David Houston concentrates his practice on real estate development, with particular emphasis on land use, zoning, and commercial leasing.
Mr. Houston has represented land developers, owners, companies, institutions, and lenders for more than 30 years, including many prominent office and industrial developers in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. He regularly provides in-depth zoning and land use analysis and counsel on a variety of complex development issues, and works with clients to analyze applicable development requirements, prepare all necessary applications, garner support for projects, and review and present land use proposals in public hearings and other forums.
He has participated in developments ranging from office and industrial parks, transit oriented mixed use, shopping centers, multifamily residential, residential subdivisions, hotels, churches, and private schools. He also has experience working with local governments to obtain changes to land use laws and regulations, and has handled proceedings for rezonings, special exceptions, special permits, conditional use permits, variances, comprehensive plan amendments, and overlay districts.
With over 20 years of commercial leasing experience and a focus on retail leasing, Mr. Houstonhas significant experience representing landlords and tenants in transactions ranging from specialty retailers, theatres, big box stores, restaurants, fitness centers and entertainment uses, to in-line retail stores in super-regional and regional malls, lifestyle centers, neighborhood shopping centers, and mixed use street-level locations. His clients include many of the country's well-known retail landlords, as well as prominent office and industrial developers and tenants in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Chambers USA has recognized Mr. Houston since 2007 as a leading real estate attorney in Northern Virginia. In 2013, he was selected by Virginia Business Magazine as one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite: Real Estate/Land Use” attorneys. He has also received an AV® Preeminent Rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from Martindale-Hubbell®.
