ABERDEEN, MD-Merritt Properties, an office developer, has purchased a large piece of land in Aberdeen to build a business park to meet the requirements of government contractors looking for space close to Aberdeen Proving Ground.

CHICAGO-The developers of the Walton tower on the Park, Mesirow Financial and Enterprise Cos. have secured a crucial extension on a $129.5-million construction loan.

WASHINGTON, DC-Mortgage banks are expecting an industry upheaval due to new legislation by the Federal Reserve that will restrict the way loan officers and residential mortgage brokers are compensated.

NEW YORK CITY-Gary Barnett, the chief of Extell Development Co., has promised that Carnegie 57, a 74-story condo/hotel tower, will be completed soon.

NEW YORK CITY-Barnes & Noble, the largest bookstore chain in the US, has announced plans to close its four-story bookstore at West 66th Street on Broadway when its lease ends in January 2011.

TEMPE, AZ-The winning bid on the Centerpoint Condominiums is to be announced soon.

NEW YORK CITY-The partnership between the Praedium Group of New York and Joel Wiener's Pinnacle Group is under increasing pressure to plan a new strategy for converting 1,000 units into condominiums in 36 financially troubled Upper West Side buildings.

INDIANAPOLIS-Aviv Arlon Global Ltd., an Israel-based developer, has agreed to purchase the 600,000-square-foot Metropolis shopping center in Plainfield for $52 million.