Dean Shapiro, Insignia/ESG's executive director of its Westchester-Connecticut office, puts a less negative spin on the availability rate numbers for Stamford and Fairfield County. He notes that the statistics, while reflecting an economic slowdown, are somewhat skewed by the record activity that took place here the past two years.

"The progress made during 1999 and 2000 really cannot be compared to any other recent period of time," Shapiro argues. "To do so paints an unfair portrait of the condition of the county's real estate market. While what has happened thus far in 2001 is definitely on a lower scale than in other years, it is not that far off the averages."

He continues, "Numbers aside, Fairfield really needed some relief from the limitations encountered last year. The lack of available space has reached such a crunch level that further business growth may have been inhibited within a short time."