Altman's Departure Has Developers Sighing

The Anacostia Waterfront Corp. board has said it will work quickly to name a new leader. And Altman said he wouldn't have left if the endeavor weren't headed in the right direction.

"People are upset I'm leaving [because] they believe the waterfront is a reality and not just a planning idea," said Altman. "That means they're committed to the waterfront. . . . I do feel we laid the foundation. We have changed the perception of the waterfront."

Going forward, D.C. leaders and developers said the waterfront organization needs someone who can navigate the politics of both the District and the federal government, which owns large chunks of land along the Anacostia River.

"You need someone who has a strong understanding of development," said Rich Bradley, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District. "They have to be a collaborator, a person who can build consensus."

Eric W. Price, the former deputy mayor for economic development in the District who left to take a job with a New York-based development group, said Altman's job should prove appealing to applicants.

"We have a situation in Washington where there's a pipeline of projects that attract people," said Price, who serves on the Anacostia Waterfront Corp. board. "We will still be able to find good talent who will come in and push these projects forward."

Appointment

David L. Winstead, 58, was named the new commissioner of the General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service. He will oversee 5,500 employees and 345 million square feet of office space that federal agencies, courts, border stations and laboratories across the country lease or own. The GSA is the federal government's real estate agency.

Winstead, a lawyer and former transportation secretary for the state of Maryland, started in the GSA job last week. He replaces F. Joseph Moravec, who served in the post for four years and resigned this summer to return to the private sector.

Winstead said he plans to continue the agency's programs to dispose of unused government property faster and its national leasing contract program, which has given the government more negotiating leverage in doing big deals.

Closings

· Brandywine Realty Trust of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., said it plans to acquire Dallas-based Prentiss Properties Trust, making it one of the largest office real estate investment trusts in the country. Prentiss owns about 20 office buildings in Tysons Corner, Bethesda and Herndon.

· Corporate Office Properties Trust, a Columbia-based real estate investment trust, spent $36.2 million to buy three office buildings in Colorado Springs.

· The District-based Carlyle Group said it has raised $930 million for its second European real estate fund. It will use the money to buy office, retail and residential properties in Europe.

· Akridge, a D.C. developer, paid $12 million for Gateway Plaza, a three-building office complex in Falls Church. CB Richard Ellis represented the seller, Falls Church Gateway Plaza LLC.

Staff writer Debbi Wilgoren contributed to this report. Dana Hedgpeth writes about economic development and commercial real estate. Her e-mail address ishedgpethd@washpost.com.