Staffing the operation at 3333 Speedway will be Robert L. Davis,William L. DiVito and Howard Kong, who came from CB Richard Ellis'Tucson office. Also on staff will be Scott Soelter and MichaelTownsdin, formerly with Bourn Partners LLC of Tucson. CBRE declinedto comment on the team's departure and Bourn Partners could not bereached for comment by deadline.

Gregory Coxon, president of the western region for Santa Ana,CA-based Grubb & Ellis, says Tucson wasn't part of thecompany's near-term expansion plan. But, Davis, DiVito and Kongcontacted him expressing an interest in opening a new shop so hegave it serious thought. Coxon says he started his real estatecareer with the original Grubb & Ellis' Tucson office, whichplayed a huge role in the decision to open a new one in thecity.

"I'd officed in Tucson at one time and didn't want to ignore it.With the right people in place, it made sense to have a presencethere," says Coxon, who was hired to lead the western region lastyear after spending many years with CBRE in Phoenix as seniormanaging director.