Principal & owner
David Starnes
David Starnes is the Principal and Founder of CIVISTRUCT Strategy + Development, a real estate development advisory firm specializing in partnering with both the public and private development sectors to help them execute their development objectives and goals. He has 20+ years experience in the real estate development field, ranging from managing development projects to undertaking economic and market analyses and structuring public-private developments as a real estate development consultant, senior level local government official, and real estate developer.
Prior to launching CIVISTRUCT Strategy + Development, David directed project entitlements and public-private finance for Foundry Builders, a Boulder, Colorado-based real estate development company focused on urban infill development enhanced by exceptional public infrastructure. Previously, he served as Executive Director of the Longmont Urban Renewal Authority and Redevelopment Manager for the City of Longmont where he worked in partnership with the private sector development community to bring $150M in redevelopment projects to fruition. David was Vice President for a national economics and real estate development advisory firm counseling more than 80+ public and private clients, as well as institutional investors, that led to more than $400M in development in a variety of urban, suburban, and rural settings.
David’s strengths lies in leveraging public and private interests and synergies to create real estate development opportunities by providing solutions for challenging development projects. He is passionate about entrepreneurial planning – at the intersection of real estate development and urban planning – to find better ways to reshape our built environment through development that provides exceptional community benefits. David continues to seek partnerships with passionate individuals and companies focused on improving our built environment.
He is a specialist in public finance having help structure more than $40M in public financing including urban renewal districts, tax increment financing, metropolitan districts, business improvement districts, and federal and state grants. David also has extensive expertise in managing diverse project teams, economic and market studies, financial/investment analysis, and structuring public finance and development agreements and partnerships.
David has a Master’s in City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a B.A. from the University of Delaware.
Activities & Affiliations
Urban Land Institute - National Public/Private Partnership Council (2014-2018)
Urban Land Institute - Technical Assistance Panelist (TAP)
Washington Street, Globeville neighborhood (Denver, Colorado)
Lone Tree Entertainment District (Lone Tree, Colorado)
College Park Metrorail Station Area (College Park, Maryland)