Washington DC’s
Real Estate ICONS
The leaders in the DC commercial real estate industry come from different
backgrounds and, in some cases, made their bones and fortunes in other fields. For
example, one founded the first television network for African Americans, another
was a noted banker and still another has made headlines as the managing
principal owner of the Washington Nationals. Yet the common
thread among these titans are that they have each put their
personal mark on this area through their investment in time,
capital and imagination. All without exception are also
heavily involved in civic and philanthropic causes that
benefit thousands and make living in the DC area that
much better. Here’s a look at some individuals who have
helped shape—and continue to influence—the local market.
By John Jordan
JOHN E. “CHIP” AKRIDGE III
Despite starting his Washington, DC-based real estate development
firm just as a national recession was beginning in 1974, Chip Akridge
has provided the leadership that has
resulted in Akridge acquiring or developing approximately 12 million square
feet of office, retail, industrial/ware-house and research and development
space in the DC area. Akridge noted in
a recent radio interview that the current downturn is the sixth since its
company’s inception. One key to the
company’s success has been having
strong equity partners in each of its
projects. One of Akridge’s passions on
the philanthropic front is the Trust for
the National Mall. A veteran of the
Vietnam War, he’s chairman of the
trust that is dedicated to restoring and
improving the National Mall, which
has fallen into a state of disrepair.
BRUCE BASCHUK
The founder and chairman of J Street
Cos. has been a player in Washington
for more than a quarter century. Bruce
Baschuk provides the corporate vision
and strategic direction and oversees
the land acquisition, finance and
development operations for the firm,
which has offices here and in Dallas. J
Street maintains a four-million-square-foot office and multifamily property
management portfolio and is also
engaged in full development, project
management and brokerage. Before
forming the company in 2004, Baschuk was one of the top agents in
the region, working for CBRE and then Barnes Morris & Pardoe,
before he assumed responsibility as the managing director of CBRE’s
Washington, DC office. He was also the president of Jubilee
Enterprises, which has redeveloped more than 1,300 residential
units in Southeast DC, and is founder of Winners Lacrosse, a nonprofit that mentors inner-city youth.
