David R. Dunn of Dunn Commercial in Arlington negotiated the long-term renewals with Air Win International and Texas Components Inc., both of which re-upped an even 20,000 sf apiece. The Austin-based Synermark is the property owner of the Avenue N building in the Grand Prairie section of the Great Southwest Industrial District.

Dunn tells GlobeSt.com that the tenants looked around, but aggressively priced deals delivered the closings. "We were locking and securing for the long-term in an economic environment with very soft rental rates and landlords that are very nervous about the future," he says.

Renewals will be the "bread and butter" of 2003's deal making. And, Dunn stresses, "keeping them for the long term is what this year will be about." The Great Southwest, he says, is struggling with several large blocks emptied by NCR Corp., JCPenney and Bridgestone/Firestone, which just vacated for its new building in AllianceTexas.

Air Win International has the spot at 901-941 Avenue N and Texas Components has 939 Avenue N in the 34-year-old multi-tenant office/warehouse building. The Great Southwest Industrial District, one of the region's largest and oldest, is shouldering a vacancy of about 18%.