August 26, 2025

Jamie Weinbaum: Beyond the Transaction (#138)

2 hours 13 minutes

Bio

Jamie Weinbaum is President & CEO of Horning, overseeing operations, development, and strategic planning. Previously Executive VP at MidCity (4M sf pipeline), COO at Ditto Residential, development executive at JBG Smith, Director of DC Office of Zoning, and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Former ULI Washington chair. JD from GW Law, BA from Wake Forest.

Key Discussion Points

Career Pivot from Law [00:00-13:17]

Childhood passion for built environment - sketching houses, playing with Legos

2006 revelation with wife: "what you do 9am-7pm doesn't really do it for me"

Marrying passions with profession leads to happier life and more successful career

Started Atlanta home renovations as side hustle while practicing law

Real Estate Entry via AJ Jackson [13:17-25:42]

AJ Jackson instrumental in first development job at EYA in 2007

Developer as "conductor of the orchestra" - coordinating subject matter experts

Ownership side vs. consultant preference: "you're part of the story for years"

2008 downturn layoff after 9 months confirmed industry passion

DC Government Leadership [25:42-37:33]

Became Director of Office of Zoning under Mayor Fenty administration

Crash course in leadership: humility, listening, bringing people along

Technology focus: converting paper zoning maps to online GIS resources

"Level the playing field" philosophy for residents

JBG Development Experience [37:33-51:30]

2011-2014: Twin Brook metro projects, Fort Totten Square (Walmart mixed-use)

Risk mitigation and preserving optionality as core JBG principles

Investment committee meetings: "nobody held back" - heated debates

Real estate development requires communication, analytics, design

Family Business Philosophy [51:30-1:05:15]

Hired business coach specializing in family companies at MidCity

Role as fiduciary working on behalf of family to accomplish their aims

Alignment between personal values and family mission critically important

Multi-generational companies face unique succession challenges

Horning Strategy & Amazon Partnership [1:05:15-1:20:45]

"Mission-driven for profit" organization focused on affordable housing

Plaza Towers acquisition: Amazon Housing Equity Fund + 99-year affordability covenant

Creative financing: Freddie primary debt + Amazon below-market mezzanine

Locks in affordability for 288 units at 80% AMI in gentrifying Hyattsville

Development Challenges [1:20:45-1:35:20]

901 Monroe/Ravenna: 25-year timeline for 230-unit project due to appeals

Ground-up development "really, really tough environment" in DC region

Acquisition at below replacement cost preferred over new construction

Advocates sometimes oppose affordable housing projects intended to help residents

Personal Integration Philosophy [1:35:20-1:48:30]

"Integration" not "balance" - career, family, community as separate cups

Each cup must be tended individually - one full cup can't fill others

Striving for peace and wholeness across all life dimensions

Market Outlook [1:48:30-2:05:00]

Federal surplus property disposal could create "next wharf" opportunity

Independence Avenue to Wharf corridor: extraordinary development potential

Need bipartisan political consensus for multi-year development projects

Resources:

https://www.horningdc.com/

...more

View all episodes

By John Coe

2727 ratings

August 26, 2025

Jamie Weinbaum: Beyond the Transaction (#138)

2 hours 13 minutes

Bio

Key Discussion Points

Career Pivot from Law [00:00-13:17]

Childhood passion for built environment - sketching houses, playing with Legos

2006 revelation with wife: "what you do 9am-7pm doesn't really do it for me"

Marrying passions with profession leads to happier life and more successful career

Started Atlanta home renovations as side hustle while practicing law

Real Estate Entry via AJ Jackson [13:17-25:42]

AJ Jackson instrumental in first development job at EYA in 2007

Developer as "conductor of the orchestra" - coordinating subject matter experts

Ownership side vs. consultant preference: "you're part of the story for years"

2008 downturn layoff after 9 months confirmed industry passion

DC Government Leadership [25:42-37:33]

Became Director of Office of Zoning under Mayor Fenty administration

Crash course in leadership: humility, listening, bringing people along

Technology focus: converting paper zoning maps to online GIS resources

"Level the playing field" philosophy for residents

JBG Development Experience [37:33-51:30]

2011-2014: Twin Brook metro projects, Fort Totten Square (Walmart mixed-use)

Risk mitigation and preserving optionality as core JBG principles

Investment committee meetings: "nobody held back" - heated debates

Real estate development requires communication, analytics, design

Family Business Philosophy [51:30-1:05:15]

Hired business coach specializing in family companies at MidCity

Role as fiduciary working on behalf of family to accomplish their aims

Alignment between personal values and family mission critically important

Multi-generational companies face unique succession challenges

Horning Strategy & Amazon Partnership [1:05:15-1:20:45]

"Mission-driven for profit" organization focused on affordable housing

Plaza Towers acquisition: Amazon Housing Equity Fund + 99-year affordability covenant

Creative financing: Freddie primary debt + Amazon below-market mezzanine

Locks in affordability for 288 units at 80% AMI in gentrifying Hyattsville

Development Challenges [1:20:45-1:35:20]

901 Monroe/Ravenna: 25-year timeline for 230-unit project due to appeals

Ground-up development "really, really tough environment" in DC region

Acquisition at below replacement cost preferred over new construction

Advocates sometimes oppose affordable housing projects intended to help residents

Personal Integration Philosophy [1:35:20-1:48:30]

"Integration" not "balance" - career, family, community as separate cups

Each cup must be tended individually - one full cup can't fill others

Striving for peace and wholeness across all life dimensions

Market Outlook [1:48:30-2:05:00]

Federal surplus property disposal could create "next wharf" opportunity

Independence Avenue to Wharf corridor: extraordinary development potential

Need bipartisan political consensus for multi-year development projects

Resources:

https://www.horningdc.com/

...more

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Jamie Weinbaum: Beyond the Transaction (#138)

More shows like Icons of DC Area Real Estate

America‘s Commercial Real Estate Show

WSJ What’s News

Pivot

The Tony Kornheiser Show

Founders

Pod Save America

POWERS

The Bulwark Podcast

The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

The Weekly Take from CBRE

The TreppWire Podcast: A Commercial Real Estate Show

The Walker Webcast

Prof G Markets

The Rent Roll with Jay Parsons