Photo: Sleep-away camp visiting day in Massachusetts.
Title: Development VP, Federal Realty Investment Trust.
Company: Owns 20M SF of real estate, mostly shopping centers, throughout the US; 250 employees in LA, San Jose, Philly, Boston, and Rockville (150 in the DC region). Developing two large mixed-use projects – Pike & Rose in North Bethesda and Assembly Row in Sommerville, Mass.
Job: Oversees mixed-use developments in Maryland and DC, including master planning, entitlement, development, and construction of Pike & Rose (phase I) for last seven years. Project includes 500 residential units, 80k SF of spec office, and 150k SF of retail. Second residential building opens in May.
Years on the job: 7.
Memorable project: Redevelopment of Russian Tea Room in NYC. On the job two years out of college; everyone on design and development team had been fired, so ended up running design and construction for interior fit out. Design included diorama of Red Square viewed from balcony doors of ballroom, a 12-foot acrylic bear shaped fish tank that rotated over 3-foot tall malachite base and juggled metal etched balls above its head.
Current project: Pike & Rose (Phase II) – includes newly-launched Canopy Hotel by Hilton, 104 condos, and 30k SF of ground floor retail.
Why CRE: Drew buildings on paper since age 5 and landed first job with BBG Architects in NYC after college. While working on project to convert Rockefeller Center office building to a Mandarin Hotel, decided to switch to development.
Grew up: Born in Brooklyn, grew up in Rockland County, NY.
Current home: Adams Morgan.
Why DC: Hired as a developer with Holladay Corp. in 2004.
Schools: Cornell and Wharton (MBA in real estate and finance).
First job: McDonald’s cashier.
Job in another life: Urban policy/planning professor.
Daily habits: Steel-cut oats with agave and blueberries for breakfast and reading books to kids before bed.
Favorite app: Uber.
Favorite movie: Airplane.
Favorite book: Devil in the White City.
Favorite restaurant: Komi.
Favorite music: Coldplay.
Favorite vacation spot: House on the beach at Wild Dunes in South Carolina.
Guilty pleasures: Chocolate chip cookies and American Idol.
Bucket list: Write a book.
Family: Married 12 years; two daughters (9 and 7) and son (5).
Hobbies: Skiing, tennis, cooking, reading, NY Giants, University of Michigan football, and Devils hockey.
Startling fact: Doesn’t wear socks. “Just don’t believe in them.” And entered high school at 4’ 4” and with two big spurts, topped out at 5’ 6”.
