BALTIMORE-A yearlong competition culminates with the team of Forest City-New East Baltimore Partnership LLC being chosen to spearhead development of the $500-million first phase of a $1-billion mixed-use biotechnology project currently referred to as the New East Baltimore Community.

BALTIMORE-In a $25.4 million deal, BioMed Realty Trust makes its entrée into the Maryland market with the acquisition of two buildings from Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., which will now lease the 168,800 sf of space from the new owner under a sale/leaseback agreement.

COLUMBIA, MD-A $13 million financing arrangement for the 150-unit Homewood Suites Columbia closes, courtesy of GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp. GMACCM is providing the fixed-rate loan to borrower HH Associates Borrower LLC. The one-year-old hotel also features nearly 2,500 sf of meeting space.

WHITE OAK, MD-Centex Construction Co. wins the contract to oversee buildout of the 550,000-sf Center for Drug Evaluation and Research office facility at the massive Food and Drug Administration complex that is currently under construction. The contract is valued at $21 million.

SILVER SPRING, MD-Westchester West Apartments is in line for a new owner as Berkshire Income Realty Inc. signs on to acquire the 345-unit multifamily complex from one of its affiliates in a $39.3 million deal. The garden-style apartment property sits in the city's Aspen Hill neighborhood.

ALEXANDRIA, VA-A new tenant, Dimensions International Inc., commits to a total of 45,000 sf of space in the 115,000-sf office building at 2800 Eisenhower Ave. For the information technology firm, the lease agreement paved the way for consolidation and relocation efforts.

LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD-Work gets under way on BWI Hilton Park, a mixed-use hotel development that will also feature 400,000 sf of premiere office and retail space. Developer the Buccini/Pollin Group plans to wrap up construction of the $52-million hotel in 2006, while work on the office and retail segment will begin in 2005.

GLEN BURNIE, MD-A new tenant, the American Postal Workers Union Health Plan, joins the roster at the 66,000-sf flex building at 799 Cromwell Dr. The organization will make its home in a 42,100-sf space, joining fellow occupant logistics firm John S. Connor.