David Tarter named executive director of George Mason’s Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship | Headlines

David Tarter, the former five-term mayor of the city of Falls Church, has been named executive director of the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (CREE) and Master’s in Real Estate Development Program at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business.

An attorney with decades of legal and real estate experience, Tarter will work toward expanding experiential learning opportunities while building the size, reputation and impact of Costello’s real estate programs and the Center, according to a news release.

“We are thrilled to have someone with David Tarter’s considerable experience and knowledge … to take the Center to the next level,” said Ajay Vinzé, dean of the Costello College of Business. “David will enhance the experience that students have come to expect at CREE while also increasing their career readiness. His unique background and skill set will allow Costello to expand collaboration and innovation opportunities within the real estate community, for the benefit of our students.”

As Falls Church mayor from 2014 to 2023, Tarter helped lead the city’s efforts to revitalize its downtown and promote smart growth development. Projects included 1.2 million square feet of transit-oriented development near the West Falls Church Metro station through an innovative public-private partnership, and Tarter helped attract businesses like Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, and other grocery stores, a downtown multi-screen theater, hotels, senior living, office, and other new development.

He has also testified before Congress on behalf of the city on local government matters. Prior to elected office, he chaired the city’s Economic Development Authority, which led the creation of Falls Church’s “Little City” brand.

While mayor, Tarter served as chair of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, a coalition of 13 local governments, and was honored by the Virginia Association of Planning Districts with the Gordon N. Dixon Award for outstanding regional leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tarter also was elected as president for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, a regional body.

He previously founded Tarter Nova Law PLC, a boutique firm specializing in commercial real estate. He was lead counsel for governmental entitlements, land use approvals and transactions for billions of dollars of transit-oriented developments and smart growth projects, including rezonings, site plans, and special exceptions for multi-family residential, office, hotel and special purpose projects.  

Prior to founding his firm, he was a partner at Lawson, Tarter & Charvet P.C., specializing in commercial real estate where representative matters included Metropolitan Park, planned by internationally recognized architect Robert A.M. Stern for over 3,000 residential units and now home to Amazon HQ2.

Bridging the gap between academia and practice, the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship addresses the critical issues affecting the real estate industry and the future of the built environment. The center supports graduate, undergraduate and non-degree academic programs by providing scholarships for students, industry association memberships, networking opportunities, career advising and numerous extracurricular educational programs.