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Founder and Boston real estate icon Thomas Flatley did notreturn phone calls on the matter, while a spokeswoman for KSPartners president Kambiz Shahbazi says the company would notcomment on "rumors." Shahbazi is a New York City-based investorwith a knack for successfully repositioning commercial properties.A one-time retail specialist now focused on office/flex assets,Shahbazi has been active in New England for nearly a decade,purchasing nearly 70 properties and 4.6 million sf in that time.The roster includes 2007 acquisitions in Boston, Dedham andWilmington that alone total more than $65 million.

The spokeswoman could not say whether Shahbazi has any otherholdings near Braintree, but sources insist KS Partners will have asubstantial foothold in the community should the deal with Flatleybe finalized. The closing is slated to happen later this month orin early June, according to sources, who claim the assets includethe Mark 128 Office Park, a two-building enclave at 140 and 150Wood Rd.; the Blue Hills Commerce Center on Brooks Drive; and theForbes Business Center on Forbes Road. A price estimate on the salewas not available, but one source says rents in the buildings tendto be in the $17-per-sf to $18-per-sf range on a gross basis. Theportfolio is said to cover 11 buildings and about 420,000 sf ofspace.