Prolific Long Island real estate developer Wilbur Breslin dies at 99

Wilbur Breslin, a prolific Long Island real estate developer and the CEO of Breslin Realty Development Corp., died at the age of 99 Wednesday at NYU Langone Hospital —Long Island in Mineola.

Breslin’s many residential and retail projects, including the 201-unit apartment complex The Langdon in Lynbrook, Smith Haven Plaza in Lake Grove and The Hub shopping center in Hempstead, helped shape neighborhoods across Long Island.

"He was a tireless worker," said Kenneth Breslin, Wilbur Breslin’s son and president of Breslin Realty Development. "He never wavered. He was a man that could turn the pages of life as quickly as anybody."

Wilbur Breslin was born Nov. 10, 1926, in the Bronx to Pauline and Harry Breslin, who ran 12 fruit markets based in Hempstead. Working for his father helped inspire Wilbur Breslin to go into real estate, starting as a residential broker, Kenneth Breslin said.

Wilbur Breslin opened his first real estate office in 1953 and moved into commercial brokerage and development in 1965, Newsday reported, launching a career of attracting national retailers to his Long Island shopping centers. His centers included stores like Modell’s, 7-Eleven, Marshalls, Sears, Walmart and The Gap.

He spent nearly two decades convincing Kmart to come to Long Island, finally succeeding in 1990, Newsday reported.

“He was a driving force in bringing shopping centers to Long Island,” said Edward Blumenfeld, president and founder of Blumenfeld Development Group BDG.

Breslin bought property across Long Island and in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Louisiana and grew his company to roughly 80 employees by 1991, even amid an economic slowdown that year, Newsday reported at the time.

"Wilbur Breslin was a titan of Long Island development," said Kyle Strober, executive director of the Association for a Better Long Island, of which Breslin was a founding member. "From the coffee shop to the supermarket, and from the sports store to the local deli, Wilbur Breslin provided these tenants with a home to serve countless communities."

Kenneth Breslin said his father’s work ethic was legendary. Breslin Realty Development still owns Franklin Plaza in Garden City, Breslin’s first shopping plaza development.  And just last month he proposed a 300-unit apartment and retail development in Middle Island, Newsday reported.

"We have lost a legend in the real estate business," said Steven Krieger, the CEO of Jericho-based development firm B2K Development.

Breslin clashed with environmentalists on his projects over the years, Newsday reported.

In 1989, Breslin proposed a massive residential community, mall, office and hotel development in the Town of Brookhaven, but he and his co-developer faced pushback from environmental advocates concerned about developing the Long Island Pine Barrens.

Kenneth Breslin said Wilbur Breslin took that pushback in stride and worked with elected officials, playing a role in the environmental conservation law 1993 Long Island Pine Barrens Act. The state preserved much of the Pine Barrens, and Breslin’s willingness to negotiate was notable, said Karen Blumer, an ecologist and president of the environmental group Open Space Council.

Breslin chronicled his life in business, and his run-ins with notable film and political stars, in his 700-page memoir “For Go-Getters Only,” according to a news release from Breslin Realty Development.

He made significant philanthropic donations, including a gift of $2.25 million to establish the Wilbur and Dorothy Breslin Hall at Hofstra University in 2007. He also supported a cardiology innovation research fund at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center with a $5 million gift, according to an announcement from Catholic Health.

Along with his son, Kenneth, Wilbur Breslin is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter, Karen Cooper, and son-in-law, Steven Hess; daughter-in-law, Joy Breslin; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation.