EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT LEASES FIVE FULL FLOORS AT THE DURST ORGANIZATION’S 655 THIRD AVENUE TOTALING 117K SQUARE FEET

New York, NY (August 7, 2023) –The Durst Organization today announced that Empire State Development (ESD) has chosen 655 Third Avenue for its New York City headquarters. ESD, New York State’s economic development and financing agency, is taking five full floors of the building totaling 117,181 square feet, marking one of the largest new leases in Midtown this year.

“We are proud that Empire State Development has chosen 655 Third Avenue for its New York City headquarters. 655 Third Avenue has a prime location one block from Grand Central Terminal, offering unparalleled access to transit and convenience in New York City,” said Jody Durst, President of The Durst Organization.
655 Third Avenue sits at one of the best-located commuting destinations in the city. Empire State Development’s offices will occupy all of floors 2 through 6, taking more than a quarter of the 30-story, 425,000 square foot property.

Originally built in 1958 and designed by Emery Roth & Sons, 655 earned LEED Gold certification in 2019 with sustainability features including 4,775 square feet of green roofs and double-glazed windows that deflect glare and improve office comfort.

The Durst Organization was represented in house by Tom Bow, Ashlea Aaron, and Bailey Caliban. Moshe Sukenik and Brian Cohen of Newmark and Joan Brothers of Manhattan Boutique Real Estate represented Empire State Development.

655 is one of five Durst properties seeing strong leasing activity along Third Avenue. Earlier this year, the building renewed the Big East Conference. Further north, 825 Third Avenue has seen a pre-leasing boom with six leases signed totaling 125,000 square feet as the building’s $150 million transformation nears completion. Local favorite Rosemary’s will open a new Italian restaurant on the ground floor of 825 Third Avenue later this year with indoor and outdoor seating, and the street will be activated with a renovated public plaza. 205 East 42nd Street, just up the block from 655 Third Avenue, is becoming a new hub for non-profits in Midtown with 65,000 square feet leased so far this year.

**About The Durst Organization**
The Durst Organization, founded in 1915 by Joseph and Rose Durst, is the owner, manager, and builder of 13 million square feet of premiere Manhattan office towers and over three million square feet of residential rental properties, with 3,400 rental apartments built and several thousand units in the pipeline. The Durst Organization is recognized as a world leader in the development of high-performance and environmentally advanced commercial and residential buildings where people live, work, and thrive. www.durst.org.

**About Empire State Development**
ESD is New York’s chief economic development agency. The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, please visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.