5 Minutes With The Refinery at Domino Team
The Refinery at Domino, Awards for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse Finalist
Jed Walentas, Principal and CEO, Two Trees Management Company
Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what was the best advice he or she gave you?
Ultimately my parents, like most of us I think. Their work ethic, relentlessness and fundamental decency compass are all things I try to keep with me every day. Obviously as life goes on, other influences become really important as well. I have run Two Trees with my best friend from college, Amish, for close to 30 years now. Despite wildly different personalities, he is a constant pillar and positive influence. My first ever boss, Dino Bradlee, had an irrational amount of confidence in me that enabled me to take risks and learn an inordinate amount. I will always remember and appreciate that. These days, my two kids and my wife are really inspiring every day.
As a ULI NY Awards nominee, what makes you most proud of your project?
The best thing about Domino is the urban plan. We did three really fundamental things that transformed it from what you normally see with these large-scale projects. The single most important thing was to extend River Street through the project and physically separate the public open space from the building footprints. Open space, even if legally public, does not feel public to a neighborhood and is not understood or utilized the same way if building massings come crashing down onto it. The public street is absolutely essential. Second, we greatly enhanced the open space over what was previously envisioned. I think Domino Park is one of the best, most appreciated, utilized and diverse parks in the entire City. Domino Square is now only adding to that and will continue to. The fact that we designed, built and paid for it all privately – and that we now maintain and operate it – is a source of unmeasurable pride. Lastly, imposing as much additional commercial space to the neighborhood to create a healthy mix of uses and activities is really important. Residential-only communities often feel sterile and suburban. There are other things too, like a great mix of architecture, mom-and-pop neighborhood retail and great execution… but the above items are the most fundamental to the project’s success and how it has been received by the community and City.
What excites you about the future of New York City?
New York, like all cities, is a city of people. It is the people that make it special today and it is the people that will continue to make it the most unique and amazing place on Earth. I think the spirit of this place is the most meritocratic in the world. People who excel at anything whatsoever come here to excel. Energy, brilliance and risks are rewarded. More than anywhere else, people are judged and given opportunities based on their accomplishments, energy level and commitment to their purpose… not their race, age, ethnicity, place of birth, sexual or wardrobe preferences. That is really special. And it works. Magically.