David Walentas Biography

Overview

David Walentas is a billionaire businessman and real estate developer in the United States. He is the founder of Two Trees Management Company, which is based in Brooklyn, New York. Walentas has been involved in several high-profile real estate developments in the city and is known for his creative approach to revitalizing neighborhoods.

Early Life and Education

David Walentas was born on January 1, 1937, in Rochester, New York. He grew up in a working-class family and was the first person in his family to attend college. Walentas earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia in 1959.

Career and Achievements

After college, David Walentas worked as a naval officer and later as a manager at IBM. In the late 1960s, he shifted his focus to real estate development and started his own company, Two Trees Management Company, in 1968. Walentas began buying and renovating properties in the Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood of Brooklyn, which was then a rundown industrial area.

Over the years, Walentas’ Two Trees Management Company has developed and owned several notable properties in New York City. These include the Clocktower Building, the Brooklyn Arts Tower, and the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower, which he converted into luxury apartments. Walentas is also known for his work on the Domino Sugar Factory development in Brooklyn, which has transformed an abandoned industrial site into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.

In addition to his real estate work, David Walentas has been involved in a variety of philanthropic efforts. He has donated to several educational institutions, including the University of Virginia, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Personal Life

David Walentas is married to Jane Walentas and has two children, Jed and Andrea. His wife is an artist and is known for her work on the restored Carousel in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The Walentases are also the owners of the 33-acre vineyard and winery, Barboursville Vineyards, located in Virginia.

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