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

Posted at 06:58 PM ET, 06/27/2012

Vornado battling back from BRAC

By Jonathan O'Connell

Relocations prompted by BRAC have eaten away at occupancy for one of the largest owners of office space in Northern Virginia.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 06:58 PM ET, 06/27/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vornado Realty Trust, Vornado/Charles E. Smith, Crystal City, BRAC

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 06/22/2012

TechAmerica restructures to focus on public policy, networking

By Marjorie Censer

The industry group will shutter some of its offices to focus on networking, public policy and advocacy.

By Marjorie Censer | 01:30 PM ET, 06/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 06/22/2012

Ritz Camera files for bankruptcy protection ... again

By Danielle Douglas

The Beltsville-based photography retailer said it is evaluating which of its 265 stores to close.

By Danielle Douglas | 01:25 PM ET, 06/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:53 PM ET, 06/21/2012

OMB sued for not disclosing full records on federal buildings that could be used for homeless services

By Catherine Ho

Attorneys at Covington & Burling are suing to obtain information about unused federal properties that could be used to provide services to the homeless.

By Catherine Ho | 07:53 PM ET, 06/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 AM ET, 06/20/2012

GAO: Feds know little about their buildings

By Jonathan O’Connell

Some federal buildings listed in “excellent” condition were found to have damaged ceilings, collapsed roofs or radiological contamination.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 12:00 AM ET, 06/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: commercial real estate, GAO, GSA

Posted at 05:08 PM ET, 06/19/2012

BankUnited executives to pay $20M to Capital One

By Danielle Douglas

Capital One Financial said two former senior executives agreed to pay to settle claims that they violated a noncompete agreement.

By Danielle Douglas | 05:08 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:22 PM ET, 06/19/2012

District-based online deal site targets wealthy gay men

By Steven Overly

DirectMale, which debuted in 1992, is back in the form of a Web site with online vouchers for apparel, skin care products and travel, among other items.

By Steven Overly | 03:22 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:05 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Video: Hine Jr. High School developers make their pitch

By Jonathan O’Connell

Stanton-EastBanc is proposing a mix of offices, housing and shopping for the Capitol Hill school.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 03:05 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Hine Jr. High, Stanton, EastBanc, Capitol Hill, commercial real estate

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 06/19/2012

House subcommittee criticizes failure to sell Georgetown heating plant

By Jonathan O'Connell

The 2.08-acre West Heating Plant in Northwest Washington has been nearly vacant since 2000.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 01:56 PM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: West Heating Plant, Georgetown, commercial real estate, GSA, John Mica, Jeff Denham

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 06/19/2012

McLean-based Cvent acquires second mobile firm

By Steven Overly

The purchases are part of the McLean company’s effort to extend its event management software.

By Steven Overly | 07:30 AM ET, 06/19/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 06/15/2012

Wheaton church to be turned into luxury apartments

By Jonathan O’Connell

The former First Baptist Church of Wheaton will make way for luxury apartments later this month.

By Jonathan O’Connell | 03:45 PM ET, 06/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Wheaton, apartments, commercial real estate, Washington Property Company

Posted at 04:49 PM ET, 06/14/2012

Congress to pressure feds to sell West Heating Plant

By Jonathan O'Connell

The GSA announced last October that it planned to sell the plant in Northwest Washington.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 04:49 PM ET, 06/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: West Heating Plant, Georgetown, GSA, Jeff Denham

Posted at 05:01 PM ET, 06/13/2012

GSA to Mica: FTC HQ move not feasible

By Jonathan O'Connell

Rep. Mica’s dream of delivering the FTC HQ to the National Gallery of Art took a step back Tuesday.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 05:01 PM ET, 06/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: John Mica, Dan Tangherlini, GSA, FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Constitution Center, commercial real estate

Posted at 03:35 PM ET, 06/13/2012

Virginia community banks to merge

By Danielle Douglas

First Virginia Community Bank is to acquire 1st Commonwealth Bank of Virginia for $3.7M in stock.

By Danielle Douglas | 03:35 PM ET, 06/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 06/11/2012

Watergate’s new owner welcomes anniversary’s attention

By Jonathan O'Connell

Could it help attract companies interested in leasing space in the building?

By Jonathan O'Connell | 06:00 PM ET, 06/11/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Watergate, Bob Woodward, Ben Bradlee, Carl Bernstein, commercial real estate

Posted at 09:20 PM ET, 06/10/2012

You tell us: Are elected officials doing enough to address unemployment?

By Capital Business staff

A weak jobs report last week showed the first jump in unemployment in 11 months.

By Capital Business staff | 09:20 PM ET, 06/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:36 AM ET, 06/08/2012

Walker & Dunlop to acquire rival lender CWCapital

By Danielle Douglas

The Bethesda-based commercial mortgage lender is shelling out $220M to acquire rival CWCapital.

By Danielle Douglas | 10:36 AM ET, 06/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:21 AM ET, 06/08/2012

GlaxoSmithKline extends tender offer for Human Genome Sciences shares

By Steven Overly

GlaxoSmithKline has extended its tender offer for outstanding shares of Human Genome Sciences.

By Steven Overly | 10:21 AM ET, 06/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:04 PM ET, 06/07/2012

LivingSocial finds support for $32.5M city tax incentive deal

By Steven Overly

Local business advocates and executives testified in favor of legislation that would save the company $32.5M on D.C. taxes.

By Steven Overly | 06:04 PM ET, 06/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:07 PM ET, 06/06/2012

General Dynamics, CACI chiefs to retire

By Marjorie Censer

Falls Church’s General Dynamics and Arlington‘s CACI to bid adieu to their top leaders by year’s end.

By Marjorie Censer | 05:07 PM ET, 06/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:47 PM ET, 06/05/2012

D.C. Council awards tourism bureau $3M in annual budget

By Danielle Douglas

This is first time the District has allocated money for Destination D.C.’s annual operating budget.

By Danielle Douglas | 06:47 PM ET, 06/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:15 PM ET, 06/05/2012

Patton Boggs denies illegally firing D.C. employee who complained of sexual harassment

By Catherine Ho

A former employee sued the firm in April, saying she was harassed by a former male IT employee.

By Catherine Ho | 06:15 PM ET, 06/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:48 PM ET, 06/05/2012

Live Tweets: Warren Buffett’s appearance at The Economic Club of Washington

By Abha Bhattarai

Tweet your reactions to Buffett’s appearance on Tuesday evening using the hashtag #buffetttalks.

By Abha Bhattarai | 04:48 PM ET, 06/05/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:09 PM ET, 06/03/2012

You tell us: Should the city build a soccer stadium in Southwest?

By Capital Business staff

Reader comment: “Aside from the fact that it will take awhile to bring in revenue, the roads/metro infrastructure won't be able to adequately handle the traffic.” — Leslie A. Burke

By Capital Business staff | 08:09 PM ET, 06/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:09 PM ET, 06/03/2012

You tell us: Should the city build a soccer stadium in Southwest?

By Capital Business staff

“This will draw new fans and revenue,” says reader Luis A. Perez Jr. What do you think? Would building a new soccer stadium be a wise use of D.C.'s economic development dollars?

By Capital Business staff | 08:09 PM ET, 06/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:08 PM ET, 06/01/2012

Calnet settles allegations of overbilling for $18.1 million

By Marjorie Censer

The Reston-based contractor will pay the government $18.1 million to settle a case alleging that it overbilled the Defense Department.

By Marjorie Censer | 05:08 PM ET, 06/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 05/31/2012

Marriott strikes deal to manage Gaylord hotels

By Danielle Douglas

The Bethesda company is offering Gaylord Entertainment $210M for the rights to manage four hotels.

By Danielle Douglas | 12:39 PM ET, 05/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Capital Business Blog: June, 2012