ATLANTA-Directors of the locally based apartment development REIT have the unenviable task of explaining to shareholders at the May 22 annual meeting how the company lost $23.5 million or 63 cents per diluted share in the first quarter.

ORLANDO-Atlanta Bread Co. of Smyrna, GA plans to open 30 new locations in Florida over the next five years, including 10 in metro Orlando, totaling an estimated 210,000 sf. Also, Jason's Deli plans its debut this year in suburban Altamonte Springs, FL.

HAINES CITY, FL-Scouting for a location along the high-tech corridor between Tampa and Orlando, Technology Research Consultants Inc. found a ready-made plant at 2801 US 17-92 where it will make gyroscopes for the US Army.

ATLANTA-The 50-story property's meeting space of 125,000 sf is being increased by 7,000 sf, while the number of breakout rooms will rise to 13 from eight at the 1,675-room, two-tower hotel in Downtown's Peachtree Center.

ATLANTA-Wall Street is speculating that Douglas Crocker, 63, who <a href="http://www.globest.com/RMIFN2A8NED.html">recently resigned</a> from the board of Chicago-based Equity Residential, will be president and CEO of Post Properties Inc. if former chairman John A. Williams has his say.

BRADENTON, FL-The family-run department store chain is scheduled to close this week on an estimated 300,000 sf of former Florida Kmart locations in Oldsmar, Ormond Beach and Boynton Beach. Area brokers tell GlobeSt.com the estimated value of the deal is $15 million.

ATLANTA-State development officials confirm the Dearborn, MI-based automaker has narrowed its search to Morgan and Meriwether counties, but don't know whether Ford will close its existing 2.3-million-sf factory in Hapeville, GA or build a second manufacturing complex.

CASSELBERRY, FL-Southern Management &amp; Development LP of Boca Raton, FL paid $6.1 million or $62.64 per sf for the 29-year-old, 97,376-sf shopping center at 944 E. State Road 436 in suburban Orlando.