David A. Lewis
Director
Washington, D.C.
david.lewis@goulstonstorrs.com+1 202 721 1127David A. Lewis
Director, Washington, D.C.
david.lewis@goulstonstorrs.com+1 202 721 1127Related Expertise
Dave Lewis helps clients develop mixed-use, multifamily, retail, office, hospitality, museum, educational, renewable energy and professional sports projects in Washington, D.C., the Mid-Atlantic region, and other major urban markets nationwide.
Representing national REITs, District and regional developers, and public agencies, among others Dave handles sophisticated development-related transactions. He counsels buyers and sellers of commercial and multifamily residential properties in large urban and suburban markets. His clients rely on his practical advice on multifamily and mixed-use development and trust his significant experience handling complex negotiations and resolving conflicts. Diplomatic and results-oriented, Dave drafts transaction documents, easements, REAs, development agreements, and other documents that facilitate real estate development among his clients and abutting property owners, utility companies, and government agencies.
Developer and Institutional Advice in the District
On behalf of developer and institutional clients, Dave handles entitlement, zoning, permitting, development, and historic preservation public processes for projects within the District of Columbia. He advises clients pursuing development and redevelopment projects that require review and approval from regulatory and governing agencies in the District. Dave is well-versed in obtaining approvals from the Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, DC Department of Buildings, DC Zoning Administrator, Public Space Committee, the Historic Preservation Review Board, the Mayor’s Agent for Historic Preservation, National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts, as well as neighborhood and community organizations. Dave helps clients negotiate land disposition and development agreements, ground leases, easements, and other agreements with DMPED, DHCD, DGS, and other District agencies.
Emerging Real Estate Assets
Always thinking ahead about ensuring deals are successful, Dave advises clients on emerging real estate development projects. This work includes newer concepts such as converting office buildings to multifamily residential apartments, hotels, and other uses; the densification of enclosed shopping malls and other shopping centers; the disposition and redevelopment of formerly federally-owned and District-owned property; and District regulations applicable to affordable housing and historic properties.
Dave is a member of the firm’s Climate Change Task Force.
Related Representative Matters
A national apartment REIT in the acquisition of a portfolio of eight apartment communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin markets.
Developers in acquiring and assembling land for redevelopment of single-use enclosed mall and other shopping centers into mixed-use developments with vertical multifamily residential and other uses, including negotiating with major national retailers and mall lenders to modify recorded agreements, easements, and CC&Rs.
Developers in renovating, demolishing, and otherwise converting office buildings to residential apartment, hotel, and other uses, including by obtaining entitlements and special exceptions, advising on public incentive programs, working with neighboring property owners, negotiating contracts and development agreements, and working through environmental and contamination issues.
A transit agency on upzoning its land holdings, navigating historic preservation laws, and addressing other development matters related to the joint development of transit-adjacent properties.
Developers and institutions as part of PUDs, map amendments, and design review cases before DC’s Zoning Commission and in negotiations with District agencies, community groups, and neighbors.
Developers and educational, cultural, and arts institutions in obtaining entitlements from the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment and Public Space Commission, in obtaining determinations and building permits from DOB, in completing the Large Tract Review process, and in obtaining amendments to the Comprehensive Plan for the District of Columbia.
Developers as part of PUDs, map amendments, and design review cases before the DC Zoning Commission and in negotiations with District agencies, community groups, and neighbors in emerging DC neighborhoods such as Navy Yard, Parkside, and Union Market.
Developers and property owners on regulations and programs relevant to District affordable housing programs (e.g., the Housing Production Trust Fund), development of historic properties, and development and disposition of sites formerly owned by the federal government or District government.
A national multifamily REIT in acquisitions and dispositions involving thousands of units in the aggregate.
A national multifamily REIT in securing entitlements for more than 1,000 new units in transit-oriented projects.
Private schools, charter schools, arts organizations, museums, and other educational and cultural institutions in the District on zoning, historic preservation, and other land use laws and with opportunities to unlock value in real estate holdings through new development and to rehabilitate historic buildings.
A DC museum in renovations to its historic building and another museum in complying with GSA contractor requirements in acquiring a new building in SW DC.
A real estate developer and a boutique hotel management company in a joint venture to obtain the necessary zoning entitlements to build a new, ground-up, 227-key lifestyle hotel in Washington D.C., including a purchase formerly federally-owned land on which to build the hotel. We continue to serve as a high-level consultant to the client in connection with the development of the property.
A real estate developer in entitlements, permitting, and financing for construction of office and lab buildings.
An international grocery store operator with obtaining permits and ensuring regulatory compliance for a first-of-its kind renewable energy technology. Separately, we assisted the owner of a food processing business in acquisition and US Army Corps of Engineers compliance of a large manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
Landlords in the lease up and redevelopment of shopping centers in Boston and elsewhere in New England.
A developer for the redevelopment and repositioning of a 1.3 million square foot industrial, innovation, and maker-space office complex along an urban working waterfront.
A professional sports organization in connection with land use, transportation, and real estate matters.
A special servicer in its repositioning of a shopping center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Accolades
- Best Lawyers in America® (2026): Real Estate
- Lawdragon 500 X: The Next Generation Lawdragon List, 2023-2024
Affiliations
- Urban Land Institute
- Harvard Real Estate Alumni Organization, DC Chapter Co-Chair
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
Education
Georgetown University Law Center ( J.D. , cum laude , 2012 )
Harvard University ( Masters of Urban Planning , 2009 )
Duke University ( B.S. , 2005 )