The Oxford Square transit-oriented development project in Hanover, Md., just got a substantial boost–in the form of preferred equity capital totaling $17.5 million from Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds. And while mixed-use projects are hardly rare in the area today, BRAC promises to increase demand in the near future.

Development of student housing projects across the country continues at a strong pace, and in College Park, Md., the University of Maryland has selected Arlington, Va.-based Clark Builders Group to handle construction of The Varsity, a mixed-use residential project adjacent to the school’s main entrance.

HFF senior managing director Bill Asbill and Bob Donhauser as well as managing director Cary Abod secured the five-year, fixed-rate loan with MetLife Real Estate Investments. They worked exclusively on behalf of Rockpoint Group and MRP Realty.

The 12-story community features 375 apartments, 297 market-rate, 78 affordable, as well as 32,595 square feet of ground-floor retail including Trader Joe’s, Wells Fargo Bank, Café Entourage and Bubbles dry cleaners. It also has a 215-space on-site public parking lot.

The first phase of Mosaic is slated to open in fall 2012. It is more than two-thirds leased and includes a mix of 400,000 square feet of national and local retailers, an eight-screen arthouse cinema, 150-room boutique hotel, 60,000 square feet of Class A office space, and 114 townhomes.

The New York City-based borrowers, global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and commercial real estate investment firm Ashkenazy Acquisitions Corp., obtained the mortgage loan on 650 Madison from Wells Fargo Bank N.A. and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd., New York Branch.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. has received final zoning approval from the Cambridge Planning Board for its Binney Street Project, a 1.7 million-square-foot mixed-use office and laboratory development in East Cambridge, Mass.

Located in McKinney, Tex., Craig Ranch is a 2,200 business, retail and residential community whose corporate district is valued at $364 million.

The pair are planning a mixed-use master-planned community with 12 million square feet of commercial and residential development.

New facilities for P.S. 59 and the High School of Arts and Design will reside at the new development at 250 E. 57th St., which will open to students in September 2012.