CHICAGO-One of the world's largest youth hostels has opened in the South Loop of Chicago, providing international travelers with inexpensive digs. Both public and private funding contributed to its construction.

CHARLOTTE-After a five-year search, Realtors Bill Rankin and Harry Porter found a one-acre parcel housing the 14,000-sf Korean Presbyterian Church building in the East Morehead district. They paid a total $975,000 which equates to $22.38 per sf for the land and $69.64 per sf for the structure.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL-Locally-based Geopak Corp. paid Reynolds Metals Development Co. $1.17 million or $272,093 per acre ($6.25 per sf) for a 4.3-acre parcel near Interstate 75 and Shotgun Road in Sunrise, FL, Broward County, 30 miles north of Downtown Miami.