Douglas Durst

Douglas Durst
Born	19 12, 1944
Birthplace	New York City, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Real estate developer, investor
Known for	Chairman of The Durst Organization
Education	University of California, Berkeley
Children	3

Douglas Durst (born December 19, 1944) is an American real estate developer and investor who has led The Durst Organization, one of New York City's oldest family-owned commercial real estate companies, since 1992. Born into a family whose involvement in Manhattan real estate dates back to the early twentieth century, Durst has overseen the development and management of some of the city's most prominent office towers, including the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park and a stake in One World Trade Center. His career has been defined both by large-scale commercial development along the West Side of Manhattan and by an early commitment to environmentally sustainable building practices. Beyond the boardroom, Durst's life has been marked by profound personal tragedy, including the violent death of his mother and a decades-long estrangement from his older brother, Robert Durst, who was convicted of murder in 2021. As he turned 80 in December 2024, Douglas Durst remained a central figure in New York City's real estate landscape, with the Durst Organization continuing to hold major commercial and residential properties throughout Manhattan.

Early Life

Douglas Durst was born on December 19, 1944, in New York City, the son of Seymour Durst and Bernice Herstein. The Durst family's involvement in New York real estate began with Douglas's grandfather, Joseph Durst, who immigrated to the United States from Austria-Hungary and began acquiring property in Manhattan in the early 1900s. Joseph Durst established the family business that would grow into one of the city's major real estate dynasties. Seymour Durst, Douglas's father, expanded the family's holdings significantly during the mid-twentieth century, focusing on commercial office buildings in Midtown Manhattan.

Douglas grew up in a prominent New York family, but his early life was shadowed by tragedy. His mother, Bernice Herstein Durst, died under violent circumstances, an event that left a lasting mark on the family. Douglas was the younger brother of Robert Durst, and the two had a fraught relationship from an early age. Douglas later testified in court that the brothers "never got along" and that he feared his older sibling.

The shadow of family conflict would follow Douglas throughout his career. As he described in later years, the legacy of his brother Robert — who became the subject of criminal investigations and eventually a murder conviction — was a persistent source of personal and public difficulty. A 2015 profile in the New York Post noted that "a shadow clung to Douglas Durst" that was attributable not to his father but to his brother.

Education

Douglas Durst attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his undergraduate studies. His time at Berkeley coincided with a period of significant social and political activism on the campus during the 1960s. After completing his education in California, Durst returned to New York City to join the family real estate business.

Career

The Durst Organization

The Durst Organization traces its origins to the early twentieth century, when Joseph Durst began acquiring Manhattan real estate. Under the leadership of Seymour Durst, Douglas's father, the company grew into a major commercial landlord with extensive holdings concentrated along the west side of Midtown Manhattan, particularly along Sixth Avenue and in the Times Square area.

Douglas Durst joined the family firm and gradually assumed greater responsibilities. In 1992, he became president of the Durst Organization, taking over day-to-day management of the company and its portfolio of office towers, residential buildings, and development sites. Under his leadership, the organization undertook a series of major development projects that reshaped portions of the Manhattan skyline.

The succession of leadership within the Durst Organization was itself a source of family tension. Douglas's assumption of the presidency effectively sidelined his older brother Robert from the business, contributing to the deep rift between the two brothers that would become public knowledge in subsequent decades. The question of who would control the family enterprise had been a source of conflict between the siblings, and Douglas's ascension consolidated his position as the head of the Durst real estate empire.

Major Developments

One of the signature achievements of Douglas Durst's tenure at the Durst Organization was the development of the Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, a 55-story skyscraper located at the corner of Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. Completed in 2009, the tower was developed as a joint venture between the Durst Organization and Bank of America. The building was notable for its environmental design and became the first commercial skyscraper to receive a Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The tower's green features reflected Durst's commitment to sustainable building practices, a priority that distinguished the organization from many of its competitors in New York commercial real estate.

The Durst Organization also became a partner in the development of One World Trade Center, the centerpiece of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. In 2010, the Durst Organization entered into a partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to manage the leasing and operation of the 104-story tower. The involvement of the Durst Organization in One World Trade Center represented a significant expansion of the firm's portfolio beyond its traditional base in Midtown.

Beyond these marquee projects, the Durst Organization under Douglas's leadership developed and managed numerous other properties in Manhattan, including office towers along Sixth Avenue and residential developments on the West Side. The company's portfolio grew to encompass millions of square feet of commercial and residential space.

Environmental and Sustainable Building

Douglas Durst became known within the real estate industry for his advocacy of green building practices. The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park was a landmark in sustainable commercial construction, incorporating features such as a greywater recycling system, floor-to-ceiling insulating glass, and an ice storage system for cooling.

Durst's interest in sustainability extended beyond commercial real estate. He operated McEnroe Farm, an organic farm in Dutchess County, New York, which received recognition for its agricultural practices. In 2009, McEnroe Farm won an honor from the Poughkeepsie Journal for its contributions to local agriculture. A 2004 profile in Forbes highlighted Durst's involvement in organic farming as an extension of his environmental commitments.

Arts and Public Space

Under Douglas Durst's leadership, the Durst Organization incorporated public art and cultural initiatives into several of its development projects. Anita's Way, a public passageway adjacent to one of the organization's Times Square properties, was developed with curated art installations. The project was named in memory of a family member and was overseen in part by Douglas's eldest daughter, who sought to merge art with real estate development.

The organization also supported initiatives in the performing arts. A connection to the Chashama arts organization, which provides affordable studio and performance space to artists in New York City, reflected the Durst Organization's engagement with the city's cultural landscape.

Recent Activities and the Times Square Portfolio

The Durst Organization has continued to be active in Manhattan real estate into the 2020s. The company's extensive holdings in the Times Square area have occasionally generated controversy with local tenants and businesses. In December 2025, the New York Post reported that the Durst Organization was seeking to evict Jimmy's Corner, a boxing-themed dive bar that had operated in Times Square for fifty years. The bar's owner described the establishment as "a slice of old New York" and fought to maintain its tenancy.

The Durst Organization has also been noted in the context of broader political debates over real estate and housing policy in New York City. In 2025, Jacobin reported that the real estate industry, including firms such as the Durst Organization, was actively involved in municipal political campaigns, particularly in the context of the New York City mayoral race.

Next Generation

Douglas Durst has overseen the involvement of the next generation of the Durst family in the organization. His children, including Alexander Durst and Helena Rose Durst, have taken on roles within the company. Helena Rose Durst has been involved in public art and cultural projects associated with the organization's properties.

Personal Life

Douglas Durst has three children. His personal life has been marked by the profound and public consequences of his relationship — or lack thereof — with his older brother, Robert Durst.

Robert Durst, the eldest son of Seymour Durst, became one of the most notorious criminal suspects in the United States. He was investigated in connection with the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen McCormack Durst; the 2000 murder of his friend Susan Berman; and the 2001 killing of his neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas. The case received widespread attention through the 2015 HBO documentary series The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.

Douglas Durst was publicly critical of his brother and expressed fear for his own safety. In June 2021, Douglas testified at Robert Durst's murder trial in Los Angeles, stating under oath that the two brothers had never gotten along and that he believed Robert wanted to kill him. "He'd like to murder me," Douglas testified. In January 2015, before the airing of The Jinx, Douglas expressed concern to The New York Times that the documentary series would give his troubled brother a new platform. He worried about the potential impact on his family and business.

Following Robert Durst's arrest in March 2015, Douglas issued a statement on behalf of the Durst family expressing relief. He told Vanity Fair that the family was "pleased" that Robert was in police custody and would face murder charges in the death of Susan Berman. Robert Durst was convicted of the first-degree murder of Susan Berman in September 2021 and died in custody in January 2022.

A 2016 Politico article described the "litany of extraordinary misfortunes" that had befallen Douglas Durst over the course of his life, citing his mother's violent death and his brother's alleged crimes among the traumas that defined his personal history.

Recognition

Douglas Durst's leadership of the Durst Organization has been recognized within the real estate and business communities. The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, developed under his direction, received the first Platinum LEED certification for a commercial high-rise, a distinction that brought attention to the Durst Organization's environmental practices.

Durst's involvement in organic farming through McEnroe Farm earned recognition from regional publications, and his broader commitment to sustainability has been noted in industry profiles.

On his 80th birthday in December 2024, the neighborhood publication W42ST published a profile acknowledging his long career and his role in shaping the Manhattan skyline, noting his deep connection to the West Side of Manhattan and the Times Square district in particular.

Legacy

Douglas Durst's career has been intertwined with the transformation of Midtown Manhattan's West Side from a district associated with blight and urban decline into one of the most valuable commercial corridors in the world. The Durst Organization's portfolio of office towers along Sixth Avenue and in Times Square represents a significant share of the area's Class A office space, and the firm's involvement in One World Trade Center extended its reach into Lower Manhattan.

The emphasis on green building that characterized Durst's tenure marked a shift in how New York's major real estate developers approached environmental sustainability. The Bank of America Tower demonstrated that large-scale commercial construction could incorporate advanced environmental technologies, and its LEED Platinum certification set a benchmark for subsequent projects.

The Durst family's story — encompassing four generations of New York real estate activity, internal family conflict, and one of the most publicized criminal cases in American history — has made Douglas Durst a figure of interest well beyond the real estate industry. His ability to maintain and expand the family business while navigating the personal and public fallout from his brother's criminal history has been a defining element of his public persona.

The transition of the Durst Organization to the next generation, with Douglas's children assuming roles within the company, suggests that the family's involvement in New York real estate will continue into a fifth generation.