PHILADELPHIA-During his 17 years in the industry Christopher Hall has performed real estate valuations in 35 states and for international projects from Brazil to Japan for such clients as Bristol-Meyers Squibb and Motorola.

ALLENTOWN, PA-Keystone will develop a 265,535-sf industrial property in its Westpark Business Center and retain ownership of the facility while the car maker leases 211,535 sf for a parts distribution and training center.

PHILADELPHIA-In its first foray into this market, the Atlanta-based REIT buys the 50-story, 840,000-sf headquarters of Independence Blue Cross. A source tells GlobeSt.com the price was about $189 million.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA-The combined aggregate rental of the five renewals and expansions, which encompass 14,478 sf, exceeds $1 million. Radnor Financial Advisors, the largest renewal tenant, has been in the complex since 1999.

PHILADELPHIA-In a scathing assessment of Greater Philadelphia's growth trends, Brooking Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy reports it "exhibits one of the nation's most radical patterns of sprawl and abandonment.

BOYERTOWN, PA-This is the financial company's second bank acquisition in 10 days. The purchase adds nine branches to the three obtained from HomeTowne Heritage Bank and expands National Penn to 74 area locations.

PHILADELPHIA-With lease signatures from University of Pennsylvania's public radio station and Real Entertainment Group, Dranoff Properties' $15-million conversion of the historic 40,000-sf Hajoca Building begins.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA-The 10,000-sf, single-story building at 18 So. Newtown Street Rd., sold to an undisclosed buyer for $700,000. Meanwhile, space in a Downingtown, PA flex office/warehouse goes for $12 and $6 per sf.