TROY, MI-The automotive advisory group makes its debut, but the New York-based firm opened its first office in southeast Michigan in January 2001, when it took space in Ann Arbor.

DES PLAINES, IL-Dominick's is talking about building a 42,000-sf grocery store in this suburb's Downtown, but aldermen won't allow a service station there. A concept plan includes another 60,000 sf of retail space and 50 townhouses.

CHICAGO-The 49-story luxury condominium project at 345 N. LaSalle St. provides North Side real estate and construction lender Corus Bank with plenty of processing challenges. Converter American Invsco's next project is a Downtown multifamily rental project.

ROSEMONT, IL-Anthony Rossi Sr., president of Chicago-based RMK Management Corp., has been named president of the Chicagoland Apartment Association, whose members own or manage 103,000 multifamily rental units, for 2002.

BOLINGBROOK, IL-Itasca, IL-based Hamilton Partners Inc. pays Aurora, CO-based developer ProLogis $5 million for 44 acres in the Corporate Crossing Business Park. The submarket remains active despite its 17% industrial vacancy rate.

CHICAGO-The Downtown multifamily and office sectors are not as hard-hit as they may appear to be, says developer Steve Fifield. Daunting vacancy numbers can be attributed to a few factors, he tells the Chicago Real Estate Council.

AURORA, IL-Prime Group Realty Trust is talking with Friedman Billings Ramsey on a third extension of an $8-million mezzanine debt, paid down from $12 million, on its 185-acre industrial project here.

NORTHBROOK, IL-At a reported $65 million, the sale of 3773 Willow Rd. to Allstate Corp. becomes the biggest suburban office sale of 2002. The $180 per sf is close to the $90-million Windy Point sale in Schaumburg that closed New Year's Eve.