Development Vet Hired As D.C.'s New Head Of Real Estate
D.C. has brought on a local real estate veteran to spearhead the city's pipeline of major development projects.
Pam Frentzel-Beyme is taking over as the director of real estate for the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, replacing Sarosh Olpadwala, who served nine years in the role.
Frentzel-Beyme comes to DMPED after over two decades in the development world — the last 16 at her own firm, Capitol Realty Partners, which provides advisory services to developers. Before that, she worked at D.C.-based development firm Monument Realty and Baltimore-based A&R Development Corp.
“I am grateful to Mayor Bowser and Deputy Mayor Nina Albert for this exciting opportunity to serve Washington, DC and support the District's comeback,” Frentzel-Beyme posted on LinkedIn.
“The people, the businesses, and the neighborhoods all make DC an incredible and unique world-class city and I can't wait to lead DMPED's talented team of real estate professionals who get big deals done and move transformational projects forward,” she added.
The director of real estate position plays an integral role in guiding some of the District’s largest development efforts.
As Frentzel-Beyme comes aboard, she will take on operations for existing DMPED projects like the redevelopment of the Reeves Center on U Street and St. Elizabeths East in Anacostia, as well as selecting RFPs for D.C.'s pipeline of projects like the long-awaited activation of 110-acres at Poplar Point and several fire station redevelopments.
She would also be at the forefront of developing a new neighborhood at the 174-acre site of RFK Stadium if D.C. is handed control from the federal government. That process is moving through Congress now, and the stadium was just given a full go-ahead to be demolished.
During his time in the role, Olpadwala guided projects like the redevelopment of the 25-acre McMillan sand filtration site, the Audi Field soccer stadium at Buzzard Point and the Parks at Walter Reed in the upper northwest.
Olpadwala has taken on a different role in Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration, in the office of Senior Advisor Beverly Perry, where he will oversee special projects, the Washington Business Journal reported, citing an internal staff email.
Frentzel-Beyme starts her new role on Monday.
CORRECTION, MAY 16, 3:45 P.M. ET: A previous version of this story misstated Pam Frentzel-Beyme’s start date. It has been updated.
