FRAMINGHAM, MA- Fleet Bank has leased 8,455 sf of first-class retail space in Metrowest Place. The newly constructed three-story, 45,000 sf building is adjacent to a major Greater Boston suburban retail corridor.

BOSTON-Smith & Wollensky, the New York-based restaurant chain, is opening a local steakhouse. The company leased the Armory "castle" near the Boston Common at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Arlington Street.

PALO ALTO, CA-The apartment REIT sells one million shares of its 7.8125% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock at $24.664 apiece with plans to use the proceeds for the upcoming redemption of the 9.125% Series C Preferred Units of Essex Portfolio L.P., of which Essex is the general partner.

SHERMAN, TX-CertainTeed will buy a 545,700-sf windshield factory, closed 18 months ago, and build a 40-acre, state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution site for the Central US. The city will buy and bank the 147-acre balance as part of a 10-year plan.