What's all the buzz? Data shows registered beehives in NYC soaring in recent years
Times Square may be known for its buzz, but a few blocks away, it’s more literal. On the seventh floor rooftop at 1 Bryant Park are half a million honey bees They've been tenants at the Durst Organization property for about a decade now. “They don’t have it much better than here,” said Andrew Coté, an urban beekeeper who cares for the insects at the site. What You Need To Know Data shows a 500% increase in beehives registered with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene since the program began They can be found all over…
Date 2023-08-21
Author Eric Feldman
Secret gardens: The plants and insects that inhabit NYC's green roofs
When you think of New York City’s birds, you probably think of one particular feathered fiend. Sometimes called a “sky rat,” it’s short, often missing toes, and travels in packs. But the pigeon is far from the only bird to traverse the city’s skies Gotham’s green roofs—gardens, farms, and planted green spaces—help the city absorb excess rain water during storms and cool the air. They are home to an assorted mix of bats, bees and plants—plus migratory birds that use roofs as rest stops before flying across the continent. The city might look like a concrete labyrinth from the ground,…
Date 2023-08-15
Author Celia Young
THE DURST ORGANIZATION AND PEACEFUL GARDENER LLC PARTNER FOR A GREENER ASTORIA AT HALLETTS POINT
The Durst Organization is partnering with local Astoria organization Peaceful Gardener LLC to expand sustainable initiatives at its Halletts Point development. At 10 Halletts Point, which opened in 2019, Peaceful Gardener assisted with the installation and maintenance of landscaping of the rooftop terraces. As Durst works on the next phase of the project, with two buildings currently under construction, Peaceful Gardener will be planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, flowers, and other vegetation along the Waterfront Esplanade “This is a significant demonstration of The Durst Organization’s commitment to the cultivation of community-based collaborations that support job creation, small business growth, inclusion,…
Author The Durst Organization
Durst inks 117K-square-foot lease for new Empire State Development HQ
The Durst Organization has landed a major new tenant for one of its Third Avenue properties Empire State Development, a government agency focused on economic development and financing, has inked a lease for 21 years and six months spanning about 117,000 square feet at 655 Third Ave., which will serve as its new city headquarters. The asking rent was $69 per square foot. The agency will occupy five full floors of the building, and its lease will encompass more than a quarter of the property, which stands 30 stories tall and spans 425,000 square feet. ESD is moving to the…
Date 2023-08-08
Author Eddie Small
New York City has to build more housing to grow: Constructing new apartments is the only way to solve the problem
New York City is facing a worsening housing crisis. Decades of restrictive public policy including a regressive property tax system that discourages rental housing development, profligate landmarking, and onerous public approvals coupled with rising land and construction costs has resulted in lackluster housing production Simultaneously, New York has remained a beacon for talented and ambitious people. Population and jobs have grown at an enviable rate. The result is that demand far outstrips supply, driving up rents and creating housing scarcity. The city must build half a million new rental apartments by 2030 — and we are not even close to…
Date 2023-08-07
Author Douglas Durst