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HOUSTON-Following an exhaustive survey of markets nationwide,Duke Realty Corp. has decided to expand its Texas network, settingup a local office to support development activity in GreaterHouston. The firm has leased 2,000 sf in the Galleriasubmarket.

Until now, deals done throughout the state had been handled bythe Indianapolis-based REIT's Dallas office. Duke hired Property& Portfolio Research Inc., an independent real estate researchstrategy firm from Boston, to survey national markets for potentialexpansion. "Unlike other parts of the US, Houston has a strongmanufacturing base, a growing port business and strong job growth,"says David Hudson, Duke's new vice president of development andleasing in Houston office. "Because of that, Houston ended up nearthe top of the list for expansion."