No aggregate rental or rate for any of the leases is disclosed.Area brokers tell GlobeSt.com that the asking rate forwarehouse/distribution facilities here remains steady at just under$4 per sf.

Calling the two leases "a clear indication of the demand for newindustrial space on the East side of the Lehigh Valley," BrianDonley, director of real estate development in the PlymouthMeeting, PA-based Delaware Valley office of Opus East, says hiscompany is accelerating construction of Bethlehem Crossings II, a235,000-sf structure adjacent the first building. It is expected toreach completion in April 2005. The park is planned to accommodatethree buildings of similar size. Opus East is the mid-Atlanticsubsidiary of Minnetonka, MN-based Opus Group.

Bowe Bell & Howell resulted from a December 2002 merger ofBell & Howell Co. and Bowe Systec Inc. It combines thosecompanies' mail and messaging technologies, scanners, and financialservices under one brand that provides related hardware, softwareand services for the document finishing and conversion market.Straight Arrow makes Main and Tail brand cosmetics and will use thenew space for warehousing and distribution to retailers in theNortheast.