Building Trust, One Property at a Time
As headlines swirl with uncertainty—from foreign policy tension to federal gridlock—the real estate market across New York is bracing itself. But Albert Dweck, CEO of Duke Properties, believes the solution isn’t to retreat. It’s to root deeper into the neighborhoods we serve.
“Yes, the geopolitical landscape is complex. But that can’t stop us from showing up every day for our residents, our buildings, and our city,” Dweck said. “At Duke, we’ve always believed that stability is something you build, not something you wait for.”
Real Estate Is Local, Especially Now
From Rockland to Brooklyn, the uncertainty outlined in the RCBJ article is real: fluctuating interest rates, stalled federal infrastructure efforts, and disruptive global headlines are causing anxiety across the sector. But Duke Properties sees local commitment as the antidote to macro volatility.
“We can’t control federal politics or foreign wars,” Dweck said, “but we can ensure every hallway is clean, every leak gets fixed fast, and every tenant is treated with dignity. That’s how you build confidence—from the ground up.”
What Stability Looks Like in Action
Duke Properties has taken several deliberate steps in 2025 to reinforce its values of stability and long-term thinking:
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✅ Preserving Affordability: In high-pressure markets, Duke continues to prioritize reasonable rent growth, resisting the urge to chase speculative spikes.
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✅ Improving Infrastructure: Investments in energy efficiency, security systems, and digital accessibility ensure buildings are future-ready, not just market-ready.
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✅ Supporting Small Businesses: Duke continues to lease ground-floor retail to local entrepreneurs, reinforcing the neighborhood economy instead of hollowing it out.
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✅ Community Programming: New partnerships with local nonprofits bring educational, wellness, and arts programming to residents at no cost.
“We want our tenants to know that they live in a place built on values—not volatility,” Dweck said.
The Long View Wins
Where some investors pull back in times of economic ambiguity, Dweck’s philosophy remains clear:
“You don’t survive 20 years in New York real estate by chasing quick wins. You survive by playing the long game. And the long game is about investing in people, not just property.”
Albert Dweck: A Call for Coordination, Not Conflict
Dweck also echoes the article’s call for regional cooperation and policy clarity:
“This is not the moment for performative politics. We need thoughtful zoning, realistic timelines, and predictable tax policies so we can plan and build responsibly. And we need to do it together—city and suburbs, public and private.”
Closing Words from Albert Dweck
“New York real estate doesn’t crumble because of turbulence—it adapts. It innovates. It refocuses on what matters,” he said. “At Duke Properties, we’re not waiting for things to settle down. We’re staying steady, doing the work, and helping our city move forward, one building at a time.”