The undertaking in the DFW Freeport area of Irving is beingsparked by a growing demand in the region's commercial real estatesector, according to Cushman & Wakefield brokers whorepresented the seller, Nelson Spencer. The property is situated atthe southwest corner of Statesman and Sterling Drive.

Atkins says his firm plans to market the flex project toprospective tenants with medium to high finish-out requirements,including the flexibility of adjoining storage space and high-ratioparking. The development will be available to users needing 10,000sf to 60,000 sf. The two-year-old Atkins Property Co. specializesin the Dallas-Fort Worth industrial flex office market.

According to Cushman & Wakefield's mid-year 2000 statistics,the Dallas industrial real estate market continues to defypredictions of overbuilding, as development has kept up withdemand. Completion of over 4.7 million sf of new construction andmore than 10.9 million sf of leased space through mid-year 2000have contributed to a record level of absorption. Net absorption,the net change in occupied space, has exceeded 7.9 million sf,making it 55.3% higher than midyear 1999.