RECKSON ASSOCIATES REALTY CORP.
                                  EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                               November 30, 1999


Reckson Service Industries Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, New York 10022

     Re:  Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreements

Dear Sirs:

     Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of
August 4, 1999,  between  Reckson  Service  Industries,  Inc.,  as Borrower (the
"Borrower") and Reckson  Operating  Partnership,  L.P., as Lender (the "Lender")
relating to the operations of the Borrower (the "RSI Facility"), and the Amended
and Restated Credit greement,  dated as of August 4, 1999,  between the Borrower
and the Lender relating to Reckson  Strategic Venture Parters LLC (together with
the RSI Facility,  the "Credit  Facilities").  Capitalized terms used herein and
not  otherwise  defined  shall have the  meaning  ascribed  to such terms in the
Credit Facilities.

     You have  advised us of your  proposal to obtain (i) a $60 million  secured
loan from Warburg Dillon Read and UBS AG (or other lenders) substantially on the
terms set forth on the term sheet attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Secured $60
million  Loan")  and (ii) a $75  million  secured  loan from  Reckson  Strategic
Venture Partners LLC (or other lenders)  substantially on the terms set forth in
the term sheet attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Secured $75 million Loan" and,
together with the Secured $60 million Loan, the "Secured Loans").  You have also
advised us of your proposal to issue up to $200 million in preferred  stock (the
"Preferred Stock").

1.   Amendments.  We  hereby  agree  to  the  following amendments to the Credit
 Facilities:

       a.Section  1.1(b)  is hereby  amended  to add the  following  definition:
         "Adjusted  EBITDA" shall mean, for any fiscal quarter,  EBITDA less any
         amounts payable (i) by any subsidiary in respect of the Indebtedness of
         such Subsidiary (including,  but not limited to, Indebtedness of VANTAS
         Incorporated and the Secured $75 million Loan) and (ii) by the Borrower
         in respect of the Secured $60 million Loan.

       b.The third  sentence of Section 3.1 of the Credit  Facilities  is hereby
         amended by deleting  the  references  to "EBITDA"  and  replacing  such
         references with the term "Adjusted EBITDA."

       c.  Section  7.2(c) of the Credit Facilities is hereby amended to add the
          following:

          (iv) Indebtedness of the Borrower payable to its subsidiaries, partner
               companies  or other  companies  into  which  the  Borrower  makes
               investments  to evidence the  obligation  of the Borrower to fund
               future capital commitments into such entities.

     2. Consents. We hereby consent to the following:

       a. The  Liens to be granted under the Secured Loans shall be deemed to be
         Permitted Liens for purposes of the Credit Facilities.

       b.In accordance with Section  7.2(c)(iii) of the Credit  Facilities,  the
         incurrence of  Indebtedness  under the Secured Loans and the payment of
         interest thereon is hereby approved.

       c.In  accordance   with   Sections   7.2(d)  and  7.2(e)  of  the  Credit
         Facilities,  the filing of one or more  Certificates of Designation and
         any  amendments  thereto  in respect of the  Preferred  Stock,  and the
         payment by the Borrower of  dividends  to the holders of the  Preferred
         Stock, is hereby approved.



<PAGE>

     3. Fees.  It  is  understood  that  a fee equal to 176,186 shares of common
stock,  par  value  $.01  per  share,  of  the Borrower shall be paid to us upon
delivery  of this letter in consideration of the matters covered in this letter.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        RECKSON OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
                                        By:  Reckson  Associates  Realty  Corp.,
                                        general partner

                                        By: /s/ Michael Maturo

                                           ------------------------------------

                                           Name: Michael Maturo
                                           Title: Executive Vice President

Confirmed and Accepted:
RECKSON SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.

By: /s/ Michael Maturo

     -----------------------------------
   Name: Michael Maturo
     Title: Executive Vice President