What Donatelli Development does

Donatelli Development, legally Donatelli & Klein, Inc., is a privately held real estate development corporation founded in 1973 and headquartered at 7625 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. The firm acquires under-utilized and vacant parcels in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, structures complex mixed-finance transactions, and delivers transit-oriented mixed-use developments adjacent to Metro stations. Across 50+ years of operations, Donatelli has completed 15+ projects encompassing over 2,500 housing units (apartments, condominiums, and townhomes) and 110,000+ sq. ft. of retail space, including award-winning assets such as Park Kennedy (262 units, LEED Silver, 2021), The Ethel (100 units of permanent supportive housing, 2023), Highland Park (373 units, 2009/2013), and The Atrium (377 units with 96% affordable housing, 2014).

The firm's core technology is site assembly and project structuring rather than software: it navigates public-private partnerships with the District of Columbia and WMATA, layers financing from HUD, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the DC Housing Finance Agency, and Opportunity Zone equity partners (e.g., EJF Capital on Park Kennedy), and delivers mixed-income projects combining affordable, middle-income, and market-rate units. Revenue is generated through one-time development fees, residential unit sales and leases, retail lease-up, and — since the 2016 founding of wholly-owned Donatelli Management — recurring property management services across roughly 55,000 sq. ft. of retail and 20 tenant relationships.

Customers span government (D.C. as P3 counterparty), retail SMB tenants (restaurants, banks, convenience retailers), and end-user residents in D.C. neighborhoods including Hill East, Stadium-Armory, Minnesota Avenue, Columbia Heights, Petworth, and U Street. Distribution is relationship-driven: competitive bids for government land dispositions, direct sales and leasing of residential units, and direct leasing of retail space. Marketing is earned-media-led through Washington Business Journal, Bisnow, and industry conferences (ULI, NAHB), with no consumer-facing advertising apparatus.

Name

Donatelli Development

Legal name

Donatelli & Klein, Inc.

Website

https://donatellidevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

New Multifamily Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236116), Land Subdivision (23721), Land Subdivision (2372)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Housing & Social Housing Development/Modernization Programs (FSALAKAH), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Real estate development
• Mixed-use development
• Transit-oriented development
• Affordable housing development
• Property management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Fees: Fee-for-service real estate development corporation that acquires, develops and manages properties for long-term growth. Revenue generated through development fees, property sales, and property management services.
2. Property Management: Property management services for retail and residential portfolio including maintenance, leasing, and operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Donatelli Development is a privately owned real estate development corporation that acquires under-utilized and vacant land near Washington Metropolitan Area transit stations, develops mixed-use projects combining apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and ground-floor retail, and operates completed assets through its Donatelli Management subsidiary. Projects typically blend market-rate, middle-income, and LIHTC affordable housing with permanent supportive housing, and are delivered through public/private partnerships with the District of Columbia and WMATA.

Product overview

Donatelli Development is a privately owned real estate development corporation that builds mixed-use, transit-oriented projects adjacent to Metro stations in Washington, D.C. The company operates two main divisions: development (Donatelli Development) and property management (Donatelli Management). The development portfolio spans 15+ completed projects including multifamily apartments, condominiums, townhomes, and mixed-use retail developments across the D.C. metro area and Annapolis, totaling over 2,500 housing units and 110,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Donatelli Management handles property operations including the current portfolio of residential and retail properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Park Kennedy A 262-unit transit-oriented multifamily development at Stadium-Armory Metro featuring LEED Silver certification, mixed-use retail space, and European-inspired design with a 30-foot grand atrium.
• The Ethel A 100-unit permanent supportive housing development at Stadium-Armory Metro with 14,000 sq. ft. of retail space, completed Q1 2023.
• The Atrium A 377-unit apartment community at Minnesota Avenue Metro with 96% affordable housing and 20,000 sq. ft. of retail, completed 2014.
• Highland Park A 373-unit apartment community delivered in two phases at Columbia Heights Metro.
• Kenyon Square A 153-unit condominium development at Columbia Heights Metro with 21,000 sq. ft. of retail, completed 2007.
• Park Place A 155-unit apartment community with 6 townhomes and 17,000 sq. ft. of retail at Petworth Metro, completed 2009.
• Park 7 A 376-unit mixed-use development at Minnesota Avenue Metro with 20,000 sq. ft. of retail, completed 2015.
• The Ellington A 190-unit apartment development at U Street Metro, completed 2004.
• Harrison Square A 98-unit townhome development at U Street Metro, completed 2002.
• Griffin A 49-unit apartment development at Petworth Metro, completed 2011.
• 3825 Georgia A 32-unit apartment development at Petworth Metro, completed 2017.
• Stone Point A 312-unit garden apartment community in Annapolis, Maryland, completed 2006.
• Regatta Bay A 245-unit garden apartment community in Annapolis, Maryland, completed 2000.
• Hill East Phase II Upcoming mixed-income development of 1,068 new homes plus 25,000 sq. ft. of retail across five parcels at Hill East Reservation 13 near Stadium-Armory Metro.
• Donatelli Management Property management services subsidiary handling residential and retail portfolio operations, including maintenance supervision, leasing, and tenant services for the Donatelli portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ housing units delivered over 20 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Blue Skye DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2021Joint development partner with Donatelli Development for Hill East Phase II project at Reservation 13. The team won the opportunity to develop 5.09 acres with plans for 1,068 new homes including 356 deeply-affordable, 356 middle-income, and 356 market-rate units above 25,000 square feet of retail.
• GTM ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm for Park Kennedy project that translated the vision of European-inspired train station aesthetics into a 30-foot grand atrium with ornate faux cast-iron columns and trusses supporting 430 translucent ceiling panels.
• McCullough ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor for Park Kennedy project. Started construction in late 2018 and delivered the first move-in ready units on Jan. 14, 2021.
• KettlersupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty management company for Park Kennedy. The property was stabilized at 95%+ leased within 12 months through Kettler's management.
• District of ColumbiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic/private partnership partner for transit-oriented developments including Hill East, RFK Stadium area, and various Metro station developments. D.C. government provides land, entitlements, and financing support through various programs.
• WMATAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransit authority partner for transit-oriented developments adjacent to Metro stations. Donatelli has a track record of successfully completing public/private partnerships with WMATA.
• McCulloughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for Donatelli Development projects.
• MosaicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company in Donatelli Development projects.
• MetrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro station area partnerships for transit-oriented developments adjacent to Metro stations in Washington, D.C.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bozzuto Group: Mid-Atlantic multifamily developer, builder, and property manager headquartered in Greenbelt, MD, with extensive D.C.-metro apartment and mixed-use portfolio. Closely matches Donatelli's integrated development-plus-management model and regional focus.
• Urban Atlantic: D.C.-area developer specializing in public-private partnerships, transit-oriented mixed-use, and mixed-income housing near Metro stations — virtually identical product, customer (D.C. government), and financing stack to Donatelli.
• The NRP Group: National multifamily developer with deep LIHTC and affordable-housing expertise, active in the Mid-Atlantic including D.C. metro. Closely comparable affordable/market-rate mixed-income development model and reliance on public financing programs.
• The Michaels Organization: National developer, owner, and manager of affordable, mixed-income, and market-rate multifamily housing with deep LIHTC expertise. Directly comparable affordable-housing-heavy development model and reliance on public financing partnerships.
• WC Smith: Washington, D.C.-based multifamily developer and property manager with a long-standing portfolio of apartment communities and mixed-use projects in the District. Comparable scale, integrated development/management structure, and D.C. focus.
• EYA Development: Bethesda-based residential real estate developer focused on urban infill and transit-oriented neighborhoods in the D.C. metro, with overlapping expertise in mixed-use, walkable communities near Metro stations — directly comparable geography and product type to Donatelli.
• Bernstein Management Corporation: Long-standing Washington, D.C. multifamily owner, developer, and property manager with an integrated development-to-management platform — closely matches Donatelli's structure, D.C. focus, and mixed-income portfolio.
• Donohoe Development Company: Washington, D.C.-area real estate developer of multifamily, mixed-use, and hotel projects with a strong D.C./Maryland focus. Comparable regional concentration, mixed-use product, and public-private development history.

Broad incumbents

• JBG SMITH: Large publicly-traded D.C.-area REIT and developer with a substantial mixed-use, multifamily, and transit-oriented portfolio across the Capital region. Operates at meaningfully greater scale than Donatelli but addresses the same customer base and product category.
• Clark Enterprises: Bethesda-based privately-held real estate firm with significant D.C.-area mixed-use, multifamily, and office development. Comparable local geography and mixed-use product, though operates at larger scale and across more asset classes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Donatelli Development