The location is part of a two-building office complex located onRoute 128. 420 Bedford consists of 83,370 sf, while the adjacentbuilding, 430 Bedford, consists of 84,338 sf. The two buildings arenearly fully occupied--with about 22,000 sf available in both--andStevens notes that the occupancy rate is indicative of the currentstate of the area's office market.

"The market is in the process of changing for the better,"Stevens tells GlobeSt.com. She points out that according to GVAThompson Doyle Hennessey & Stevens' most recent market report,Lexington's direct vacancy rate is at nearly 11% while its totalvacancy rate is at 13.8%. "Anything between 10 and 12% is normal,"says Stevens.

According to Stevens, lease rates in the area are at about $25per sf and she anticipates that they will continue to rise. "Wewon't see 2000 rates in the immediate future," she says," but wewill see higher rates." She adds that Abacus's deal included alarge tenant improvement as part of the package.