Douglas Development Corp

For over two decades, Douglas Development Corporation has garnered redevelopment successes in the District of Columbia, as well as in suburban Virginia and Maryland. Douglas Development has earned a reputation for revitalizing underdeveloped, emerging areas and continues to win praise from tenants, landlords, employees, neighbors, and the real estate community at large.

Founder and President Douglas Jemal established Douglas Development in 1985. While Douglas Development remains a privately operated and family-owned company, it has since grown into a fully integrated real estate company with over 125 employees. Douglas Development’s top executives – Jack Brownell, Douglas Jemal, Norman Jemal, Mathew Jemal, Paul Millstein, and Tim Roberts – have over 50 years of combined tenure with the firm and have each played an integral role in contributing to its growth and success. Furthermore, each member of the firm’s design and construction teams are hand-picked by Douglas to ensure the highest caliber of work goes into each redevelopment project. Development project teams include nationally recognized architects, historical consultants, brokers, and construction managers.

Between 1990 and 2007, Douglas Development expanded its commercial portfolio from less than 250,000 square feet to over 8 million square feet, and expanded its tenant portfolio from 15 properties to over 180. During the past decade, acquisition and development have focused on both suburban and downtown properties. Douglas Development continues to expand into the Richmond, VA and Frederick, MD markets as well.

Douglas Development’s specialty is restoring and preserving mixed-use and retail buildings. It’s most visible and well-known projects are located in the East End of Washington, DC and have served as catalysts for the redevelopment of the entire area. In addition to the historic 7th Street Row (Chinatown) and the Woodies Building, other prominent East End properties include 950 F Street (The Atlantic Building), 800 F Street (home of the International Spy Museum), 1155 F Street, 509 7th Street, 912 F Street (Ventana), and 901 7th Street.

With a current portfolio of over 8 million leasable square feet and over 4 million square feet of developable real estate in the pipeline, Douglas Development is well-established as one of the most dominant and successful real estate developers in the Washington metropolitan area. As a result, Douglas Development has received multiple awards and accolades, including the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation, the Downtown BID Citizen of the Year Award [Douglas Jemal], and the Community Service Award for its Atlantic Building.