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Real estate has been a driving force for Long Island. What was a region of small hamlets when my grandmother grew up there has morphed over the years into one solid stretch of suburbs, shopping, and industry. And Long Island has served as the blueprint for suburbia for all the good and bad that occurred.

What is amazing is that it has done so essentially organically. There has been very little planning on the growth or study of it, just a long term progression out to Montauk Point. But now one of those that made their fortune in the development of Long Island, Wilbur F. Breslin, has donated a sizable chunk of funds to create a center for real estate studies at Hofstra University.

The school has the potential to be on the forefront of analyzing suburban development and help both the local region, but also suburbs across the nation. After growing up on Long Island and then moving to the Atlanta suburbs, I can see many of the same issues starting to pop up. Higher taxes, zoning variances that turn into precedents, signage issues, and managing retail centers that have become obsolete are some that come to mind.

The potential for the Breslin Center to provide a national blueprint on managing suburban growth is limitless, I hope those involved recognize the opportunity they have and are faithful stewards to the largess the Breslin’s have given them.

In a ceremony Wednesday, the man responsible for some of Long Island’s big commercial projects helped kick off Hofstra University’s Wilbur F. Breslin Center for Real Estate Studies, where industry professionals, government officials, the public and students can convene to tackle some of Long Island’s biggest problems. Like sprawl. Or the subprime collapse. Or more respect for real estate professionals.

The new venture will take a multidisciplinary approach to real estate, with programs that encompass zoning law, market forces, taxes and other issues. The center is expected to serve as a think tank analyzing issues and also a resource for consumers.

It opens at a time when university and some industry officials believe real estate issues, from mortgages to the environment, are more complex than ever.via Newsday.com

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4. First Family of Real Estate on Long Island Going Different Ways
5. University of Alabama Gets New Head of Real Estate Center and Changes Focus