METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, DC-Multifamily lender Independence Community Bank Corp. has made plans to expand its presence to the prospering Washington, DC region real estate market.

METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, DC-Retail property investors are like bees to honey in the region, and South Carolina's Edens & Avant proves the theory by taking a big bite out of the market with its recent purchase of seven grocery store-anchored shopping centers totaling over 650,000 sf.

ARLINGTON, VA-Arlington Gateway gets a new tenant in ESI International, a project management and consulting firm that recently signed on for 45,000 sf in the building. Space at Arlington Gateway leases for $34 to $38 per sf.

WASHINGTON, DC-Advantis Real Estate Services Co. brings in industry honcho Daniel M. Dillon to occupy the position of director of management services for the greater Washington, DC region.

MARION, VA-General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products decides to relocate its DeLand, FL-based Resin Transfer Molding operations to the company's operations center in Smyth County, VA.

BRIDGEPORT, WVA-Aurora Flight Sciences Corp. will step up the pace of its development of US Air Force Global Hawk airplanes with the addition of a new 40,000-sf building. The $2.3 million facility will be ready by the end of the year.

WASHINGTON, DC-According to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America's forecast, the economy will begin to slowly bounce back by the end of this year and will ultimately result in a bevy of positive upswings.

NORFOLK, VA-MacArthur Center, a one million-sf shopping center, is now almost entirely owned by Taubman Centers Inc. Taubman increased its 70% ownership of the retail property to 95% through a $45.4 million investment.