News Advisory
Contact:
Catherine Timko
catherine@theriddlecompany.com
202.365.7470
The DC Building Industry Association Announces
2024 Board of Directors
Washington, DC – January 8, 2024 – The District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) announces the 2024 Slate of Board of Directors. Richard Lake, Founding Partner, Roadside Development, first elected President of the DCBIA Board of Directors in 2023, assumes the role of Board President, for a second year. Board Officers include Vice Presidents: Clint Mann – Urban Pace, Toby Millman – Transwestern Development, and Maria Thompson – Hoffman & Associates; Board Secretary is Chuck Asmar, partner, Asmar, Schor & McKenna; and Board Treasurer is Mitch Weintraub, Bekaert Advisory LLC.
The Board was elected on November 16, 2023, at DCBIA’s Annual Meeting. They will begin their term in January 2024. The full slate of officers is below, and a detailed list of the full board and past presidents can be found here.
“The real estate industry is facing a number of challenges, and there is no better organization than DCBIA to work through the challenges that impede development.” Richard Lake, Founding Partner, Roadside Development. “I am excited to continue to lead this organization in 2024 and work with this exceptional group of leaders who are aligned to help shape DC’s vibrant, resilient future,” Richard Lake is known as a visionary in the development industry having completed several transformative projects in the region including most recently City Ridge DC. the former Fannie Mae Headquarters, City Market at O in Shaw, and Potomac Town Center, in Prince William County. He is Chair of the Developers’ Roundtable, Chair emeritus at WDCEP and a Trustee of the Federal City Council. Additionally, he is on the board of several local nonprofits.
The board of directors represents the depth and diversity of the membership of over 400 companies and organizations and several thousand real estate professionals. The membership represents all aspects of real estate development including developers, general contractors, architects and engineers, lenders, attorneys, brokers, title companies, utility companies, and community development organizations.
“We are grateful for the expertise, energy and commitment to DC of 2024 Board of Directors,” said Liz DeBarros, CEO, DCBIA. “DCBIA stands ready to partner with key associations and government as we reimagine downtown and its impact on all of DC and the region.” Lake and DeBarros concur that DCBIA’s success is driven by the passion and work of the members, and leadership of the board.
DCBIA Executive Board is below; a full list of the Board of Directors is HERE.
DCBIA Executive Board:
President: Richard Lake | Roadside
Vice President: Clint Mann | Urban Pace
Vice President: Toby Millman | Transwestern Development Company
Vice President: Maria Thompson | Hoffman & Associates
Secretary: Chuck Asmar | Asmar, Schor & McKenna
Treasurer: Mitch Weintraub | Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC
Executive Member: Anitra Androh | Polsinelli Law Firm
Executive Member: Adam Gooch | Akridge
Executive Member: Janene Jackson | Holland & Knight
Executive Member Barbara Mackin| EagleBank
Executive Member: Jeff C. Utz | Goulston & Storrs
Executive Member: Stephanie Williams | The Bozzuto Group
Executive Member/Immediate Past President: Michele V. Hagans | Fort Lincoln New Town Corp.
Background
DCBIA
With 400+ member companies representing thousands of owners, developers, general contractors, architects and engineers, lenders, attorneys, brokers, title companies, utility companies, community development organizations, and other industry members representing all facets of real estate development, DCBIA’s vision is to help make Washington, DC a vibrant city that is meeting significant challenges to be a livable, competitive and thriving community for all. Our mission is: to lead (be the voice of the real estate development community); build (to enhance the capability and effectiveness of DCBIA members; and partner (with governments, businesses, and civic organizations to strengthen the city and realize our vision). We are DC real estate developers. Through rich programs, networking, and advocacy, we build leaders, community, economy, and partnerships for our vibrant city.
DCBIA 2024 Sponsor Packages on Sale Now!
In 2023, every one of our networking events reached maximum capacity, underscoring the enthusiasm and engagement within our DC real estate community. The energy at the 2023 DCBIA Achievement Awards was palatable, creating an unforgettable experience for 700+ attendees. Even during the challenges posed by the pandemic, our Golf Classic persevered as one of DCBIA’s longest-standing traditions. It remained a beacon of outdoor camaraderie and business development connection. Finally, our educational program offerings consistently feature some of the brightest minds in the industry, providing invaluable insights and expertise. Coupled with this energy, DCBIA takes the lead to advocate for the real estate development industry before the Council of the District of Columbia and District government agencies. As we face the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding downtown, and the many seemingly small challenges in well-meaning regulation, now is the time to be involved with DCBIA.
As you plan for 2024 and allocate precious resources, we invite you to consider DCBIA as your most valuable industry resource, enabling your business to thrive in the dynamic post-pandemic, economically challenging real estate development landscape in Washington, D.C.
The answer is always to build.
2024 Events
Check back for updates
Feb 21 | So You Want to Be a Developer? Beyond Bricks & Mortar | Knoll Showroom | REGISTER
Mar 19 | DCBIA CEO Forum: The New Reality: Underwriting the New Capital Stack | Hamilton Live | SAVE THE DATE
May 16 | DCBIA Annual Achievement Awards – Celebrating the Importance of Downtown | The National Building Museum | SPONSOR | WATCH THE VIDEO
July 15 | Golf Classic | Woodmont Country Club | SAVE THE DATE
Sep 12 | 5:30 pm | Back to Business Rooftop Networking | Holland & Knight | SAVE THE DATE
Nov 21 | 3:30 pm | DCBIA Annual Meeting + Panel Discussion | TBD | SAVE THE DATE
Email or call Liz DeBarros, CEO at edebarros@dcbia.org or (202) 966-8665 to customize a sponsorship or ask any questions.
Checks should be made payable to DCBIA and mailed to DCBIA, P.O. Box 77918, Washington, DC 20013. We cannot begin marketing your company until payment arrangements are made.
DCBIA and AOBA continue to partner with the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) to hold trainings on Building Energy Performance Standards. In January 2023, we hosted a webinar series to share tools, resources and information for building owners and property managers to make business decisions.
Access the January 12 recording here.
Access the January 12 slides here.
Access a list of resource links here.
Access the January 23 recording here.
DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS (DOB)
DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DDOT)
- 2024 DDOT Public Space Suspension of Work Calendar District of Columbia Legal Public Holidays: http://dcbia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Suspension-of-Work-Calendar-2023-1.pdf
- Per the District Department of Transportation (DDOT)’s standard practice, exemptions will be allowed for cause in limited cases during this suspension of work. Exemptions must be requested by Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Exemption requests must be made in writing to Stacey Collins, Chief Inspections and Enforcement Officer, via email Stacey.Collins@dc.gov with the following in the subject line, “2023 recognition of Washington’s Birthday Exemption Request.”
- The exemption request must include the following information:
- Public space permit number(s) for the work zone, including construction and occupancy permits
- Location of work zone
- Day(s) and hour(s) for the exemption
- Nature/phase of work taking place during exemption
- Basis/rationale for the exemption
- 24-hour emergency contact name, phone number, and email address
- Questions can also be directed to the Public Space Regulation Division’s Customer Relations Branch at (202) 442-4670.
Dates are subject to change without notice.
As you know, DCBIA’s Community Improvement Day annually brings together hundreds of DCBIA volunteers to renovate and beautify a park or recreation center for more than 28 years! We missed last year because of the pandemic, so this year we have two exciting community service opportunities in the works!
Steateries (Spring / Summer 2021)
DCBIA Streateries Community Improvement Day 2021 is partnership between DCBIA and the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), pairing up DCBIA architectural designers and general contractors with restaurant operators to provide pro-bono services to the restaurant industry, one of the first industries to be drastically impacted by the pandemic.
The effort pivots DCBIA’s traditional Community Improvement Day effort to provide service now before the summer to create outdoor dining spaces as dining season gears up, health measures improve, and the city reopens.
The RAMW poured through 85 applications and selected several deserving restaurants to design and build their outdoor dining space all over the city, including Atxondo, Confetti Play Cafe, Letena, Indique, Provost, Rasa, Zeke Coffee, Busboys & Poets of Anacostia! Through this project, we are inviting people to come back to work and enjoy the new and expanding amenities in our own neighborhoods!
Parks / Recreation Centers (Fall 2021)
We return to several of our 28 past Community Improvement Day sites that need beautification this fall! Stay tuned for more details and how to get involved as a volunteer!
We need your financial support for both of these projects!
For amounts above $5,000, we will recognize your company throughout the year!
Partnering with the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), DCBIA seeks volunteers to help us design and build up to 8 streateries and/or outdoor dining spaces across the District. We believe this is our time to support DC neighborhoods and to bring customers back to commercial corridors all over the city. We seek your in-kind design services, general contracting, and general labor (and financial) volunteer services over the next few weeks.
Special Thanks to the following firms and companies who are providing volunteer hours and making financial donations to design and build streateries across DC!
We are in need of financial donations for this effort!
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All donations are tax-deductible for charitable purposes: FEIN 52-205188 |
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This community service opportunity is available to DCBIA members only.
Check your membership status here. Not a member? Join here.
The DC Development Report is a summary of the major development and construction projects in the District of Columbia. Published on March 11, 2021 by Washington, DC Economic Partnership.
HIGHLIGHTS
Groundbreakings – Despite the health pandemic more than 4.6 million SF of projects broke ground between March and December 2020. During this time the month of August experienced the most project starts with five, totaling just over one million SF. The vast majority of projects were multifamily residential showing the continued investor interest in this sector.
Office – While the long-term nature of leases in the office sector have provided better protection from the COVID-19 shock compared to other sectors such as hospitality and multifamily, it has not escaped unscathed
Retail – 2020 has been a tumultuous year for the District of Columbia’s retail and restaurant market as the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily curtailed demand, with the notable exception of grocery stores. Prior to the pandemic, the retail landscape in the District was robust and recorded strong growth in 2019 into the first quarter of 2020.
Residential – The Washington metro area is the seventh largest apartment market in the U.S., with the Census Bureau approximating its multifamily supply at 561,000 units.
Hospitality – After years of consistent occupancy and RevPAR rates, despite thousands of new hotel rooms being added to the market, the COVID-19 pandemic has made a major impact on the hospitality sector.
Quality of Life – Given the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, “quality of life” spaces, defined as serving education, medical, and community purposes, have never proved more essential.
Download HERE2020-DCDR-web.
DCRA and DDOT
Suspension of Work Calendar 2022
Plan ahead!
The biggest change in 2022 is that a new holiday Juneteenth will be recognized.
If you anticipate requiring an exemption for construction work on public space from DDOT, contact Lareon Brent at Lareon.brent@dc.gov2 or 202.671.4631. For DCRA regarding private space, refer to the DCRA after work hours permit process.
Dates are subject to change without notice.
DCRA UPDATE: Thursday, June 16, 2022:
The District of Columbia Government lists Monday, June 20 as an observed federal holiday. DCBIA confirmed with DCRA today that “in observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, no construction will be allowed on Sunday, June 19, 2022 without an after-hours permit. Construction is allowed on Monday, June 20, 2022, however, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) will be closed. DCRA offers many online services, tools, and resources, enabling customers to conduct business 24 hours per day, seven days per week.”
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More on DCRA here: https://dcra.dc.gov/page/no-construction-allowed-holidays
Good jobs are plentiful in the Washington area, but DC residents are not securing nearly enough of them.
Many employers and organizations are working hard to fix this problem, but their efforts are not coordinated and they face barriers and challenges along the way.
Hire Local DC believes that by tackling these challenges as a Coalition, we can support more DC residents in securing good jobs and achieve a more equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modeled after MetroNow, Hire Local DC provides a single place for employers to coordinate their efforts to strengthen the local talent pipeline.
We offer a single point of access for the government to reach the employer community and for the employer community to coordinate with government and non-profit providers.
We help employers share resources, create alignment across their individual initiatives, and work together toward common goals.
Through events, a regular newsletter, our website and engagement with individual employers, we pursue three primary activities:
- Run an Ongoing Campaign to Encourage Businesses to Hire Local DC Residents
- Help Employers hire local DC residents
- Enable collaboration among employers, providers, and government to strengthen the local talent pipeline for DC employers
Sign up to receive the Hire Local DC newsletter.
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Earlier this year, DCBIA launched a new committee. Read about DCBIA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee efforts HERE. The DEI Committee is co-chaired by Anitra Androh, Nelson Mullins and Lamont Bessicks, Lewis Real Estate Services. Email us if you would like to join the committee.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Don Montuori December 17, 2020 202-465-7047 dmontuori@wcsmith.com
Rhonda Mitchell, Lisa F. Smith Named Washingtonians of the Year
Washingtonian Magazine recognizes them for their work with WC Smith’s Building Bridges to a Better Life program and efforts to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis
WASHINGTON, DC – December 17, 2020 – Rhonda Mitchell, community services director for WC Smith’s Villages of Parklands property, and Lisa F. Smith, wife of WC Smith Chairman and CEO Chris Smith, have been named 2020 Washingtonians of the Year for their volunteer work by Washingtonian magazine.
Mitchell and Smith were honored for their efforts behind Building Bridges to a Better Life (BBBL), a joint project of WC Smith and Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) that provides housing and wrap-around services to more than 70 previously homeless families who were displaced when the District closed the DC General Hospital and several motel shelters in 2018. Families received assistance with household furnishings and supplies, and have access to the programming and services offered by Building Bridges and its partners at THEARC.
Additionally, Mitchell and Smith have organized multiple educational and entertainment events, including financial management and educational resources workshops for BBBL parents and outings to locations across the city for their children.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mitchell and Smith have spearheaded an extensive weekly food distribution program at THEARC for people living east of the Anacostia River. Building Bridges coordinates the effort, which has included participation from World Central Kitchen, DC Central Kitchen, Martha’s Table, THRIVE and the Capital Area Food Bank
Each week since March, Mitchell and Smith have managed a multi-faceted operation that provides critical food supplies to area residents who have been among the hardest hit by the COVID virus. Working with Building Bridges staff and other volunteers, they ensure that items are readily available and distributed in an orderly fashion, rain or shine. The week before Thanksgiving more than 500 cars showed up at THEARC for supplies. The program will continue throughout the winter.
Rahsaan Bernard, president of Building Bridges, nominated them for the award.
As Washingtonian notes: “Much has become uncertain during the pandemic. But for the 72 previously homeless families who now have places to live thanks to Building Bridges to a Better Life, there’s one thing they can count on: Rhonda Mitchell and Lisa Smith.”
“I could not have nominated two more deserving people,” Bernard said. “Their tireless efforts, dedication, and courage to serve the community, being on the front lines since the beginning of this pandemic from our doorsteps here at THEARC, is awe-inspiring!”
More about Mitchell and Smith, and the other honorees, can be found here.
ABOUT WC Smith
WC Smith (www.wcsmith.com) is a Washington, DC-based multidisciplinary real estate firm, providing integrated property development and property management services to the Washington metropolitan area for more than 50 years. Since our founding in 1968, we have built communities across all 8 wards of Washington that uniquely combine the city’s long-term vision for growth with our residents’ vision for how a neighborhood best serves their needs and desires.
ABOUT Building Bridges Across the River
Building Bridges Across the River (Building Bridges) provides residents East of the Anacostia River access to the best-in-class facilities, programs and partnerships in arts and culture, economic opportunity, education, recreation, health and well-being. Building Bridges Across the River was incorporated as a (501-c-3) nonprofit organization in 1997 to be the managing partner of THEARC, the state-of-the-art community center founded by WC Smith CEO Chris Smith. Building Bridges is the engine behind all of the facility’s services, programs and collaborations. Today, Building Bridges is expanding its footprint, leading programming and partnerships at THEARC, THEARC Theater, THEARC Farms, Skyland Workforce Center and the 11th Street Bridge Park.
A lot has changed because of the pandemic, but the District continues to keep its carbon reduction goals. See what changes are in place to address challenges while continuing to strive toward carbon neutrality and climate resiliency by 2050.
Watch the webinar.
Download the slides.