Geoffrey Griffis

Founder & Managing Member

Geoffrey Griffis is a real estate developer with extensive background in architecture, urban planning, land use and zoning. A resident of the District of Columbia since 1990, Mr. Griffis has been integrally involved in community and civic activities, including leading the community charrette that created the “Community Based Plan for the Columbia Heights Metro Station Area” in 1997.

Mr. Griffis is a founding member and past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the SW Business Improvement District (SWBID). Mr. Griffis also served a term as DC Commissioner on the National Capital Planning Commission, appointed by the Mayor in March 2015.

From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Griffis was a Mayoral Appointee and Chairman of the DC Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). While Chairman, Mr. Griffis reenergized and revitalized the BZA, helping propel the city’s zoning review and relief approval process to a new level of professionalism and efficiency.

In 2005, Mr. Griffis founded CityPartners, bringing together his breadth of experience to create a dynamic and DC-centric development firm.

Prior to founding CityPartners, Mr. Griffis was an Associate at Hickok Warner Fox Architects, where he was in charge of large planning initiatives, building renovations, urban multi-family and commercial design projects from 1998 to 2006. Previously, Mr. Griffis was a Project Manager with the architecture firm, Kvell Corcoran, a leading residential and commercial design projects in the Washington metropolitan area.

Mr. Griffis received his Master of Architecture from Catholic University of America (1996) and his Master of Science in Urban Affairs/Planning from City University of New York, Hunter College (1990). Mr. Griffis received his Bachelor of Arts from Earlham College with a major in political science (1986).

Gregory Faron

Partner

Mr. Faron is a Partner at CityPartners, where he focuses on development, acquisitions, and real estate capital markets.

At CityPartners, Greg led the acquisition of 3401 Water Street NW, a 230-key citizenM hotel on the Georgetown waterfront in Washington, DC, and partnered in its development. He was also a key member of the development team for 555 E Street SW, a 308,000-square-foot mixed-use project comprising 194 mixed-age, mixed-income residential units, a 252-key luxury boutique hotel totaling approximately 100,000 square feet, and 11,000 square feet of neighborhood-serving retail. In this role, he played a central part in securing significant public financing, including LIHTC and HPTF funding from the DC government.

In addition, Greg was a key team member in the entitlement and sale of a 450,000+ square foot redevelopment at the Congress Heights Metro Station, which included plans for a 208-unit residential building with a substantial affordable housing component, a 240,000-square-foot office building, and 15,000 square feet of retail. He also contributed to the redevelopment of the Waterfront Station II parcel, a 430,000+ square foot project featuring 413 residential units (including 133 affordable units), 20,000 square feet of retail, and a 200-seat performing arts venue.

Prior to joining CityPartners, Greg worked at Deloitte Consulting, where he focused on asset management and portfolio optimization across a portfolio of more than 75,000 real estate assets as part of the firm’s Strategic Real Estate group. He began his career at Fifth Third Bank, where he founded the Commercial Real Estate Capital Markets group and was responsible for originating and underwriting over $4 billion in ground-up construction financing, syndicated bank debt, private placements and equity raises.

Greg holds a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Carleton College.