ATLANTA-Michael Dobbs is the new chief marketing officer for the locally based real estate investment firm and will direct Wells Real Estate Funds' internal and external marketing operations, corporate branding, messaging, creative teams and public relations programs.

TAMPA, FL-The Columbus, OH-based REIT signs a $153 million contract with American Freeholds to acquire the 1.06-million-sf WestShore Plaza, one of the largest shopping centers in Central Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, FL-With an acquisition kitty of about $100 million, the alliance pays Univesco Inc. of Dallas $9.8 million, or about $36,296 per unit, for the 20-year-old, 270-unit, 92%-leased Oak Forest Apartments. The alliance bought the asset for an undisclosed Heitman institutional investor.

ATLANTA-The joint venture partners decline to disclose the purchase price but area brokers familiar with the Central Perimeter submarket tell GlobeSt.com the contract price for the 288,000-sf Ashford Perimeter building was between $180 and $200 per sf or a total $51 million.

ATLANTA-The locally based REIT posted lower funds from operations but the sale of two office assets generated net income of $143.5 million, or $2.92 per share, compared to $12.7 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, in second quarter 2002.

ATLANTA-The 78-year-old real estate, construction and energy management firm has signed a non-binding letter of intent to buy locally based Wheatstone Energy Group Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The deal is expected to close next month.

ATLANTA-Post Properties Inc. wrote off $5.2 million in expenses incurred in the May proxy fight with former chairman John A. Williams and $1.8 million in severance charges related to two executives.

ORLANDO-The Fifteen Group LLC of Miami Beach pays affiliates of Dallas-based Olympus Real Estate Partners $18 million for two southeast Orlando properties totaling 599 units. Citigroup Global Markets Realty Corp. provided a $17 million loan for the acquisition.