The Durst Organization’s Portfolio

The Durst Organization was founded in 1927 by Jewish immigrant Joseph Durst, a man whose humble beginnings led to quite extravagant ends. First a tailor, then a partner at a dress manufacturer in New York City, Durst began his property acquisition endeavors in 1915 using the profits from his manufacturing business. Most notable of his early purchases is the original Congregation Emanu-El, which was demolished in 1927 to make room for commercial developments. 

Over the course of nearly 100 years, Durst and his family built what is considered one of the most prominent real estate companies in New York City. Now run by Durst’s grandchildren, the organization holds claim to some of the city’s most impressive and in-demand properties. The family-run business prides itself on creating and managing “sustainable residential and commercial properties in which people live, work, and thrive.” 

Beyond its buildings, the Durst Organization co-founded The Model Organic Farm Foundation, the non-profit organization responsible for operating McEnroe Organic Farm – one of the largest organic farms in New York State. Seymour Durst is also credited with creating the National Debt Clock, “conceived to call attention to the soaring debt and each family’s share of it.” Today, the clock is located at Anita’s Way, in the through block between two Durst properties – One Bryant Park and 151 W. 42nd Street. 

The Durst Organization has properties in Manhattan, Queens, Philadelphia, and Northern Dutchess County. Though each building is unique, all boast sustainable designs, extreme attention to detail, and unique amenities for residents. CitySignal has ranked the Coolest 7 Durst Properties in New York City, based on where we’d most like to work and/or live. 

One World Trade 

Built on the northwest corner of the original World Trade Center site, One World Trade (formerly known as the Freedom Tower), is undoubtedly one of not only the Durst Organization’s coolest buildings, but also one of the country’s most significant structures. It is the tallest building in both the United States and the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh-tallest structure in the world. Built in 2012, it took the title of tallest building in New York City from the Empire State Building, which held it from 1931 – 1972, and then again from 2001 – 2012. At 1,776 feet tall, its height is a deliberate nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

The building’s anchor tenant is Condé Nast. The publishing organization relocated their headquarters to One World Trade in 2014, moving from the Durst Orginzation’s One Five One building, where Condé Nast had been a tenant since 1999. One World Trade is also the home of Reddit and Bon Appetit.  

One of the most environmentally sustainable skyscrapers in the world, One World Trade has received a LEED Gold Certification and uses sustainable architecture features to reduce energy costs and minimize the building’s environmental impact. 

The building also boasts one of the best views in Manhattan, with the One World Observatory located on floors 100 – 102. At 1,268 feet, the three-story observation deck offers the highest vantage point in New York City. It is accessible through a side entrance or the Westfield shopping center, located on the lower floors of the building. 

One World Trade is a building of major importance for the country… and it’s also a really cool place to work, shop, and get a birds-eye-view of New York City. 

One Bryant Park 

Located at 1111 Avenue of the Americas, One Bryant Park – otherwise known as the Bank of America Tower – is another one of the Durst Organization’s most impressive properties. At 1,200 feet, it is the eighth-tallest building in New York City and the tenth-tallest building in the United States. Completed in 2009, the $1 billion project is a New York City landmark and an unmissable marker of Midtown. 

One of the building’s most exciting features is the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, a historic Broadway theatre with an impressive neo-Georgian facade. The theatre is currently home to the new Broadway musical & Juliet, which opened in November 2022. 

Broadway isn’t the only sight worth seeing at One Bryant Park. The building is notable for its glass “curtain wall” facade. Designed by architects Cook + Fox, the facade allows for lowered energy costs and usage and meets LEED Platinum sustainability standards. A unique and eye-catching design, the curtain wall allows the building to stand out without dwarfing its next-door neighbor, Bryant Park. 

While one writer in the Village Voice described the glass facade as “alien,” another described the building as a “psychological and economic lift to a city that was still reeling from the destruction of the World Trade Center.” Either way, it serves as a haven for tourists, employees, and commuters alike. 

VIA 57 West 

It’s hard to miss VIA 57 West, which resembles a distorted pyramid and boasts a steeply sloped facade angled towards the northeast. Located at 625 W 57th, the award-winning residential apartment complex is an unmissable marvel in the Durst collection of properties. 

The first New York project of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, the building’s sloped facade is said to resemble a sailboat crossing the Hudson River. According to The New York Times, the building was named VIA because the southbound West Side Highway “slopes down as drivers enter the city, right at the spot where the building is situated.” It’s seen as an entrance into Manhattan “via 57th.” Officially named VIA, the building has garnered quite a few alternative monikers: Pyramid, West 57th, W57, West57, and Tetrahedron. 

Beyond the design, the building is an incredible place to call home. Extra amenities include a swimming pool, a library, basketball court, movie theater, and a poker room. Located at 11th and 57th, the building may seem a bit far from transit hubs, but that issue is solved by the exclusive complimentary resident shuttle. There is also on-site parking for those with cars. 

VIA 57 West is an architectural marvel and an apartment building worth drooling over. 

One Five One 

The Durst Organization’s One Five One building may be better known as 4 Times Square, the Nasdaq MarketSite, the H&M Building, or maybe simply as “the Condé Nast building.” Opened in 1999, the 52-story skyscraper is a staple of Times Square and one of the earliest examples of green design for a skyscraper. 

Though the corporation has since moved to One World Trade, publisher Condé Nast was one of the building’s flagship tenants when it opened in 1999. Notable about the Condé Nast tenancy is the ‘Condé Nast cafeteria,’ which was designed by architect Frank Gehry. Gehry’s first project as an architect in New York City, the cafeteria was as fabulous as the employees eating in it. It cost an estimated $30 – $35 million to build. After Condé left One Five One in 2014, it sat empty for five years but was reopened as a tenant-only food hall in 2018. 

Some other significant early tenants of the One Five One building were law firm Skadden Arps and Disney’s ESPN Zone restaurant. Skadden Arps left the building for Manhattan West in 2020, and the ESPN Zone closed as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. 

One tenant showing no signs of relocating: Nasdaq’s MarketSite, which has laid claim to the $37 million LED sign outside of One Five One since 1999, also leases space inside the building. MarketSite expanded their lease to 180,000 square feet in May 2019. 

Besides MarketSite, One Five One’s most visible tenant is currently retailer H&M, who signed a commercial lease with the building in 2012… provided they could put panels with the ‘H&M’ logo atop the skyscraper. The panels certainly make the One Five One building hard to miss!    

SVEN 

One of the Durst Organization’s most exciting properties is the Sven apartment complex, located at 29-59 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens. Designed by Handel Architects, the 71-story mixed-use tower is a development worth nothing. 

With a gleaming, curved facade, the building is an eye-catching addition to Long Island City. While the mirrored tower represents the future, the building’s foundation is an homage to the past. The Sven building is located at the historic site of the former Bank of Manhattan Building. Though no longer operating as a bank, The Queens Clock Tower structure has been seamlessly incorporated into the base of the building. Like all Durst properties, Sven is sustainably built and run, focusing on environmentally responsible use of the elements water, earth, energy, and air. 

The building offers ample amenities, including a fitness center, an outdoor pool, poker lounge, library, and screening room. There are usually a handful of available apartments ranging from studio to three bedrooms and boast features, including (but not limited to) up-to-date appliances and floor-to-ceiling windows. 

A quick subway from Manhattan, Sven offers residents a different view of the New York CIty skyline… from across the East River, 71 stories high.

Historic Front Street

What’s interesting about Historic Front Street is that it isn’t just one property – it’s an entire city block. According to the website, “Historic Front Street consists of 11 restored 18th-century buildings and three modern buildings on Front Street between Beekman Street and Peck Slip.” In line with Durst Organization values, it is the largest historic preservation project in New York to incorporate sustainability into all aspects of its buildings.

For those looking to live at Historic Front Street, the Finacial District development has 95 rarely available rental apartments, ranging from studios to penthouses. There are also commercial offerings, with 13 ground-floor retail spaces for rent. Though interiors are ready for redesign, all storefronts must comply with historic landmark requirements to “maintain the cohesive neighborhood look and feel.” The facades are old, but the shops are new: some residents include Jack’s Coffee, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, and Paris Cafe.  

To visit Manhattan’s Seaport neighborhood is to travel back in time to the 1800s, as so much of the area has been preserved. It’s a great place to work, shop, and live! 

EŌS Nomad

Though not a commercial office building, the Durst Organization’s EŌS Nomad apartment complex makes for a great place to work from home. Located at 100 W 31st Street, the 47-story glass tower offers stunning studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. 

The units are a renter’s dream, boasting everything from basic features like a washer/dryer to the more exciting bonus of floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Where EOS takes its crown, however, is in its amenities. The building offers an indoor pool, a golf simulator, a roof deck, fitness center, half-court basketball court, and a 24-hour concierge in the lobby. Not to mention the impressive location, right in the heart of the city. 

Sustainably and seamlessly designed, EŌS Nomad is not to be slept on… unless you’re renting an apartment in the building! You can find availabilities here. 

The Durst Difference

Though these are the seven ‘coolest’ properties, they’re not all of the residences and commercial buildings in the Durst portfolio. All of Durst Organization’s buildings are curated with the care and conscience that can only come from a family-run company. 

The post Coolest 7 Durst Properties in NYC  appeared first on CitySignal.

A Feuding Origin

If you thought the Waldorf’s beginnings were as poised as the building’s reputation – you would be mistaken. In 1826, the Waldorf-Astor family purchased a number of land parcels that span modern-day Madison and Lexington Avenues. William Waldorf Astor and his aunt, Caroline Lina Webster Schermerhorn Astor would eventually begin to feud. 

The feud is said to have festered due to the aunt’s elitist socialite behavior but crossed a line when Caroline, who married into the Astor family, wanted to be named the Mrs. Astor after William’s mother died. As the only son of his mother, William believed whoever he married should be considered Mrs. Astor. 

These semantics and the longstanding distaste for his aunt forced William to do the one thing anyone does when they have an annoying family member: build a 13-story hotel right next to their house. 

The Waldorf 

A product of both business prosperity and revenge, the Waldorf opened its doors in 1893. 

To help craft up the hotel, William consulted George Boldt, owner and operator of the Bellevue hotel and subsequent Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia. The construction and hecticity of a commercial building in a once quiet neighborhood forced Caroline out of her home next door, but more on that later. 

Boldt’s guidance played a huge role in the outcome of the Waldorf, but he wasn’t the only one. His wife, Louise, also played a critical role in the design of the Waldorf, even convincing them to up the floor count from eleven to thirteen – her lucky number. 

When all was said and done, The Waldorf tower stood 225 feet tall with 450 rooms for guests. Additionally, there were 15 common spaces, like the ballroom and eateries, plus another 100 rooms reserved exclusively for staff. For decor, the Boldts helped by bringing back a number of European antiques during a trip overseas, adding to the hotel’s decor and, ultimately, its grandeur. 

But despite William and the Boldt’s best efforts, the Waldorf was ill-regarded by society upon first opening its doors. Many felt that the Waldorf just didn’t belong in one way or another. New Yorkers didn’t like the hotel in a once quiet neighborhood, while others felt it was too lavish to be in the city. 

Just when it seemed doomed, an effort organized on behalf of Boldt helped to solidify Waldorf’s notoriety. On the day after the hotel opened its doors, it hosted a benefit concert for one of New York socialites’ favorite causes, St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, complete with the New York Symphony Orchestra. That rainy night, with a filled ballroom of New York’s elite and a lovely dinner complete with a full concert (provided for a $5.00 fee), the Waldorf solidified its standing in New York.

News spread, and the Waldorf Hotel quickly became a hotspot for meetings, events, and more. Massive profits even led to an expansion with five additional floors. With expectations being surpassed, it seemed like things would only continue to get better. 

At the time, the Waldorf was one of a kind. It was the first hotel to offer electricity and private bathrooms to its guests. Something that, despite all of the gloriousness the hotel had in the form of decor and status, was revolutionary. 

But with a feud never laid to rest, Caroline Astor and her son, John Jacob Astor, chose to try their hand at the business. 

The Astoria 

Caroline Astor’s home was razed, and with the help of her son, they decided to build a hotel next door to the Waldorf – the Astoria. The new hotel, The Astoria, opened its doors in 1897, capitalizing on the success and notoriety that the Waldorf had already gained. 

The Astoria offered an alluring novelty that even the Waldorf’s established place had trouble keeping up with. Newer, bigger, better, the Astoria stood at 270 feet, had sixteen stories, provided 550 guest rooms, and took note of both the German and Italian Renaissance styles. Plus, the hotel also had 25 common rooms and a grand ballroom that rivaled the Walford with its alluring Louis XIV style. 

The Astoria tower also hosted its fair share of lavish events. The ballroom welcomed great singers like Enrico Caruso and Nellie Melba. Another highlight for entertainment was the tower’s rooftop garden, enclosed with a glass roof and walls. 

Eventually, the Astoria was leased to George Boldt, who helped to open the Waldorf hotel years prior. Boldt would go on to help form a sense of peace between the two sides of the family. These efforts would lead to the eventual joining of the two towers forming the Waldorf-Astoria. 

Bridging the Two… Becoming the Waldorf-Astoria

A 300-meter bridge, charmingly referred to as Peacock Alley, was built between the two towers to link them. The bridge would go on to symbolize a physical link and represent the joining of the family. The Waldorf-Astoria, building off of the Waldorf Hotel’s initial success, quickly became a New York powerhouse unlike anything before. 

Together, the two hotels had a frontage that spanned 200 feet on Fifth and hundreds more feet on 33rd and 34th. And that’s only what met the eye, below the surface was an additional 42 feet of basement and workspace that spanned out toward Broadway. 

From 1918, the Waldorf was described as “the first of New York’s great “palace hotels” and has always kept the gift of eternal youth. While other hotels have faded and become old-fashioned or dropped out entirely during the quarter century, the big red brick building at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue has maintained its place in the first rank. 

The Waldorf never grew old. To out-of-town visitors, it has always stood for the last word in New York hotels. Other more modern and more gorgeous structures have followed it, but none of them has clung that peculiar glamour that surrounded the name – Waldorf-Astoria.” 

As New York hotels continued to pop up and the elite social scene spread, the family would inevitably decide to sell to a new group of developers. The hotel closed its doors, and its two towers were taken down. In its spot, another iconic New York building would be built – the Empire State Building. 

Founder of Waldorf Astoria Hotel

The complicated history of the Waldorf-Astoria has led many to question who exactly was the hotel’s founder. In the end, the Waldorf Astoria was founded by a few people. Though William Waldorf Astor usually receives the credit, John Jacob Astor and George Boldt also played big roles in what is collectively known as the Waldorf-Astoria brand. Those foundations and the ultimate demise of the original Waldorf-Astoria paved the way for a new reincarnation: The Waldorf Astoria (yes, sans the hyphen). 

The Notable Moments and People at the Waldorf Astoria

Just when it seemed the Waldorf-Astor family would be done with the hospitality business, the Waldorf Astoria opened its doors in 1931, only a few years after shutting down the original towers. Located at 301 Park Avenue, the new Waldorf Astoria offered 47 floors of lodging and entertainment. 

When finished, the building was the tallest hotel in the world for over 30 years. Despite being in a different neighborhood and a new building, the Waldorf Astoria quickly surpassed the icon status that the original towers once had. 

The Waldorf Astoria played a key role in both the lives of the rich and famous and American history. One day it served as a base camp for post-World War II strategizing and the foundation for the World Peace Conference of March 1949, and other times it served as an extended residence for a slew of celebs and high-profile guests.

• Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who stayed during their first visit to America.
• Herbert Hoover, who resided in his suite for 30 years until his death
• Ava Gardner, Actress
• Elizabeth Taylor, Actress
• Tony Bennett, Singer 
• Marilyn Monroe, Actress 
• Katharine Hepburn, Actress
• John Wayne, Actor
• Charlie Chaplin, Actor 
• Muhammad Ali, Boxer
• Judy Garland, Actress
• Burt Reynolds, Actor
• Frank Sinatra, Singer

It comes as no surprise that the robust guest list came with a few modifications to make guests feel comfortable. One of which is a “secret” railway and car beneath the hotel, known as Track 61. 

Some have traced the station to a failed Grand Central Connect, while others have deemed it a loading dock or a charming addition constructed for hotel use as a private railway for guests. In any sense, it’s clear that the uniqueness of the Waldorf Astoria goes much deeper than what meets the eye. 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was said to have used the track to get into or out of the hotel unscathed. Another rumor is that famed artist Andy Warhol used the empty platform space for partying. 

A number of other events took place at the Waldorf Astoria during what was dubbed the “Golden Age” between 1950 and 1963. Highlights include President John F Kennedy’s birthday gala, with admission being $1,000.Then there was Queen Elizabeth II’s Waldorf Astoria visit in 1957, in which her extravagant dinner included South Carolina Green Turtle Soup, Long Island Striped Bass, and more – all finished with a fine cup of Haitian coffee. 

Inside and out, the building quickly rose to palace status. Those who hadn’t been to the new Waldorf Astor scheduled a visit, and those who had planned prompt returns. It was the place to be. The notoriety led to slogans like “the vertical Beverly Hills,” or being the place to see or be seen; it’s no wonder the hotel has managed to stay paramount, even in a sea of New York competition in the city. 

The Waldorf Astoria Today

The Waldorf Astoria on Park Ave celebrated 90 years of being open, and today, the Waldorf Astoria continues to attract high society and has earned a coveted spot in pop culture. With movies and TV shows being shot at the hotel, including popular New York shows like Law and Order or Sex and the City, those who may not ever consider stepping place into the Waldorf Astoria still have familiarity with the building. 

The Current Waldorf Astoria Owner (& Ownership History)

The building has changed hands only a few times since opening, most notably when the Hiltons purchased the property – to which the family has shared their experience being raised in the hotel – but also the recent sale to a Beijing-based company Anbang Insurance Group, with parent company Dajia Insurance Group Co. 

However, one of the chairmen involved in Anbang’s operations was being investigated by the Chinese government, who seized the company assets and effectively took on overseeing things like the Waldorf Astoria. 

During the Hilton’s ownership, the hotel underwent a slight name change in which the hyphen was changed to a “double hyphen,” or equal sign, which created a representation of the Peacock Bridge. However, the double hyphen would also eventually be dropped as well. 

Recent Remodeling of the Waldorf Astoria

Regardless of how the business changes hands, the hotel is somewhat protected as it was deemed a New York landmark. Parts of the interior and exterior are protected under the designation, while other sections are not. This has allowed for the current major remodeling to take place. 

When Anabang Insurance Group purchased the hotel, a $1 billion renovation was also planned. That’s nearly ½ of the $1.95 billion purchasing price in renovations alone. But the Waldorf Astoria knows more than anyone else what it takes to remain a leader in the industry. The renovation is slated to bring an update in modernity without losing any of that historic charm. 

The design, as carefully curated by interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, is “respectful of the hotel’s history on every level, yet we are creating a truly modern place.” Visitors will also find “contemporary furnishings and finishes blend seamlessly with restored materials, creating a continuity between the past and present life of the hotel,” according to Rochon. 

Buy at The Towers, Waldorf Astoria Residences 

Capitalizing on the trend of extended stays, a new shift in the building’s model is also bringing residential apartments. The new and improved Waldorf Astoria is set to open in 2023, and rather than the 1,400 hotel rooms, it will only have 375 hotel rooms and an equal number of units for purchase. 

The residences will also embrace that modern appeal while staying true to the grand nature of the building.

“Each residence celebrates the scale and beauty of the original architecture—a perfect balance of aesthetic and practical considerations—with windows that replicate the building’s original design and flood the rooms with dynamic views of the New York cityscape… the scale and beauty of the original art deco architecture, with its distinctive detailing and set-back terraces, exists in perfect harmony with a contemporary design – blending the old and the new, the cosmopolitan and the American, the grand and the intimate.” 

-The Towers

An estimated reopening date of 2024 is expected for the remodel. Want to own a piece of the iconic property? There is still availability for the soon-to-be units! These residences include a studio, one-bedroom unit for $1,895,000 for 561 square feet. The studio unit comes with a “discreet” kitchen, a walk-in closet, and a “gracious” marble entry foyer, among other attributes. 

If you need more space, you’re in luck. The Towers offers a four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath 2,971 sq ft apartment for $19,000,000, complete with a powder room, a freestanding tub in the primary bathroom, a marble entry foyer, and more.

General amenities include: 

• Private, secure entrances (separate from the hotel)
• Porte cochère with valet service on 50th 
• 24/7 doorman on Park Ave 
• Private residential reception
• Park Ave interior lounge
• 24/7 virtual concierge 
• Package and service delivery
• Six residential elevators
• Access to the 25-meter pool
• Private fitness center and wellness rooms
• Gaming room
• Theater
• Winter Garden lounge with bar
• Playroom
• Empire club for exclusive socializing 

Nearby you can also find The Centrale at slightly lower prices than the Tower Residences.

Experience the Waldorf Astoria Outside of New York

Experiencing the Waldorf Astoria doesn’t require a trip to NYC or a limitless budget, this New York staple is closer than you think. Foods like the Waldorf Salad and Eggs Benedict were all created at the Waldorf Astoria. In large part, this was because of Oscar Tschirky, nicknamed Oscar of the Waldorf, who is credited for the popularization of these dishes and even staples like Thousand Island dressing! If visiting the historic Waldorf Astoria hotel is not at the top of your bucket list, make sure that trying these widespread delicacies are!

Final Thoughts

With deep-seated New York history and unlimited potential, the Waldorf Astoria continues to remain not only relevant but an icon. For many, the discussion of New York as a powerhouse goes hand-in-hand with the history of places like the Waldorf Astoria. Whether you’ve passed by the building on Park Avenue or are familiar with the whispers among elite celebrities and politicians, it’s clear that this hotel continues to remain a leader in the industry, even going on to inspire a chain of luxury hotels in the same name. 

The post The Complete History of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Mergers, Feuds, Rumors and More. appeared first on CitySignal.