# The Buying of a Block

A brief history of Durst real estate deals on the block bound by 42d and 43d Streets, between Broadway and the Avenue of the Americas.

Property owned or controlled by Durst Organization

**1967** Seymour Durst buys 104 W. 43d, the first of many parcels his company will own on the block.

**1973** Durst drops the option to buy four parcels to add to its growing ownership of lots.

**1986** Joseph and Ralph Bernstein acquire four parcels and try to lease Durst's property, but Durst backs out at the last minute.

**1987** Seymour's son, Douglas, tries to build a headquarters tower for Morgan Stanley on the east side of the block, but the deal crumbles.

**1990** The Dursts try to build a headquarters for the Chemical Bank on the east side of the block, but the deal collapses.

**1998** Douglas Durst begins negotiations to build a $650 million tower for the newly combined Nasdaq and American Stock Exchange.

Source: Durst Organization and real estate records

The New York Times