If the contractor submitted drawings, approved, and permitted, then you could get a copy from the building department, just sweet talk your way to it, check the drawings if it were according to plan.

Neighborhoods such as Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, etc. are good starting points. (2) I'd say the sweet spot is 2-3 units, to limit your net outgoing < $3.5k.

You are in a sweet position so do things the right way and for the long run it will benefit you way more. 

Sweet!

Life on the island is slow and deliberate. Hoping to find a cheap lot and spend some time building.... Any island RE experts? Price for a lot with a view??

Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

So then what is the optimal time-cost sweet spot for flips??

The tenant is a sweet elderly lady with multiple health issues, limited mobility, and no income or ability to work; this would be devastating for her.

If so, it looks like you got a sweet deal!

And in many cases, there's a sweet spot of distance from the city itself because most folks up here really dislike "city life" but still like being close to the cultural attractions.