BOWIE, MD-MIE Properties breaks ground on the first phase of a $60-million business park, beginning construction that will erect three office buildings. There will eventually be 14 buildings offering about 1 million sf of space.

MIAMI- A new Grubb & Ellis Co. survey finds Miami-Dade is at 98%; Broward, 97.2%; and Palm Beach, 95.6%. Rents are rising at a slower pace than last year in Miami-Dade and Broward but are increasing faster in Palm Beach County.

HOUSTON-O'Conner & Associates latest market update says the retail sector is being choked by the nation's weakened economy and uncertain times. Houston's retail is down about 1.2 million sf in absorption, a hit softened to 344,147 sf for the last four quarters.

WASHINGTON, DC-In its first study of apartment unit value over a 10-year period, the National Multi Housing Council reports that the nation's 16.1 million apartment units are worth $1.3 trillion. And the study finds that the value of the industry's stock has increased an average of 5.5% annually since 1990.