Mark Simpson is the Director of Planning & Economic Development for the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID). He oversees a range of research, policy, and project initiatives focused on revitalizing the Downtown core in the post-COVID era. He has extensive private-sector experience and academic training in urban land and real estate development, multifamily construction, urban design and planning, and place-based marketing and creative activations. Mark excels at applying urban
design, planning, and economic development theories to the market-driven realities of the District’s real estate sector and public spaces. Before joining DowntownDC BID, Mark served as the Senior Director of Planning & Economic Development for the neighboring Golden Triangle BID, where he led similar revitalization efforts in the Downtown West neighborhood. Mark also spent over five years as a development manager for the reimagining of the historic Walter Reed campus in Upper Northwest DC, a 3.1 million square foot mixed-use project.

At The Parks at Walter Reed (TPWR), he was responsible for delivering over 700 multifamily units and overseeing the disposition of smaller historic assets. Additionally, he managed the design and construction of more than $1.3 million in public space amenities, including a playground and a dog park. As President of the TPWR Owner’s Association, Mark led brand management, marketing, and over 100 community events annually across the 66-acre campus.

Mark holds dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban & regional planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a BA in Political Science and Spanish Literature from New York University. A native of the DC area, he currently lives with his wife, two children, and two cats in the Petworth neighborhood. In his free time, Mark enjoys cycling, board games, and live music.