HOUSTON-High-tech firms are scouting Houston properties for temporary space that's secure and dry. A Jones Lang LaSalle VP says several have come knocking at 5959 Corporate Dr. and some might end up staying permanently.

HOUSTON-Williford Property's Amarillo office has snagged a 757,105-sf leasing and managing pact for Fausset, Neely Inc. The holdings range in size from the 202,951-sf Bank of America Center to the 34,882-sf Southtree Building.

HOUSTON-Crescent Real Estate Equities says its western CBD location has prevented its Houston Center complex from sustaining any flooding during Tropical Storm Allison. Power had been lost briefly, but all had been back to normal by Monday, say officials.

HOUSTON-Staubach is expanding its Houston office, signing for 13,621 sf on the top floor of One Riverway, a class-A building in the Uptown-Galleria submarket. The structure, owned by Times Square Real Estate Investors, is 90% occupied.

HOUSTON-H-E-B, Albertsons and Kroger are coming out full force to lead the pack in Houston's retail construction. The trend for grocery-anchored sites is stronger than ever, says a new report by Dallas-based Weitzman Group.

HOUSTON-Bed, Bath & Beyond has picked a 32,000-sf retail site along Kirby Drive for its seventh Houston location. Rice Properties owns the spot that had been handpicked by a Weitzman team.

FRIENDSWOOD, TX-A Ft. Worth-based child-care provider has bought a 52,660-sf pad site at Autumn Creek in Friendswood for its first Houston-area location. A 10,000-sf center will deliver in early August.

HOUSTON-The city's northwest industrial submarket is bustling with big box activity. The latest CB Richard Ellis report pinpoints 37 projects either on line, under construction or in the pipeline. Occupancy is riding at 65.20%.