In April, Hart sold the former Hart Graphics site in the 6700-6800 block of N. MoPac to Lowe's, which plans to open a 138,000-sf store at the site next year in the north submarket. Hart had closed the printing business in July 2001.

Fred Higgins, the investment specialist at NAI Commercial Industrial Properties Co. who represented Hart in the deal, says the purchase shows Hart's confidence in the area. "They chose to invest not only right here in their own community but in the same neighborhood," he says. "They think it's a good, vibrant neighborhood with a good long-term future."

Just because he didn't go far, doesn't mean Hart didn't look far, Higgins tells GlobeSt.com. "Basically, he could have gone anywhere. In fact, we did look at properties in other states," he says. "But, by and large, he's a pretty hands-on management guy and I think when it came down to it what really appealed to him was staying directly involved in the management rather than being an absentee landlord."