DURHAM,.OR-Bruce Wood, senior director for Opus Northwest, tells GlobeSt.com he hopes to wrap up negotiations with Washington County for the 29-acre pit by mid January and this spring begin a year's worth of site work before developing 875,000-sf of retail and office space.

PHOENIX-The city's "national presence" makes the office market more susceptible to effects of the recession, notes Grubb & Ellis, which predicts a 16.4% vacancy rate by the end of the year.

OAKLAND, CA-The Oakland A's is considering new stadium sites throughout Oakland and Alameda County, after negotiations with Santa Clara County fell through. The baseball team also needs a new first baseman now that MVP Jason Giambi is a New York Yankee.

SEATTLE-Metropolitan King County Council members this week passed a measure designed to encourage and aid in the creation of affordable housing in King County. The council revised the maximum credit authority of the county's credit enhancement program.