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ATLANTA — Atlanta-based developer Carter recently secured a string of major projects across the U.S. — totaling more than $100 million — and has unveiled a new brand identity. This month, the company started construction on the Highpoint at Columbus Commons, a $50 million residential and retail project in downtown Columbus. The 325,000-square-foot project is set for completion in 2013. Carter will also develop a $73 million mixed-use project in Cincinnati and a $40 million student housing complex in Oxford, Miss., known as Highland Square. Additionally, the company is planning about $100 million in deals in Louisiana and Oklahoma. Scott Taylor, Carter's president, says the projects are part of the company's new focus after selling its property management groups to Cassidy Turley last year. Carter's strategy now includes developing student housing, multifamily and mixed-use projects in core areas, along with an expanded consulting and advisory practice. “Our new developments in Ohio, Michigan and Mississippi are part of the plan we announced nine months ago and indicative of what Carter is today,” says Taylor. “As our firm changed, we needed to refresh our identity and brand, and we've done that well.” According to company leaders, Cater's new logo and tagline (Built …

ATHENS, GA. — Ethicon, a surgical care goods provider, plans to invest $185 million to renovate and expand its Georgia facility, located at 655 Ethicon Circle in Cornelia, near Athens. The company is expected to create 75 positions by 2016. “Ethicon has been an important business partner and a growing member of Georgia’s health care products manufacturing community for more than 30 years, so this expansion speaks well of our state’s supportive business environment,” says Gov. Nathan Deal. “We look forward to the impact this expansion will have for the Athens-Clarke County community and for Georgia’s thriving healthcare industry.” The 100,000-square-foot expansion will complement the current facility in the production of suture raw materials. The building will be located on the current site of Ethicon’s sister company, Noramco, which manufactures pharmaceutical ingredients used in medications and medical devices. Additionally, Ethicon plans to make capital improvements to the Cornelia facility, which currently produces the majority of the world’s supply of surgical sutures. Both Ethicon and Noramco are subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson. “We are pleased to be making this investment to enhance our suture manufacturing capabilities,” says Gary Pruden, worldwide chairman of the global surgery group at Johnson & Johnson Medical …

CARMEL, IND. — Senior Quality Lifestyles Corp. (SQLC) and its affiliate, Mayflower Communities, in a partnership with St. Vincent Health, have received financing through the sale of $119 million in revenue bonds for The Barrington of Carmel, a 501(c)3 nonprofit life care community under development in Carmel. B.C. Ziegler and Co. served as the bond underwriter for the transaction. “We are pleased to complete the successful financing of The Barrington and excited to have construction of the new community already underway,” says Charles Brewer, president and CEO of SQLC. “The Barrington will add to Carmel’s already superb reputation as one of the best places to live in the country.” The 264-unit seniors housing community is located at Guilford Road. The Barrington will contain 134 independent living apartments, 56 residential assisted living apartments, 26 memory support suites and 48 skilled nursing beds. Amenities will include fine dining, a bistro, fitness and wellness centers, creative arts studio, salon and spa, library, housekeeping and scheduled transportation. “The financing of The Barrington speaks highly of the reputation of SQLC and Mayflower within the financial community,” says Rich Scanlon, managing director of Ziegler Capital Markets, Senior Living Finance. “The expertise these two organizations bring to …

LAUREL, MD. — Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Hampshire Properties has purchased the 982-unit Laurel Square, a multifamily community located at 13301 Arden Way in Laurel, for $102 million. Bozzuto Group and Fannie Mae were the sellers. The buyer plans to invest $10 million for amenity upgrades. The property, which was constructed in 1970, is 88 percent occupied. Bozzuto acquired the property in June 2006 for $86 million from RIMSI Corp. Bill Roohan, Michael Muldowney, Michael Rudolph, Martha Hastings and Andrew Boyer of CBRE Group represented the sellers in the transaction. “With a 5.9 percent cap rate, this distinctive property demonstrates soaring interest in one of the region’s growing epicenters,” says Roohan, vice chairman of CBRE Group. “The base realignment moves surrounding Fort Meade are creating an increasingly strong center for affordable housing in Laurel and other fast-growing communities of the Baltimore-Washington corridor.” Hampshire Properties’ current holdings are valued in excess of $500 million. Savannah Duncan

SAN DIEGO — Chesapeake Lodging Trust (NYSE:CHSP) has purchased the 429-room Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina, located at 1441 Quivira Road in San Diego, for $62 million. The hotel sits on a 19-acre, waterfront site that includes a 187-slip marina, which is currently 97 percent occupied. Chesapeake Lodging partially funded the purchase with available cash, while the balance was paid from its revolving credit facility. The purchase price equates to approximately $144,500 per key. “We are thrilled to expand our strategic relationship with Hyatt and purchase our second high-quality San Diego hotel, which is located directly on the bay with spectacular ocean views,” says James L. Francis, president and CEO of Chesapeake Lodging. “With the previous owner’s extensive renovation completed in 2007 and our planned $6 million softgood refresh, the Hyatt is the best positioned asset within the immediate marketplace.” The hotel features the full-service Blue Marble spa, the Red Marlin Restaurant Bar and Terrace with panoramic views, three lagoon-shaped pools each with its own 120-foot water slide, 37,000 square feet of meeting space and a water boat taxi service to a VIP entrance to Sea World. Most of the guestrooms average 400 square feet, while 137 of …

ESCONDIDO, CALIF. — Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) has signed an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of American Realty Capital Trust (NASDAQ: ARCT), an owner and operator of single-tenant commercial properties, for $2.95 billion. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2012 or in the first quarter of 2013. Realty Income will acquire 501 properties, bringing its total portfolio to more than 3,250 properties. Approximately 75 percent of the rental revenue at the properties stems from investment-grade tenants, including FedEx, Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy, the Government Services Administration, Dollar General, Express Scripts, PNC Bank and Whirlpool. “This acquisition comprehensively advances Realty Income’s strategic objectives of increasing its revenue generated by investment-grade tenants and further diversifying its portfolio outside of the retail industry,” says Tom Lewis, CEO of Escondido-based Realty Income. The acquisition will be financed by the buyer directly issuing $1.9 billion of its common stock to ARCT shareholders, the assumption of $526 million of debt and the immediate repayment of approximately $574 million of outstanding debt and transaction expenses. “This transaction will institutionalize the notion of durable, defensive dividends for our shareholders by allowing them to become owners on a very favorable basis of …

WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. — A joint venture between Equity Office Properties and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) has sold Treat Towers, two Class A office buildings located at 1255 and 1277 Treat Blvd. in Walnut Creek, for $118.5 million. MetLife (NYSE: MET) was the buyer. The LEED Gold certified buildings, which total 378,749 square feet, are 85 percent leased. Tenants include Paradigm Management Services, HQ Global Workplaces, Environmental Resources Management and Littler Mendelson. Amenities include a fitness center, conference center with a training room and board room, an ATM, banking facilities and a full service café. “Treat Towers is an irreplaceable asset of the highest quality in the East Bay, providing above standard construction and building amenities in one of the nation’s premier core office markets,” says Steven Golubchik, managing director of HFF. “The property offers its tenants a landmark location, providing ease of accessibility to the entire San Francisco Bay Area.” Golubchik, along with John Pelusi, Michael Leggett and Gerry Rohm of HFF, represented the seller in the transaction. Blackstone’s stock price closed at $13.18 per share on Sept. 5, up from $12.04 per share a year earlier. MetLife’s stock price closed at $34.01 per share, up from $28.87 per share …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 178,000-square-foot Carroll Square, a Class A office property located at 975 F St. in Washington, D.C.’s East End submarket, has traded for $121.4 million in a leasehold sale. The buyer, GLL Partners, purchased Carroll Square and assumed an existing loan on the property. GLL Partners is an institutional real estate investment advisory firm based in Munich, Germany. The seller was Seaton Benkowski & Partners, a boutique real estate advisory firm based in Washington, D.C. Seaton Benkowski & Partners partnered with Washington, D.C.-based Akridge for the development, leasing and management of Carroll Square. The 10-story office property is comprised of new construction and seven late 19th century commercial townhomes. The development includes a small public art gallery, three rooftop terraces and a pocket park located near St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on the north side of the property. The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. has a ground lease on the property through 2102 and the rest of the office space is fully leased to tenants such as Seyfarth Shaw, Holland & Hart and Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto, all law firms. Retail tenants include Le Pain Quotidien, Leica Camera and Coco Sala. Carroll Square is in close proximity to …

MINNEAPOLIS — A joint venture partnership between Equity Group Investments (EGI), GEM Realty Capital and Perennial Investments and Advisors has purchased the 1.7 million-square-foot Normandale Lake Office Park, a Class A office campus located in Bloomington, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis. Cushman & Wakefield/NorthMarq provides leasing and management services for the property. “The complex is home to leading companies because it gives them an advantage in attracting and retaining top talent,” says Tom Tracy, executive director of brokerage services for Cushman & Wakefield/NorthMarq. “Many of our largest tenants have been here for more than 20 years.” The property is 84 percent leased. Tenants include Prime Therapeutics, Aon Benfield, Schwan’s, Towers Watson, Weber Shandwick, Emerson Corp. and Oracle Corp. The first of the five buildings was constructed in 1983, and the last building was completed in 2009. A skyway connects the buildings. Park amenities include two first-class restaurants, three delis, a Caribou coffee shop, salon, child care center, convenience store, two fitness facilities, conference facilities and five parking garages. “Normandale is the premier office environment in the Minneapolis market,” says David Helfand, co-president of EGI. “The complex has a long track record of successfully serving the needs of the area’s most …