NEW YORK CITY-The New York City Department of Education has confirmed the issuance of RFPS to build high-rise properties at two school sites on Upper West Side and another in Harlem.

NEW YORK CITY-Jones Lang LaSalle reports overall office asking rents in Manhattan fell 6.8% last month. Asking rents for “trophy” properties also tumbled 7.3%.

CHARLOTTE, NC-Starwood Capital and Vision Equities are reportedly close to buying the One Wells Fargo office tower here, according to multiple published reports.

WAYCROSS, GA-Rich Products plans to embark on an $11-million expansion of its manufacturing plant here.

MIAMI-Some unsettling economic news for the real estate market in Miami-Dade County is that the burgeoning health care sector in this area is beginning to show signs of weakness.

CHICAGO-A partnership of Chicago developers Michael Moyer and Keith Giles is looking to invest $50 million to redevelop the landmark Old Colony Building here.

WASHINGTON, DC-Wal-Mart, which has three stores currently under construction here, is reworking plans for two other planned store locations in the District.

NEW YORK CITY-Office supply giants OfficeMax and Office Depot are in advanced discussions to merge the two companies. The merger deal is said to be a stock-for-stock transaction, reports the Wall Street Journal. Office Depot, based in Boca Raton, FL and OfficeMax, which is headquartered in Naperville, IL, have each suffered from falling sales due to the struggling economy and increased online competition. …