CHICAGO- E-port's $1.2 billion, mixed-use vision for the old Montgomery Wards properties is to revitalize the formerly moribund area surrounding one of the city's toughest public housing projects. An urban residential development boom is making the $62 million E-port paid for the Wards properties look very cheap.

CHICAGO-The office and industrial REIT has filed suit alleging Leonard Levine violated his fiduciary obligations to the trust while heading a group that was attempting to buyout Banyan's assets.

CHICAGO-The area's largest industrial developer reports 3Q FFO jumped 13%, slightly beating expectations. Analysts expect CenterPoint will continue to report FFO growth double that of the average industrial REIT. Size does not matter, the CEO says.

INDIANAPOLIS-The big office and industrial REIT announces a slew of new developments, including a 525,000-sf e-commerce fulfillment facility for Kohl's Department Stores in Cincinnati.

CARPENTERSVILLE, IL-Village Board approves the 320,000-sf Prairie Meadows Shopping Center.

WAUKEGAN, IL-The City Council approves TIF financing ordinances targeted at revitalizing the dying Lakehurst shopping mall area. The TIFs are a shot in the arm for plans by developer Martin Tuohy to create his $800-million University Station, a higher-education-oriented mixed-use project.

AURORA, IL-Hamilton Partners will develop a 74,226-sf build-to-suit headquarters at Meridian Lake Business Campus, which the motor club will then lease.

CHICAGO-A leadership team has been named for Telecom iCampus Development Partners, OptimalPATH's new high-tech development arm. TDP will soon ink a partnership with a big European network of data centers in a deal that will link Europe with TDP's planned 26 US tech centers.