Full Member Executive Conversation

Join other ULI Washington Full Members for an intimate
conversation about the state of the industry.

This conversation will be hosted by Richard Lake, Managing Partner, Roadside Development, LLC.  Mr. Lake is an experienced developer who heads a very successful Washington region firm that has developed (and is developing) iconic mixed-use projects throughout the region.  Recent project of note is City Market at O, an ULI Global Award Winner.  Mr. Lake has been responsible for overall acquisition, entitlement, development, leasing, and property management of more than 25 million SF over the past three decades. One notable recent project is City Market at O, a one million square foot, urban infill project in the heart of the Shaw neighborhood in Washington DC, which spans two city blocks and features nearly 90,000 square feet of retail, 550 luxury rental apartments, 90 affordable senior rental units, a 182-room key hotel, a 500-car parking garage, and incorporates the historic preservation of the nationally registered landmark O Street Market.  A new project for Richard and Roadside is the current Fannie Mae site on Wisconsin Avenue in northwest DC.  The project is in its initial approval stage.  The completed development is envisioned as having a total of nine buildings, including the repurposed Equitable Life building, while activating the lawn at the front of the site. There will be up to 700 residential units, the city’s first Wegman’s, a hotel, offices, retail, cultural space, a boutique movie theater, and up to 1,400 below-grade parking spaces.

Mr. Lake will address the following questions:

• You seem to have a “secret sauce” in creating places that are vibrant mixed-use communities.  Can you share your thoughts on what is most important to consider when working to create successful environments with amenities and public spaces that add value to a project?
• Several of your notable projects include a historic preservation element.  Why do you think it’s important to preserve historic buildings as part of mixed-use developments and how to you think about incorporating them into a larger project?
• Roadside was one of the first developers to create a significant project in Shaw.  What motivated you to develop there and where do you see the area going in the next 10 years.
• Housing affordability is a big topic of concern in the market.  Do you have ideas about what the private market can do to lower the cost of housing given the current market constraints?