HAMPTON, VA-Brick, NJ-based Tryko Partners has acquired the 580-unit Peninsula Grove apartment community here and plans to immediately launch an $8.5-million capital improvement program at the property.

NORWALK, CT—Lowe's Home Improvement has signed a long-term ground lease for its new one-story 150,000-square-foot store to be built at 100 Connecticut Ave. here.

COLUMBUS, OH—CBRE Group has named Norman Bertke as executive managing director of its asset services east region. Bertke, who will be responsible for leading the east region's operations, will be based in Columbus, OH.

BLOOMFIELD, NJ—Bechtel, a San Francisco-based engineering, project management and construction company, has leased 23,000 square feet of space at Broadacres Office Park here.

HARRISON, NJ—The Hampshire Companies and CrownPoint Group, LLC say they will develop a 104-unit apartment complex on Bergen Street here. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year.

NEW YORK CITY—Jones Lang LaSalle reports that leasing activity in New York significantly increased in the first quarter of this year as compared to a year earlier. In fact, large lease deals of at least 100,000 square feet doubled during that time period.

GAINESVILLE, FL—Construction firm Skanska reports that it has signed a contract valued at $225 million to build an expansion of the UF (University of Florida) Shands Cardiovascular/Neuroscience Hospital here.

WASHINGTON, DC—Tishman Speyer is reportedly planning to add four floors to its 2000 K St. NW office building here, which it acquired late last year.