DENVER-A renewal and expansion of a lease for 116,000 sf at First Interstate Tower North is likely the largest Downtown office deal this year, brokers say.

DENVER-Local companies must increase headcounts by 3% annually for the next five years in order for the office leasing market to return to a relatively healthy 10% vacancy rate, Staubach Co. broker Barry Dorfman says.

DENVER-The 142,000-sf building that houses Arapahoe County offices is built for $126 per sf, 7% less than the going rate in the metropolitan area.

DENVER-The two hotel operators are the city's finalists for managing the convention center hotel, while Westin and Marriott are eliminated from the short list. A decision is expected early next month.

DENVER-The overall vacancy rate is nearly twice as high as it was a year ago. The worst submarket is Douglas County, which posts a 16.6% vacancy rate.

DENVER-At $171,200, the median price for a condominium or townhouse is still nearly $100,000 less than a single-family home. However, they continue to be popular among first-time home buyers.

DENVER-Frederick Ross Co. says the office vacancy rate cracked the 20% mark in the first quarter, with 1.1 million sf of negative absorption. "Fortunately, supply remains in check with only a handful of small projects on the horizon," says Ross.

DENVER-Fuller and Co. pegs the vacancy rate at 7.7%, but it rises nearly one full percentage point when 1.8 million sf of sublease space is added to the equation.