Through his dynamic leadership and visionary thinking, Michael Darby has not only been the driving force behind Monument Realty’s success, but also a recognized and admired real estate executive in Washington, DC.  As the principal and founder, Michael has built Monument Realty into a full-service real estate firm with expertise in financing, development and construction management, commercial and retail leasing, residential sales, and property and asset management.

Best recognized for thinking outside the box and creating value from complex situations, Michael has successfully taken on challenging projects that many others have passed over.  He has consistently been comfortable leading into evolving markets, leveraging his company’s collective experience to tailor buildings to the needs of the market.

Monument Realty was the first developer in 30 years to build new apartments in the Southwest Waterfront and developed multiple office buildings along the Dulles Toll Road during the early1990s “Tech Boom,” adjusting floor plates and specifications to make the buildings more technologically advanced.  Likewise, Monument Realty was an early investor in the Capital Riverfront, assembling 1.5 million square feet of developable land along Half Street in anticipation of Major League Baseball’s return to Washington.  Michael recognized that a future Washington Nationals Park would drive demand for new office, retail and residential – a vision that proved prescient.

Michael believes he can consistently deliver better buildings for his user clients because their needs are constantly evolving, and Monument Realty strives to stay ahead of those needs.  He finds this challenge both engaging and rewarding, and he believes that creating better buildings translates into demonstrable value for his investment partners and user clients.

An active member of the Washington region’s development community for four decades, Michael previously worked with some of the area’s most prominent developers, including The Oliver Carr Company in the 1980s and The John Akridge Company in the 1990s.  During that time, he managed the development of numerous prominent Washington, DC buildings, including landmark restoration projects such as the Willard Hotel, the Southern Railway Building, and the Victor Building.

Michael began his career in his native Australia, working with a Melbourne-based general contractor, and holds a degree in Engineering and Business from the University of Melbourne.  He has been active in numerous regional real estate organizations and has served on the Board of the DC Building Industry Association. He has also been involved with several charitable organizations, and Monument Realty has been a longtime supporter of the annual Real Estate Games, benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, for which he served as an event co-chair for six years.