Helena Rose Durst

Helena Rose Durst is a vice president and a fourth-generation family member of The Durst Organization. Helena started her career as an intern at the Hudson River Park Trust, where she not only fell in love with the Hudson River waterfront but also gained valuable insight into the City’s complex land-use review process. After studying real estate at Baruch College, Helena joined the leasing department of The Durst Organization, where she has participated in and closed approximately 100,000 square feet in lease transactions. She also instituted a comprehensive greening of the company’s building management operations that has improved landfill diversion rates, green cleaning practices, and resource conservation.

Helena has participated in the construction and management of several projects from the ground up, including The Epic, The Helena, and One Bryant Park. Helena is a board member of Citizens Union, Just Food, Governors Island Alliance, High School for Environmental Sciences, and SWAB.

When Helena’s not in the city, she can be found at her family’s McEnroe Organic Farm, one of the largest family-owned-and-operated organic farms in New York State. Helena has started an education program there that aims to reconnect neighbors and youths with agriculture and where food comes from.