The Seattle-based company is negotiating to buy a 33-story,402,000-sf tower at 100 Pine St. The tower is located in SanFrancisco's downtown financial district, according to reports. Theoffice tower in question is currently owned by Chicago-based WaltonStreet Capital, which in 1997 paid $69 for the building. WaltonStreet has since renovated the building.

A Unico company source would neither confirm nor deny the reportto GlobeSt.com on Tuesday, but did make reference to progressingfurther with a deal and promised more information at a later date.Other sources say the parties have a negotiated a purchase price of$150 million. Local brokers say the price, while high at upwards of$370/sf, isn't far off the mark for San Francisco rental rates.

Unico has for years managed properties in Washington State,including the 10-acre Metropolitan Tract in downtown Seattle. Butits March purchase of the 20-story U.S. Bank Plaza building inBoise, Idaho was the firm's first out-of-state foray. This latestdeal, if closed, would represent its first entry into the red-hotCalifornia market.