Notable developments
2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE (Washington, DC)
Completed in 1991, this 100,000-square-foot office building was developed as a public-private partnership with the District of Columbia. The project preserved a small historic Art Deco structure, incorporating it into a larger newly constructed office facility. In 2010, the District filed a civil lawsuit against 2100 Martin Luther King Associates LP, a partnership managed by developer R. Donahue Peebles. The lawsuit alleged that the developer improperly billed the city under the lease agreement, including expenses deemed non-reimbursable such as political contributions and valet parking. The District sought $1.8 million in damages and penalties. [4] [5]
After two years of litigation, the matter was resolved in November 2012 through a settlement. Peebles agreed to pay $120,000 without an admission of liability. Both parties waived further claims and agreed to cover their own legal costs. [6]
10 G Street NE (Washington, DC)
The Peebles Corporation co-developed this 280,000-square-foot Class A office building located in Washington, DC's NoMa neighborhood. [7]
Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center Hotel (Washington, DC)
Acquired in the 1990s, this 188-room hotel was Peebles’ first hospitality investment in Washington, DC. Located near the National Mall and the Capital One Arena, the property was sold in 2017 after nearly 25 years of ownership. [8]
Royal Palm Hotel (Miami Beach, FL)
Completed in 2002, the Royal Palm Resort became the nation's first Black-owned luxury resort. Peebles sold the 417-room property in 2005 to The Falor Companies and The Mitchell Companies for $127.5 million. The new owners aimed to convert a portion of the rooms into condominium hotel units. [9] In 2009, Peebles’ company regained management control after a court found that partner Guy Mitchell had engaged in misconduct, though Peebles retained only a 12.5% ownership stake. [10]
In 2015, Miami real estate broker Dora Puig was awarded $420,000 in damages after alleging that Peebles had withheld commissions for sales she made at the Bath Club, following a legal dispute that lasted over a decade. [11]
The property entered receivership in 2010 and was sold at foreclosure auction to Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. for $126.1 million. [12]
Residences at The Bath Club (Miami Beach, FL)
This luxury residential development includes a 20-story tower and was built on the site of the historic Bath Club. The project offered oceanfront condominiums and access to club amenities. [13]
The Historic Bath Club (Miami Beach, FL)
Acquired in 1999, this landmark property has served as a private club and event venue. It has been subject to litigation regarding contract violations and maintenance disputes. In 2020, a court ordered a Peebles-affiliated entity to pay $1 million in sanctions, underscoring ongoing challenges in preserving and managing historically designated properties. [14]
250 Brannan Street (San Francisco, CA)
This 140,000-square-foot property was acquired in 2006 and rezoned to allow for potential residential development. It includes 175 parking spaces. [15]
108 Leonard / 346 Broadway (New York, NY)
In 2013, Peebles acquired this landmarked building—formerly the New York Life Insurance headquarters—via a public RFP for $160 million. A majority stake was later sold to the El Ad Group. The 400,000-square-foot redevelopment, which includes residential and retail space, has faced delays and legal challenges. Disputes included litigation over structural modifications to protected architectural elements such as the building’s clock tower. Community opposition and regulatory scrutiny also slowed progress, highlighting the complexity of redeveloping historically sensitive sites. [16] [17]
The Lincoln (Miami Beach, FL)
Developed as a public-private partnership with the City of Miami Beach, The Lincoln is a mixed-use office and retail complex with a six-level public parking garage and over 200,000 square feet of commercial space. [18]
Bankhead MARTA Station Redevelopment (Atlanta, GA)
In 2022, a Peebles-led joint venture was selected to redevelop the 3.8-acre Bankhead MARTA Station site in Atlanta. The transit-oriented development project will utilize air rights over the rail station and aims to incorporate mixed-income housing and commercial components. [19]
Cancelled, Rescinded, or Delayed Projects
Several high profile projects have stalled or been rescinded, despite receiving media attention.
Affirmation Tower (New York, NY)
The Peebles Corporation submitted an RFP to the City of New York to build the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. [20] As a result of the transition from the administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo to Governor Kathy Hochul, the state cancelled the solicitation in December 2021. [21] [22] [23] In 2022, The Peebles Corporation pledged 50,000 square feet of space at the base of the tower to house Rev. Al Sharpton’s planned National Civil Rights Museum. A home for the NAACP was also a part of Peebles’ bid. [24] [25]
Brooklyn Village (Charlotte, NC)
After a 2015 RFP process, Mecklenburg County selected The Peebles Corporation to develop Brooklyn Village. [26] The Peebles Corporation secured funding from Stonehill Strategic Partners for Phase 1 of the development in August 2023. [27]
Under the revised proposal, Peebles has agreed to a 99-year affordability covenant. Inlivian, Charlotte's housing authority, will be the project's co-developer and provide residents with wraparound services, such as child care and financial literacy training. Legacy Real Estate Development has also joined the project. [28]
1801 Vine Street (Philadelphia, PA)
The City of Philadelphia cancelled Peebles Corporation’s contract at 1801 Vine Street, a proposed luxury boutique hotel in Philadelphia's historic Family Court Building. The city said the decision was made "in consideration of the impact of COVID on the hospitality market". [29]
Aqueduct Casino (Queens, NY)
The Peebles Corporation formed a joint venture with MGM Grand and Harbinger Capital in 2010 in response to a RFP for the Aqueduct Casino in New York. [30] [31] Although initially viewed as a potentially successful casino candidate, The Peebles Corporation was unable to secure and develop the Aqueduct Casino project in Queens, New York. [32] [33]
5th & I (Washington, D.C.)
Peebles was selected to redevelop Fifth and Eye, a parcel in Washington, D.C.'s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, into a mixed-use development, however, Peebles and his development partner were unable to move forward with the project; [34] In 2010, Peebles was sued by the D.C. Attorney General for alleged billing issues. Peebles maintained the charges were politically motivated due to the opposition to then Mayor Adrian Fenty’s failed re-election bid earlier that year. The court dismissed most of the claims against Peebles. [35] [36]
The Walker Group sued Peebles, several related entities, and the D.C. government in 2019. According to court documents, the case went to trial in December, and a jury backed Peebles. [37]
Broward County Convention Center Hotel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
The Peebles Corporation responded to a Request for Proposal issued by Broward County to build a hotel and convention center. After four years of negotiations, Peebles was unable to come to terms with the county and filed a lawsuit against the county for costs. The litigation continued until 2012 when a court ruled against Peebles. [38] [39]
Long Island Community Hospital (Brooklyn, NY)
In 2014, Peebles, along with development partners, responded to a Request for Proposal to redevelop the LICH hospital site, but were unable to come to terms on the deal; Peebles alleged the site was environmentally uncertain and stopped negotiating with the partnership. [40]
SUNY ended negotiations with The Peebles Corporation for Long Island College Hospital (LICH) after Peebles' proposal for a cost-sharing agreement on environmental remediation and potential delays in restarting healthcare services diverged from SUNY's initial plan. [41]
Viola Back Bay (Boston, MA)
In 2015, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Massachusetts Department of Transportation chose Peebles for the development of an intersection in Boston's historic Back Bay neighborhood. Plans for the proposed $330 million, 390,000-square-foot project include a hotel, condominiums, rental apartments, retail, and a Hynes MBTA station. [42] As of May 2023, the project was under review with Boston Planning & Development Agency. [43]
Angels Landing (Los Angeles, CA)
In December 2017, Peebles, as part of the three-team development partnership Angels Landing Partners, was unanimously approved to redevelop the Bunker Hill site in Downtown Los Angeles, dubbed Angels Landing. [44] The estimated $1.2 billion development will include residential, hotel, retail, and communal spaces distributed over two towers. [45] The main tower, when constructed, would reach at least 80 stories and would be divided into three parts: hotel, apartments, and condominiums. A hotel with its own swimming pool would be below 425 apartments (including some subsidized affordable units), on top of which would be 250 condominiums and another swimming pool. [45] The second tower would reach 27 stories and would contain a charter elementary school and another hotel that offers a rooftop pool and bar. [45] The project has completed the entitlement process and is awaiting approval from the City Council. [46]
In October 2022, Los Angeles City Council Member De Leon was in a meeting where derogatory comments were made about a colleague's son, with calls for De Leon's resignation made by the California Governor, Newsom. [47] [48] Peebles has publicly and expressly stated "racism has impeded our progress" in Los Angeles, [49] despite prior assurances that the project would be on time and was meeting all deadlines to be open for the 2028 Olympics. [50] [51] [52]
Peebles and Victor MacFarlane filed suit against their minority partner, Ricardo Pagan-led Claridge Properties, or failing to make an initial capital contribution of $184,951 in April 2021. In June 2023, the suit was resolved and dismissed, with Claridge no longer maintaining a capital interest in Angels Landing. However, in July 2023, the city informed Angels Landing that Claridge’s transfer of interest to Peebles and MacFarlane constituted an unauthorized transfer, which would allow the city to terminate” the exclusive negotiating agreement. In February 2024, the city terminated the agreement with Angels Landing. In January 2025, Peebles and MacFarlane filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for allegedly unlawfully terminating their contract to build the $1.6 billion Angels Landing project, seeking to recover $20 million they invested. [53]
In March 2025, the court found that Angels Landing had sufficiently alleged that the assignment of Claridge’s interests did not constitute an unpermitted 'Transfer' under the terms of the ENA. Therefore, Angels Landing has adequately stated a viable claim against the City for breach of the ENA, and the City’s demurrer to the first cause of action is overruled. [54]
Pacifica Quarry (Pacifica, CA)
Peebles acquired the 87-acre Pacifica’s Rockaway Quarry for $7.5 million in 2005. In 2008, Peebles failed to convince a majority of Pacifica voters of the value of its proposed 355-unit mixed housing plan, which would also have included a luxury hotel and ample retail space. [55] Two years after, Peebles decided to sell the property. [56]
