On today’s episode we are chatting with Emily Alexander. Emily was raised in Boston and moved to DC to attend The George Washington University where she studied Civil and Structural Engineering. She completed internships with both engineering firms and general contractors and joined Turner Construction Company post-graduation.

Today she is a Development Manager at Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, plays soccer 2-3 times a week with District Soccer, and was recognized with the 2025 DMV Women Leading Real Estate Rising Star Award.

We talk about:

- We define the role of development manager and Emily explains her responsibilities across entitlements, design, construction, financing, and client advisory services.

- Next, we dive into DC’s entitlement process and Emily explains how re-envisioning a site can dramatically increase its value.

- Then, we get into architecture and Emily shares what qualities developers look for when hiring architects- things like contextual insight, low-ego teamwork, and clear construction documentation.

- We also explore Emily’s pivot to development from engineering and construction, how dyslexia shaped her strengths, and her mid-career perspective on mentorship within small teams.

- Finally, we take a deep dive into Emily’s most recent project, the Reservoir District. We talk about grocery tenants, community engagement, post-pandemic retail trends, and why long-term affordability remains a core priority for equitable development.

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Connect with Emily:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emily-alexander-91275320

Reservoir District

Real Estate Consultant Washington DC - Jair Lynch

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