BETHESDA, MD-Transwestern Commercial Services brings its Mid-Atlantic Region division together with the development division of Washington, DC-headquartered real estate firm DRI Partners Inc. to create a new practice to be known as DRI Development Services LLC, a Transwestern Co. The merger gives Transwestern the ability to develop--through a single, dedicated entity--office and industrial properties for investment opportunities as well as for clients seeking to build and own their own facilities.

Transwestern Mid-Atlantic president Tom Nordlinger says Transwestern can now offer its clients the "expertise and full development capabilities of DRI, while the DC market is in a robust development cycle." For DRI--which has a history of developing build-to-suits for associations, non-profits and corporate headquarters, as well as speculative office developments--the new firm provides the company with the opportunity to expand its development presence in the Metropolitan DC area and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Through the merger, Transwestern combines its foothold in real estate services with DRI's development experience. Christian J. Spitz, president of the new firm, adds that Transwestern's brokerage, finance, and consulting presence in the metropolitan Washington, DC market will help DRI to locate unique development sites. He notes that Transwestern's capital markets expertise "will be of great assistance in identifying enhanced financing capabilities for our projects."

The new development unit has already begun pursuing projects. "Right now we're working on a couple of opportunities, some of which are in the suburbs," Spitz adds. "Typically, DRI has been an urban developer; now we're able to expand our horizons into the suburbs." DRI Development Services will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Transwestern from its existing DC office, but it will have its own services.