CAMBRIDGE, MA-As part of its entry into the northeast, San Francisco, CA-based Kimpton Boutique Hotel & Restaurant Group is opening the Hotel Marlowe, a 236-room, eight-story boutique hotel at 25 Edwin Land Blvd. in East Cambridge.

BOSTON-The Democratic National Committee does a walk-through of 226 Causeway, a mixed-use project that is currently under construction. The committee is preparing for the 2004 Democratic National Convention and needs 200,000 sf for a media center.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-A record high vacancy rate in the city is actually indicative of a thriving biotech market coupled with a struggling office market, according to a recent report compiled by Meredith & Grew.

BOSTON-In the latest in a series of moves by the state to recover some of the $14.5 billion spent on the Big Dig, state Inspector General Gregory W. Sullivan releases a report that indicates that the Big Dig's lead contractor cost the state $65 million in cost overruns.

CANTON, MA-Casual Male Retail Group, Inc. plans to close up to 55 of its Levi's and Dockers outlet stores that are located along the east coast. The move is part of a company strategy to focus on its Casual Male Big and Tall business.

NORTHBOROUGH, MA-In yet another demonstration of the relative strength of the industrial market, Sundance Publishing/Haights Cross leases 150,000 sf of warehouse and office space at One Beeman St.

BOSTON-The MCCA signs a contract with Starwood Hotels to develop a 1,120-room headquarters hotel for the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The first phase of the hotel involves 800 rooms and an estimated $170 million.

ACTON, MA-Tatara Systems, which develops access technologies, leases 8,700 sf in a sublease deal from Tenor Networks at 100 Nagog Park. The building is part of a 10-building complex which totals over 500,000 sf.