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

Posted at 05:07 PM ET, 03/29/2013

D.C. issued $400,000 loan for failed Metro project

By Jonathan O'Connell

Banneker Ventures is stuck repaying a D.C. Housing Finance Agency loan that it took out despite having never acquired the land.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 05:07 PM ET, 03/29/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Banneker Ventures, Jim Graham, Metro, commercial real estate

Posted at 12:00 AM ET, 03/28/2013

Lanny Breuer, chief of DOJ’s criminal division, returns to Covington & Burling

By Catherine Ho

One of the longest-serving heads of the Justice Department’s criminal division is returning to the firm.

By Catherine Ho | 12:00 AM ET, 03/28/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:09 PM ET, 03/26/2013

SAIC plans to cut annual costs by $350 million

By Marjorie Censer

The reduction is to come by trimming staff and facilities as well as pushing for greater savings in purchases.

By Marjorie Censer | 06:09 PM ET, 03/26/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:42 AM ET, 03/22/2013

Washington Post Co. hires architecture firm Gensler to design new offices

By Jonathan O'Connell

Gensler is assisting the Post with how best to configure its work space.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 10:42 AM ET, 03/22/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Washington Post, New York Times, Gensler, commercial real estate

Posted at 10:50 AM ET, 03/21/2013

Former Walter Reed hospital sparks interest from nine developers interested in building town center

By Jonathan O'Connell

Nine development teams answer Mayor Gray’s call for private partners.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 10:50 AM ET, 03/21/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Vincent C. Gray, Walter Reed, commercial real estate

Posted at 07:30 AM ET, 03/19/2013

Boutique lobby shop C2 Group acquired by FTI Consulting

By Catherine Ho

In an effort to offset industry-wide declines in lobbying revenue the last two years, many firms are expanding in areas like state-level lobbying and consulting services.

By Catherine Ho | 07:30 AM ET, 03/19/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:20 PM ET, 03/18/2013

YaSabe receives $2.7 million investment

By Steven Overly

The cash will allow the Herndon-based firm to continue building a search engine that caters to Spanish speakers.

By Steven Overly | 04:20 PM ET, 03/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:09 PM ET, 03/18/2013

MedImmune gains 300 jobs in AstraZeneca consolidation

By Steven Overly

Gaithersburg-based MedImmune will gain 300 jobs as parent company AstraZeneca consolidates its overall global research and development operations.

By Steven Overly | 04:09 PM ET, 03/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 03/18/2013

Lockheed cutting nearly 250 mid-level managers

By Marjorie Censer

The contractor’s information systems unit had offered a buyout to about 4,000 mid-level managers in February.

By Marjorie Censer | 03:37 PM ET, 03/18/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:34 PM ET, 03/15/2013

Marriott to cut IT jobs in Bethesda

By Abha Bhattarai

Formal notices have not been issued, and the company would not say how many employees would be affected.

By Abha Bhattarai | 05:34 PM ET, 03/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:31 PM ET, 03/15/2013

McLean developer Rappaport Cos. lands $600 million investment from Principal Financial Group

By Jonathan O'Connell

Principal Financial Group has made a commitment to a local shopping center with developer the Rappaport Cos.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 05:31 PM ET, 03/15/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Rappaport Cos, retail, commercial real estate

Posted at 12:00 AM ET, 03/14/2013

Veteran Calif. congressman Howard Berman to become lobbyist at Covington & Burling

By Catherine Ho

Berman is the second congressional heavy hitter to join Covington Burling’s ranks in less than a month.

By Catherine Ho | 12:00 AM ET, 03/14/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:43 PM ET, 03/13/2013

House representatives jockey for FBI headquarters at hearing

By Jonathan O'Connell

GSA officials are evaluating 35 ideas for how they might trade the J. Edgar Hoover Building for a new location.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 06:43 PM ET, 03/13/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: FBI, GSA, commercial real estate

Posted at 06:38 PM ET, 03/12/2013

Four Seasons developers are top bidders for West Heating Plant in Georgetown

By Jonathan O’Connell and Sarah Halzack

The team plans to develop the property into as many as 80 Four Seasons condominiums.

By Jonathan O’Connell and Sarah Halzack | 06:38 PM ET, 03/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: West Heating Plant, Georgetown, GSA

Posted at 06:32 PM ET, 03/12/2013

Rosetta Stone to cut 64 jobs in Virginia

By Steven Overly

Arlington-based Rosetta Stone will eliminate 64 jobs in Virginia, open offices in Austin and San Francisco.

By Steven Overly | 06:32 PM ET, 03/12/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:41 PM ET, 03/08/2013

Potomac Shores developer touts land swap experience in pursuing FBI for Prince William County

By Jonathan O'Connell

SunCal built facilities in California for U.S. Army Reserve in exchange for land.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 06:41 PM ET, 03/08/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Potomac Shores, Prince William County, FBI, GSA, commercial real estate

Posted at 03:51 PM ET, 03/07/2013

General Dynamics promotes Heebner to head IT unit

By Marjorie Censer

Information systems, combat systems businesses get new leaders.

By Marjorie Censer | 03:51 PM ET, 03/07/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:33 PM ET, 03/06/2013

GSA receives 35 proposals for FBI headquarters

By Jonathan O'Connell

The GSA has not released details of the responses, but they include proposals from landowners, developers and local governments.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 12:33 PM ET, 03/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: FBI, GSA, commercial real estate

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 03/06/2013

Former Sen. Jon Kyl joins lobby shop at Covington

By Catherine Ho

Former Senate Minority Whip is hired to help build firm’s lobbying practice.

By Catherine Ho | 12:01 AM ET, 03/06/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 03/05/2013

GSA receives 10 responses for proposed redevelopment of Federal Triangle South

By Jonathan O'Connell

GSA’s acting administrator, has floated the idea of selling or trading some of the property in exchange for new buildings or building services.

By Jonathan O'Connell | 01:15 PM ET, 03/05/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: GSA, Federal Triangle South, FBI, commercial real estate

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 03/01/2013

Patton Boggs lets go 65 attorneys and staff; 23 in Washington

By Catherine Ho

23 of those employees are located in the lobby firm’s Washington office.

By Catherine Ho | 04:59 PM ET, 03/01/2013 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Capital Business Blog: March, 2013