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AXIS REZONING
 

From Concept to Approval

Outsourced rezoning and entitlements advisory for property owners, developers, investors, and municipalities. We take your project from concept to approval using proven frameworks built on decades of principal-level experience.

THE FRAMEWORK

Zoning Is the Silent Killer of Deals

Any real estate project—even one worth billions—can be delayed or derailed when the rezoning process goes wrong. The cost compounds fast.

Wasted Capital
Legal fees, consultant costs, design work, and staff time add up to six or seven figures on complex campaigns. When a rezoning effort fails, that money is gone regardless of whether the project ever moves forward.
Delay

This is the worst outcome by far. Two immutable truths in real estate: all markets shift eventually, and time can kill any deal. A project that misses its window by 12–18 months may face a different capital markets environment, a different political landscape, or a community that has hardened its opposition.

Reputacional Damage

A failed rezoning brands both the site and the sponsor. Community opposition becomes more organized, political support evaporates, and future attempts face an even steeper climb. The failure can follow you to other deals.

TESTIMONIALS

What People Say

“The Wharf was one of the most complex development initiatives in the history of Washington, D.C.—a project that required four Acts of Congress, over a thousand community meetings, and the alignment of dozens of stakeholders with competing interests. Neil’s leadership was integral to ensuring that this mega-project navigated its entitlements process successfully.“
Nina AlbertDeputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development, Washington, D.C.
Adam made the complex realities of rezoning a multi-billion-dollar project not only understandable, but compelling. He was remarkably open about the mistakes he made—the delays, the market shifts, the consequences of getting stakeholder engagement wrong—and that honesty is what made the sessions so powerful.“

Sophie LambertExecutive Director, Willowsford Conservancy; former UrbanPlan Program Manager, ULI

OUR PROCESS

How We Work

Our three-phase framework is designed to build public support, align stakeholders, and secure approvals efficiently. We love this work. We love engaging communities.

Phase 1

Air Cover

Strategy & framework to set the conditions for approval.

  • Stakeholder mapping & analysis
  • Supporter base creation
  • Fiscal impact analysis
  • Community benefits framework
  • Messaging & communications

Phase 2

Ground Game

High-touch stakeholder engagement where strategy meets execution.

  • Community leader outreach
  • Civic & elected official engagement
  • Neighborhood & civic organization meetings
  • Targeted touchpoints with key influencers

Phase 3

Showtime

Preparation and execution of public hearings and formal approvals.

  • Pre-hearing strategy & preparation
  • Presentation development
  • Supporter coordination & testimony
  • Day-of participation (co-pilot or full outsource)

TRACK RECORD

Deals We´ve Done

Our principals have led rezoning and entitlements on some of the most complex projects in the country.

McMillan / Reservoir District

25 Acres • 1M+ SF • PPP

Multi-phased healthcare and mixed-use redevelopment of a historic landmark site in Northwest DC. 15+ years of community engagement, litigation, and zoning approvals.

Northeast Heights

13 Acres • 1.5M SF • PPP

Multi-phase residential, retail, and office development in Ward 7, anchored by the DC Department of General Services headquarters. TIF and Opportunity Zone financing.

The Wharf

24 Acres • 3.2M SF • $3.6B

Largest planned-unit development in DC history. Required 4 Acts of Congress, 14 rezoning applications, and 1,200+ community meetings across two phases.

CityCenterDC

10 Acres • 2.5M SF • $950M

Transformative mixed-use development on the former convention center site in downtown DC. Complex PPP structure, 99-year lease negotiation, LEED-ND Gold.

OUR CLIENTS

Who We Work With

We serve clients across all product types and project stages—from first-time rezoning applications to rebranding efforts where prior campaigns fell short.

Owner-Users

Hyperscalers, retailers, manufacturers, healthcare systems, and other organizations building or expanding facilities that require rezoning or special use permits.

Developers & Investors

Institutional and entrepreneurial developers pursuing residential, mixed-use, industrial, and institutional projects that require entitlements changes.

Municipalities

Public-sector and quasi-governmental clients seeking advisory support for public-private development initiatives, campus plans, or proactive rezoning to attract investment.

OUR EDGE

Why AXIS

Rezoning is both art and science. We’ve been practicing it for decades. Here’s what sets us apart.

01

We Have Battle Scars

Our principals have personally led entitlements campaigns on projects worth billions of dollars. This is hands-on experience—including the experience of making mistakes, learning from them, and coming back stronger. That pattern recognition accelerates outcomes.

02

We Have a PPP Mindset

Complex entitlements work is fundamentally a form of public-private partnership. Our decades of PPP experience—including CityCenterDC, The Wharf, McMillan, and Northeast Heights—give us a perspective most advisory firms cannot replicate.

03

We Like People

Success in entitlements comes down to personal engagement. We earn trust with stakeholders by listening first, engaging with genuine curiosity, and treating every community interaction as an opportunity to learn.

04

We Are Better at This Than You

And that’s the point. Hiring someone better than you to handle a discrete, high-stakes part of your project—so you can focus your team and capital on what you do best—is smart business. That is the value proposition of AXIS Rezoning.

OUR TEAM

Who We Are

AXIS Rezoning engagements are led directly by our principals—not delegated to junior staff. You get senior, experienced leadership from day one.

Neil Albert

Co-founder & Managing Partners

Two decades of experience leading complex public-private development, infrastructure, and economic revitalization in the Washington, D.C. region. Former President & CEO of DowntownDC BID. Former City Administrator and Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development for the District of Columbia, where he negotiated landmark transactions including CityCenterDC, The Wharf, and Nationals Park.

New York Institute of Technology (MBA)

Adam Weers

Co-founder & Managing Partners

20+ years in large-scale commercial development, investment, and operations. Former COO of Trammell Crow Company and C-suite executive at CBRE. Led development of projects worth several billion dollars including McMillan Healthcare Campus, Northeast Heights, and Shops at Dakota Crossing. Currently co-leading development of Collier Yard, a 212-acre, 600MW data center campus in Virginia. ULI Global Governing Trustee and longtime UrbanPlan for Public Officials facilitator.

Harvard Business School (MBA) · Georgia State (MPA) · Morehouse College (BA)

Ready to Move Your Project Forward?

Whether you’re navigating your first rezoning or looking to reboot a stalled entitlements process, we’d welcome the conversation.

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