Basic Information
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Helena Rose Durst Domino |
| Family Lineage | Great-granddaughter of Joseph Durst; granddaughter of Seymour Durst; daughter of Douglas Durst |
| Education | BBA in Real Estate, Baruch College; internship at Hudson River Park Trust |
| Current Position | Principal, The Durst Organization |
| Key Responsibilities | Residential project oversight, sustainability programs, departmental leadership |
| Previous Leadership | President, New York Water Taxi / Circle Line Downtown |
| Residence | New York City |
Early Life and Family Heritage
Born into one of New York City’s preeminent real estate dynasties, Helena Rose Durst Domino embodies the Durst family’s century-long commitment to urban development. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Durst, laid the foundation in 1915 with the founding of The Durst Organization. Helena’s grandfather, Seymour Durst, expanded the family footprint through landmark projects like the 30-story FEMA headquarters on Murray Street, while her father, Douglas Durst, advanced the portfolio with sustainable towers such as One Bryant Park. Helena grew up immersed in boardroom conversations and blueprint reviews, absorbing the nuances of land-use law and the importance of long-term vision.
Despite the weight of her surname, she was encouraged to carve her own path. Summers spent shadowing leasing agents and attending environmental briefings at family offices nurtured her dual passions for real estate and eco-innovation. By the time she enrolled at Baruch College, Helena had already mapped out a career trajectory that would bridge traditional development with twenty-first-century sustainability.
Education and Formative Experiences
Helena earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, where she graduated with honors. Her coursework ranged from urban economics and property valuation to public-private partnership strategies. Crucially, she interned at the Hudson River Park Trust, gaining hands-on exposure to New York City’s land-use review process and shoreline revitalization projects. There, she assisted in stakeholder outreach for environmental impact assessments, learning to balance community concerns with developer objectives.
This blend of academic rigor and real-world training honed her analytical skills and fostered a deep appreciation for green infrastructure. Her capstone thesis—“Adaptive Reuse in Post-Industrial Waterfront Districts”—received departmental commendation for proposing modular mixed-use schemes that reduced lifecycle carbon footprints by up to 30%.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Joining The Durst Organization as an analyst in the leasing division, Helena quickly distinguished herself through strategic vision and operational acumen. Within three years, she was tasked with standing up the company’s inaugural Residential Leasing Department, streamlining tenant onboarding and lease negotiation protocols across 57 WEST, EŌS, and 10 Halletts Point. These properties collectively represent over 1,200 luxury residences, and under her leadership, occupancy rates climbed above 95% during launch quarters.
Helena’s tenure as President of New York Water Taxi / Circle Line Downtown further underscores her versatility. Taking the helm of a nonprofit maritime tour operator, she spearheaded route optimization and partnership agreements with the Battery Park City Authority, transforming a legacy sightseeing service into a self-sustaining enterprise. Annual ridership increased by 40%, and she negotiated a multi-year concession agreement that secured stable funding for fleet maintenance.
Sustainability and Environmental Leadership
A hallmark of Helena’s influence is her unwavering commitment to green building practices. She launched company-wide initiatives—such as green cleaning programs that eliminated single-use plastics and a composting pilot at 10 Halletts Point that diverted over 50 tons of organic waste from landfills in its first year. As a board member of the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board and a trustee of the Lower East Side Ecology Center, she advises on citywide recycling policy and community-driven environmental education.
Under her direction, The Durst Organization adopted performance benchmarks aligned with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED and the WELL Building Standard. Helena’s advocacy for biophilic design elements—living walls, daylight-maximizing layouts, and urban gardens—has positioned the firm at the vanguard of healthy, sustainable urban living.
Recent Projects and Professional Focus
In the past two years, Helena has overseen critical phases of development at Halletts Point in Astoria, Queens—a waterfront complex of five residential towers and over 3 acres of public parkland. She also plays a leading role in the “Sven” project in Long Island City, a mixed-use campus slated to achieve net-zero energy consumption through solar arrays and geothermal systems.
Her current agenda includes expanding affordable housing components within flagship sites and piloting smart-building technologies—such as AI-driven HVAC optimization—across the organization’s portfolio. While her work remains largely behind the scenes, industry insiders and community stakeholders alike recognize her as a driving force in marrying luxury development with environmental stewardship.
Honoring Family Legacy: Bernice Durst
Helena’s personal history is also shaped by the memory of her grandmother, Bernice Durst, whose unexpected passing in the mid-Twentieth Century had a profound impact on the family. Though Bernice’s own achievements are less documented, her influence resonates in the Durst commitment to community and continuity—a legacy Helena upholds through both her professional and philanthropic endeavors.
FAQ
What is Helena Rose Durst Domino’s role at The Durst Organization?
She serves as a Principal, leading residential project development, leasing operations, and sustainability programs across the firm’s New York City portfolio.
Where did she receive her education?
Helena earned a BBA in Real Estate from Baruch College and completed a formative internship at the Hudson River Park Trust.
Which major projects has she managed?
She has overseen 57 WEST, EŌS, 10 Halletts Point, and key phases of Halletts Point in Astoria, as well as the Sven development in Long Island City.
What sustainability initiatives has she introduced?
Her programs include green cleaning, composting pilots, LEED/WELL alignment, and biophilic design integration.
How does she honor her family legacy?
She upholds the Durst tradition through environmental leadership, community engagement, and by acknowledging the influence of ancestors like Bernice Durst.
