Bill Rudin

There are a few names that stand out in the history of commercial real estate in New York City–Durst, Gordon, Zeckendorf–names that carry a sense of history as much as they imply a viable, current business. Rudin is one such name. Rudin Management began life in 1902 with the purchase of 155 E. 54th St. But if that’s the standard for Rudin’s history, 3 Times Square–the Reuters Building–is the mark of the firm’s ongoing contribution to the skyline of the city. Along the way, the firm has garnered something on the order of 10 million sf of New York City real estate and given back in ways that far transcend the business. Not the least of these was Lewis Rudin’s contribution to the creation of the Association for a Better New York in 1971. Around that time, his son, William, wrapping up college and just about done fiddling with summer jobs in the film industry, was planning to settle down in the family business. Today, he’s president of the century-plus-old company and chairman of ABNY. At the recent RealShare New York, Rudin sat down for a one-on-one with Real Estate Media editorial director Michael Desiato for Inside the Real Estate Mind. His take on the New York market is revealing, and refreshingly forward-thinking.

Desiato: What were your early days in the family business like?