AUSTIN-The city's boomtown economy lures another out-of-state consulting firm to set up its first office outside its home base in Alexandria, VA. Robbins-Gioia caters its services to government agencies and Fortune 500 clients.

HOUSTON-A $175-million basketball arena has rebounded from an Election 1999 defeat. In this year's final count, 65% of the area's voters supported the city's third sports arena in recent years.

YONKERS- Classic Residence by Hyatt Downtown has appointed Theresa Minervini of New Rochelle sales counselor at its senior living community.

CHICAGO-CenterPoint and CALSTERS have bought three of the troubled REIT's industrial properties for $36.8 million. The trust, which engaged Prudential and Lehman this summer to advise on a sale, has large amounts of debt coming due in the next two years.