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Prolific NY & LI Real Estate Developer Jerry Wolkoff Dies at Age 83

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By Ellen Cans

Gerald “Jerry” Wolkoff, the prolific New York City and Long Island developer, has died.  On Friday, the 83-year-old succumbed to a short-lived neurological illness, as confirmed by a family statement.  Mr. Wolkoff had embodied the American dream, losing his own father at the age of 11. He worked to rise up above his modest Brooklyn upbringing and built G&M Realty, which now owns more than 12 million square feet in industrial acreage in NY, with each space boasting more than 99 percent occupancy at all times.  “Where despair lingered, Gerry found opportunity, constructing homes, industrial parks, and a better community for all,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “His heart was as big as his proposed mixed use development.”  Wolkoff “will go down as one of the greatest builders in New York state history,” Bellone said.

As reported by the Long Island Press, Wolkoff was still very active in his business, vowing not to retire, despite his capable sons David and Alan, who joined the family business.  “He was in his 80s and he would come up from Manhattan to Edgewood every day to work long hours. He was just relentless,” said Philip Schwom, president of Schacker Realty and the broker who represented Wolkoff in several of his biggest undertakings, including the Heartland Business Center in Edgewood and the proposed Heartland Town Square.

Wolkoff’s absence now raises questions regarding the  future of his two most well-known projects, which are not yet fully completed.  5Pointz, a Long Island City building that he leased to artists since in the 1990s, had become covered in graffiti murals.  Wolkoff had whitewashed  the property overnight in 2013, leading to a lawsuit from some of the artists.  Notwithstanding, Wolkoff had proceeded to demolish the building making room for two new 5 Pointz Towers, boasting more than  1,100 apartment units, as well as interior replicas of the original 5Pointz murals.  The buildings are now close to being completed.

His work was his passion, as evident by his 18 year immersion in the 452-acre Heartland Town Square in Brentwood.  He sought to create the largest planned community on Long Island since Levittown.  If his $4 billion plans are approved they would revive the local community, adding 9,000 housing units, millions of square footage in office and retail space, as well as public spaces such as an aquarium.  The plans stalled many years for zoning issues, finally gaining approval by the Islip Town Board in 2017.  Even then the massive project ran into obstacles with objections from the Brentwood School District and difficulties with sewage lines.

“He had a very strong connection particularly with Brentwood. Whenever he did a lease, one of the biggest questions he had was what jobs are you bringing to Brentwood?” Schwom said. “That was always one of his major concerns when he was considering who to lease industrial space to, was who was going to bring in good high-paying jobs for the people of Brentwood.”

David Wolkoff has vowed to see his father’s projects to fruition, completing his father’s legacy.  “This project is more important now than ever. It’s more important today than it was when Jerry Wolkoff proposed it,” said Long Island Builders Institute chief executive Mitch Pally. “This project is going to get built. Unfortunately, it couldn’t get built while Jerry was alive, but it will get built and it will have the soul of Jerry in it and I’m hopeful David will make that happen.”

Mr. Wolkoff is survived by his wife Michele, his sons David and Adam, his daughter-in-law Stephanie, and grandchildren Zachary, Tyler, and Alexi.

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