The bureau has leased 5,269 sf for 27 months at the Plaza ParkBusiness Center at 7509 S. Freeway in the city's southern tier. The6,677-sf balance is part of Westbelt Plaza at 1450 W. Sam HoustonPkwy. on the western side of the metro. The tenant is taking theWestbelt space for 28 months to house about 50 workers at peakoperation. The move-in date is late summer.

Daniel Nixon Jr., senior vice president of leasing andredevelopment for Whitestone REIT, the local owner, says the CensusBureau required shell condition for its spaces. He says the owneralso kicks in tenant improvements specific to the bureaurequirements. The buildings' quote lease rate is $12 per sf, triplenet.

"Other requirements are that the space be close to a busservice, that there be adequate parking for people that drive andadequate services such as restaurants, banks and other amenities,"says Nixon, who represented the REIT in the lease transaction.Especially important is that the buildings offer access andoperation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.