Tom Markus, the Birmingham city manager, tells GlobeSt.com thatit appears very strong that the deal has been done. "They had beenworking on it for some time," Markus says. "I know they're planningon bringing in about 40 to 60 employees." Google Inc. could not bereached for comment about the move from Town Center complex inSouthfield. The 325 N. Old Woodward building is one of the newestDowntown, built by Burton-Katzman.

The company is moving into a four-story, mixed-use building,which features two stories of offices, one story of retail on thebottom level and one floor of residential condominiums on thefourth floor. "It will be good to have a strong, high-tech firmmingle in our community, it may spur some similar growth, as wellas generate foot traffic," Markus says.

It's not that the Downtown needs much help. The city's Downtown,along Maple Road and Old Woodward Avenue, is one of the mostprestigious in Michigan. The CBD has a decent 10.7% office vacancyrate with asking rates of $29.10 per sf, according to a Grubb &Ellis fourth quarter market report.