One building at a time, the Durst Organization is taking over Midtown West, with innovative, luxury rental buildings modernizing a very historic neighborhood. The Durst Organization is responsible for the design of 1 Bryant Park, 1 World Trade Center, and the Hallets Point Projects.

In a very short time apartment residents at The Helena will be able to compost without leaving their homes. The new program being implemented at The Helena, at 601 West 57th Street, means that residents will be keeping their organic trash out of the landfills. The plan, as being thought out by The Durst Organization, is also supposed to be used in a brand new apartment complex currently being built next to The Helena. The program however is still in the planning stages and is set to launch at The Helena as a test. New York City is increasingly becoming a green city with sustainable buildings and programs such as these.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or more commonly known as simply LEED, is one of the biggest buzzwords in real estate right now. In short, it is a set of strategies that are used to evaluate real estate development projects on their effort towards environmental friendliness. In order for a building to be considered LEED certified, it must pass a series of required prerequisites and elective credits set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Once a building has been approved by the Green Building Council, it will then be confirmed and decreed by the Green Building Certification Institute as officially certified. While many people have heard of LEED certified buildings, few New Yorkers can confidently identify the characteristics of green buildings.
 

There's a lot to like about Cary Tamarkin's LEED-certified condo at 456 West 19th Street. Some of this has to do with its looks -- even amid the stiff competition provided by other Chelsea condo listings -- even the star-studded constellation of new condo listings around the High Line -- 456 West 19th Street is a beauty. (Architecture critics agree with us there) That there's some green building intelligence behind that elegant facade helps matters, too. And of course the condos for sale at 456 West 19th Street are exceptionally luxurious, even by Chelsea standards -- every apartment at 456 West 19th is a duplex, and the quality of finishes and fixtures are surpassingly high. But while we at New Construction Manhattan love us some 456 West 19th Street, it turns out that we're not alone -- Curbed reports that the high-end Chelsea condominium is shaping up as one of the true sales success stories of the current Manhattan real estate market. As is common -- even with NYC condo prices on the rise -- most of the condominiums for sale at 456 West 19th Street wound up selling for slightly less than their asking prices.