Classic Lighting Inc. has leased 22,535 sf at Sugar Land Business Park at 730 Industrial. The firm considered buying, but then nipped the idea, Chris Caudill of Grubb & Ellis Co.'s Houston office tells GlobeSt.com. He represented Classic Lighting in the signing while Pat O'Connell and George Tickell, both of O'Connell Realty in Houston, handled talks for building owner, South X SW HSO LP.

Caudill says Classic Lighting has grown incrementally since its launch in just 5,000 sf. Its last lease encompassed about 15,000 sf. In fact, the freshly signed 22,535-sf spot may not hold the company for long, he says. Still, it's the submarket that Classic Lighting wanted–the southwest. "All of their employees live there," he says.

Caudill, who specializes in the southwest part of town including Stafford and Sugar Land, says the area's industrial leasing definitely is slowing. But, he emphasizes, the slower pace started long before the "recession" became official and the events of Sept.11. He noticed signs of a slowdown as early as the second quarter.

As has been the case across the city, Caudill says building sales to smaller users have been extremely brisk this year. People are definitely taking advantage of low interest rates and the area's good market conditions. In fact, he confides he has several buildings in the 5,000-sf to 20,000-sf range under contract right now.