Helena Durst, Co-Vice President of One World Trade Center

Helena Durst serves as co-vice president for her family’s real estate firm, The Durst Organization, leading its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

Each office pantry features bins for recycling bottles and cans, paper waste, trash and organic material for disposal; McEnroe Farm in New York State serves as one of the largest family-run farms.

Early Life and Education

Durst Organization made their presence known downtown in 2010, purchasing an interest in One World Trade Center as co-investor and overseeing construction, leasing and management of this building.

Durst experienced significant anger issues as a child. While one family doctor suggested they might be suffering from schizophrenia, Altschuler believes his anger likely stemmed from Asperger’s Syndrome instead. Children diagnosed with Aspergers tend to be highly intelligent but often frustrated.

Durst and Susanne manage McEnroe Organic Farm, a sustainable organic vegetable and herb farm which utilizes certified organic production methods and provides educational workshops to neighbors and youths to understand where their food comes from and its cultivation process. Both women are active members of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue as well as various New York City organizations.

Professional Career

Helena Durst has earned great success as a real estate professional while being actively involved with numerous community and environmental initiatives. She currently sits on the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board as well as being on the REBNY Board of Governors, having also previously served as president of New York Water/Circle Line Downtown where she transformed it into a profitable mass transit, tour and travel operation over seven years.

She led The Durst Organization in collecting organic material from residents, becoming one of the first companies to do so. Additionally, she co-founded McEnroe Organic Farm to reunite neighbors with their food through educational events and tours for both children and adults. Furthermore, she managed several projects at The Durst Organization such as EOS and 57 WEST from scratch.

Achievement and Honors

Helena quickly rose through the ranks at her family company, learning its business from both of her fathers. Today, she oversees its residential portfolio which includes leasing, management and operations as well as two new developments: Hallets Point in Astoria and Queens Plaza Park in Long Island City.

She serves on several boards and committees including: Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board; REBNY’s Board of Governors and chairing Lower East Side Ecology Center. In addition, she is on Lincoln Center Real Estate board of directors as well as co-chairing New York Restoration Project.

At REBNY’s annual gala, industry leaders were honored for their professional achievements and civic involvement. Carol Kellermann, Diane Ramirez, Daniel Tishman and Helena Durst were among those recognized at this year’s 123rd dinner banquet.

Personal Life

Limp Bizkit’s explosive live shows and dynamic mix of metal, punk and hip-hop propelled them to success; and frontman Fred Durst with his wild stage persona and instantly recognisable backward baseball cap led the band into stardom.

As well as raising two children — Adriana and Dallas — he is also an accomplished director, boasting numerous credits directing Limp Bizkit music videos as well as those for other acts like Staind and Korn.

In 2010, he released the film All Good Things with Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst as its stars, inspired by real events surrounding Kathleen’s disappearance which caused headlines and caused more to speculate on what caused her death. This led to new headlines regarding this matter and also gave rise to suspicion surrounding its events.

Net Worth

Helena Durst serves as a partner in her family firm and manages its residential portfolio of approximately 2,000 apartments. Alongside Alexander Durst – another Vice President at Durst Organization – they help shape development strategies for their company.

Helena makes time for both philanthropy and family while managing her high-powered job. She serves on the board of Chashama, an organization which assists artists find free or low-cost studio space in New York City; Just Food; Governors Island Alliance are other board positions she holds.

Douglas Durst, her husband, is one of New York City’s premier real estate developers with an estimated net worth estimated at an estimated $8.1 billion. Additionally, he owns McEnroe Organic Farm which ranks in the top 25% of family-run organic farms nationwide.