Globest Sectors

LONDON-Office rents in Europe were falling even before the events of 11 September dealt a further blow to business confidence, according to new research from CB Hillier Parker.

SANTA ANA, CA-Marlin-Davidson sells a 39,089-sf Santa Ana building to an appliance company. Both buyer and seller will continue to occupy the facility.

DALLAS-Sublease space is about double the norm, say researchers in their latest reports of the Dallas-Ft. Worth market. Still, there's a take-it-on-the-chin optimism that bargaining table strategies, for the most part, are keeping a lid on the pressure cooker.

NEW YORK CITY-The owner of prime SoHo real estate has fired one broker and hired another in hopes of securing a build-to-suit deal. The new marketing team is guardedly optimistic about closing a deal despite the current economy. The former broker, however, says the owner's greed has scuttled every offer to develop the property.

PHOENIX-The Phoenix region's retail market is holding its own in tough times. Vacancy is up just a shade, says CB Richard Ellis in a Q3 analysis. Two regional malls opened with occupancies above 90%. Even 60 shuttered store were quickly snatched up.

PORTLAND, OR-Cascade Biologics will move its corporate headquarters to Custer Street Building when renovations are completed later this year.

CHICAGO-Investors must "accept the fact we have to move from Easy Street to the Eisenhower Expressway at 5:30," Gary Kachadurian of RREEF Funds tells the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties conference.

BIRMINGHAM-United Bank of Kuwait has agreed to forward-fund an office 24,000-sf building on Development Securities' Birmingham International Park just as a serviced office provider agrees to lease it.