allow Dubb to design a residential project, obtain approvals and build it.

Michael Picker, who oversees Wang's real estate holdings, confirmed that Dubb will be fully responsible for taking the project through the approval process.

"After discussing 11 different development options, we decided to partner with Michael Dubb and his organization," Picker said. "Based on his organization's 25 years of proven success and his ability to work with communities all across Long Island, we felt a lifestyle community similar to Meadowbrook Pointe was the best use for the site."

Dubb said he hopes to keep the project simple, preserve some space and hold community meetings before even designing the project.

Civic activist and Plainview resident Carol Meschkow said she hopes much of the land will be preserved.

"If we're going to do any development, it has to meet targeted needs, taking into consideration the property, the surrounding area and how dense the infrastructure is already," said Meschkow, who heads Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community.