OUR STORY
Douglas Development was established in 1985 by Founder and President Douglas Jemal as a private family-owned company. Since its inception, Douglas Development focused on scrupulously restoring unique buildings, no matter the level of disrepair they were purchased in. By welcoming large undertakings with a high level of complexity, Douglas Development quickly established a reputation as catalysts for redevelopment of entire neighborhoods.
Between 1990 and 2010, Douglas Development extended its portfolio outside of the East End of Washington, growing from less than 250,000 sf to over 10 million sf under management. As the firm grew, Douglas Development continued to strengthen relationships with tenants, lenders, and governments.
Today, Douglas Development boasts 270+ properties in 44 Municipalities across 7 states and the District of Columbia. This includes over 19 million rentable square feet and over 3,600 residential units. The company continues to focus on the quality of its portfolio and has incredible projects in the pipeline.
OUR STORY
STRATEGIES
Preserving the Past; Playing in the Present
We understand the impact of iconic buildings on community identity. We believe that restoring historic structures while respecting their significance can catalyze vitality, making entire neighborhoods desirable for businesses and residents alike. By blending history with modern functionality, our development team creates standout properties that offer both cultural significance and long-term financial rewards.
Limited Service Hospitality meets Thoughtful Placemaking
Limited service hospitality is evolving beyond just affordability and efficiency—it’s becoming a key player in placemaking. We develop our hospitality assets with intentional design and high-end finishes that respect their sense-of-place. Our growing hospitality portfolio caters to a traveler who wants to truly immerse themselves in their destination. By focusing on smart design, strategic locations, and attention to service, our hotels contribute to a destination’s identity, and enhance the experiences of our guests.
Unlocking Potential: Residential Development in Emerging Markets
We look for communities incubating local businesses and growing their own identity but that lack the housing infrastructure to sustain growth. Our goal is to establish these communities as thriving residential enclaves with strong neighborhood identities. Our investments foster growth and community transformation. These projects not only provide affordable and attractive housing options but also contribute to economic revitalization, enhancing the appeal of once-overlooked neighborhoods.
COMPANY BACKGROUND
Douglas Development Corporation is a multigenerational owner, operator, and developer of a portfolio of iconic properties across the eastern seaboard. Throughout its 40-year history, Douglas Development has remained a leading innovator in commercial real estate by focusing on recapturing charm, highlighting details, and preserving history. In curating the uniqueness of individual buildings, Douglas Development is proud to share a track record of creating a sense of place and paying homage to our communities.
We believe that landmark buildings catalyze distinctive communities. Our strategy is to develop and operate projects that we believe in, generating enthusiasm from their host communities with strong support from local municipalities. We know from experience that the right project benefits all stakeholders.
With current portfolio of more than 19 million leasable square feet across over 270 properties in 7 states and the District of Columbia, Douglas Development is well-established as one of the most dominant and successful real estate developers in the Washington Metropolitan area.
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The vision to see what the asset, the neighborhood, and indeed the entire city could be and would be with the right leadership to get it there.
