DALLAS-John Aldrich, Colliers' president, isn't retiring or jumping ship. He merely is ending a two-year interim appointment, with pleasure. His phone's been ringing ever since word got out that Kennedy-Wilson's Allen Gump returns to Colliers tomorrow.

HOUSTON-Parker Rodriguez has the office building and one acre of land along Skyline Drive. Now, he's formulating a new landscaping plan in line with his profession. The acquisition comes with a tenant.

AUSTIN-There's no other word for it but "grim." In three years, flex occupancy has fallen 20%. The first quarter logged a negative absorption of 903,374 sf for flex, more than all of 2001. Overall, vacancy is 14.9%.

CHICAGO-An area five miles south of the Loop could begin to see new retail development replacing boarded-up storefronts along S. Halsted St. through tax increment financing, city officials hope.