Capital Business Blog - Fresh takes on the region's entrepreneurs and companies.

Posted at 12:13 PM ET, 02/29/2012

Crystal City’s tallest building proposed

By Jonathan O’Connell

Vornado submitted plans last week for a 23-story office tower at what is now 1851 South Bell St.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 12:13 PM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vornado/Charles E. Smith, BRAC, Crystal City

Posted at 12:12 PM ET, 02/29/2012

Built with all equity, Washington area’s tallest office tower stays the course

By Jonathan O’Connell

Monday Properties and Goldman Sachs affirmed plans to complete the 390-foot building by next fall.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 12:12 PM ET, 02/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Monday Properties, Rosslyn

Posted at 02:12 PM ET, 02/28/2012

LightSquared CEO resigns, will remain chairman

By Steven Overly

Sanjiv Ahuja will remain chairman of the board of the Reston-based wireless network company.

By Steven Overly | 02:12 PM ET, 02/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:04 PM ET, 02/24/2012

SAIC to make nearly $1 million payment to departing chief executive

By Marjorie Censer

SAIC said it has agreed to pay Walter P. Havenstein a lump sum of $920,000 when he retires next week

By Marjorie Censer | 06:04 PM ET, 02/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:26 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Setback to Holy Cross hospital in Germantown

By Jonathan O'Connell

A judge overturned a ruling granting authority for Holy Cross’s plans to open a hospital in Germantown.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 05:26 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Holy Cross Hospital, Adventist Healthcare, Germantown, White Oak

Posted at 04:24 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Language software firm Rosetta Stone names new CEO

By Steven Overly

Stephen M. Swad has been named president and chief executive of the language software firm.

By Steven Overly | 04:24 PM ET, 02/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:59 PM ET, 02/22/2012

What to do with the old ESPN Zone?

By Jonathan O'Connell

The 100,000-square-foot space in D.C. is still vacant nearly two years after the restaurant closed.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 05:59 PM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: ESPN Zone, Walt Disney Co.

Posted at 11:24 AM ET, 02/22/2012

Video: Donald Trump on Old Post Office plans

By Jonathan O'Connell

In an online video, Trump discussed his company’s plans to turn the Old Post Office Pavilion into a hotel.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 11:24 AM ET, 02/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Donald Trump, Old Post Office Pavilion

Posted at 03:15 PM ET, 02/21/2012

National Harbor developers buy into Bethesda project

By Jonathan O’Connell

The Peterson Cos., developers of National Harbor, have purchased a stake in Rock Spring Centre.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 03:15 PM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Bethesda, National Harbor, Rushern Baker III

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 02/21/2012

Salient Federal Solutions to buy ATS Corp.

By Marjorie Censer

Fairfax-based Salient is acquiring McLean-based ATS for $3.20 per share, the companies said Tuesday.

By Marjorie Censer | 10:36 AM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:24 AM ET, 02/21/2012

Anthropologie joins retail line-up at Mosaic District

By Danielle Douglas

The chain of clothing and home furnishings will open at the Merrifield development in October.

By Danielle Douglas | 10:24 AM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:20 AM ET, 02/21/2012

SAIC names Jumper next CEO

By Marjorie Censer

John P. Jumper, the former chief of staff of the Air Force, will join the contracting giant starting March 1.

By Marjorie Censer | 10:20 AM ET, 02/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:47 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Marriott issues first financial report since spinning off timeshare business

By Danielle Douglas

Profit for the slimmer Bethesda-based Marriott International fell while revenue rose slightly.

By Danielle Douglas | 07:47 PM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:13 PM ET, 02/15/2012

Metro’s director of real estate to step down

By Jonathan O'Connell

After two years at the helm of real estate for Metro, Steven Goldin is leaving, a spokesman confirmed.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 04:13 PM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Metro, Steve Goldin, commercial real estate

Posted at 11:55 AM ET, 02/15/2012

Contractors hit, miss goals for Convention Center hotel construction hiring

By Jonathan O'Connell

D.C. and its partners on the Marriott Marquis convention center hotel are releasing construction data.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 11:55 AM ET, 02/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Marriott Marquis, convention center hotel, Vincent C. Gray

Posted at 05:42 PM ET, 02/14/2012

Fed approves Capital One deal

By Danielle Douglas

The Fed announced Tuesday its approval of Capital One's proposed $9 billion purchase of ING Direct.

By Danielle Douglas | 05:42 PM ET, 02/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:48 PM ET, 02/14/2012

Wheaton development’s $40 million price tag sparks petition

By Jonathan O'Connell

Nonprofit groups have begun advocating for money for jobs programs and subsidized housing.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 02:48 PM ET, 02/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wheaton, B.F. Saul, Isiah Leggett

Posted at 12:08 PM ET, 02/14/2012

Former Ben’s Chili Bowl worker plots competing chili restaurant

By Jonathan O'Connell

Perhaps D.C.’s most well-known restaurant, the spot has faced its share of imitations over the years.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 12:08 PM ET, 02/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Ben's Chili Bowl, U Street, restaurants

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 02/13/2012

Fed withholds Capital One decision

By Danielle Douglas

The Fed said it expects to issue a decision soon on the proposed $9 billion acquisition of ING Direct.

By Danielle Douglas | 05:40 PM ET, 02/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Reclining chairs, pillows and blankets coming with new Rockville movie theater

By Jonathan O’Connell

The luxury iPic movie theater will anchor the Pike & Rose development on Rockville Pike.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 08:00 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: iPic, Federal Realty Investment Trust, White Flint, Rockville

Posted at 04:26 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Construction to begin on Potomac Yard apartments — the rest of the town will wait

By Jonathan O’Connell

Two local developers plan to begin construction this spring on a 1.9 million-square-foot project.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 04:26 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Potomac Yard, MRP, JBG

Posted at 04:01 PM ET, 02/08/2012

Penn Camera locations scooped up by Calumet Photo

By Danielle Douglas

A judge has given Calumet Photographic the go-ahead to assume all three locations of Penn Camera Exchange for $600,000, according to court documents.

By Danielle Douglas | 04:01 PM ET, 02/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:27 PM ET, 02/07/2012

CSC names new CEO

By Marjorie Censer

Mike Lawrie, CEO of London-based IT firm Misys, has been tapped to lead CSC.

By Marjorie Censer | 06:27 PM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:55 PM ET, 02/07/2012

Old Post Office to become 250-room Trump hotel

By Jonathan O'Connell

The GSA has selected a proposal from Trump Hotel Collection to turn the building into a luxury hotel with at least 250 rooms and a spa.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 03:55 PM ET, 02/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Trump, Old Post Office

Posted at 07:37 PM ET, 02/06/2012

Clearspring data show which Super Bowl brands built social media buzz

By Steven Overly

Clearspring says interest in Doritos, Budweiser and Teleflora spiked about 150 percent during the game.

By Steven Overly | 07:37 PM ET, 02/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:15 PM ET, 02/03/2012

Two Chevy Chase Pavilion merchants say they are being forced out

By Danielle Douglas

Owners of some mom-and-pop shops say they are being kicked out to make room for a larger tenant.

By Danielle Douglas | 05:15 PM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:12 AM ET, 02/03/2012

Booz Allen cuts 2 percent of workforce

By Marjorie Censer

Overhead costs were not sized to match the shrinking federal market the company faces, the company’s CEO said Friday.

By Marjorie Censer | 10:12 AM ET, 02/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:12 PM ET, 02/02/2012

Faced with spending pressure, GSA revamps plans for St. Elizabeths and White Oak

By Jonathan O'Connell

The federal government may have to postpone development plans for new agency headquarters.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 04:12 PM ET, 02/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: General Services Administration, White Oak, St. Elizabeths, Coast Guard, Food and Drug Administration

Posted at 03:26 PM ET, 02/02/2012

Orrick settles unpaid rent case with Huntsman campaign

By Catherine Ho

The firm, which sued Huntman’s campaign over an alleged $42,000 in rent, has reached a settlement.

By Catherine Ho | 03:26 PM ET, 02/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:24 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Environmental hurdles cleared, work to start on first Costco in D.C.

By Jonathan O'Connell

Developers will break ground Thursday on an outdoor shopping center in Northeast D.C. that will feature the city’s first Costco.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 06:24 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Costco, Vincent C. Gray, retail

Posted at 12:04 PM ET, 02/01/2012

Washington real estate waits on Congress

By Jonathan O'Connell

This fiscal year, the GSA has sent Congress five local real estate requests. Here’s a closer look.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 12:04 PM ET, 02/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Congress, GSA, gridlock

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 01/31/2012

Obama stops by Washington Auto Show

By Danielle Douglas

President Obama dropped by the car show on Tuesday for a tour of alternative-fuel vehicles on display.

By Danielle Douglas | 05:40 PM ET, 01/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Capital Business Blog: February, 2012