NAI NBS Earns CoStar Power Broker Awards

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson made a strong showing in the 2010 CoStar Power Broker Awards. For the sixth consecutive year, NAI NBS was named a top leasing and sales firm in the Portland metropolitan market.

A number of NAI NBS brokers earned individual awards:
Top Office Leasing Brokers: Chris Johnson and MaryKay West
Top Retail Leasing Brokers: J.J. Unger and Pam Lindloff

Visit the Power Broker website for the entire list.

First Quarter Reports Show Some Improvement for Portland CRE

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson has released its First Quarter 2011 quarterly reports for office, industrial, retail and multifamily commercial real estate, as well as its economic report.

Central City office vacancy rose slightly to 12.41 percent during First Quarter. The biggest office news downtown was the $129 million sale of Shorenstein’s First & Main to American Assets Trust. Suburban office vacancy also rose slightly, to 24.13 percent.

Industrial vacancy rose nearly a percentage point to 15.94 percent, with 529,020 sf newly available. Vacancy especially increased in North/Northeast, up to 18.94 percent, as a number of tenants vacated large spaces. But positive signs included Subaru’s build-to-suit lease at Rivergate Corporate Center III.

Retail vacancy remained fairly stable at 6.3 percent. Vancouver is seeing considerable retail activity, including a new Cinetopia under construction at Westfield Vancouver Mall and the recently-announced New Seasons in Fisher’s Landing, opening this October.

The multifamily market has seen recovery more quickly than other property types. Apartment vacancy was 2.74 percent during First Quarter, down from a peak of 5.43 percent during Fourth Quarter 2009. The multifamily investment market remains a bit sluggish, though the institutional market is more robust. The construction pipeline has also started to heat up.

Portland Investment Market Seeing Signs of Life

MaryKay West, who specializes in investment sales in NAI NBS' Capital Asset Group (CAG), has a column in today's Daily Journal of Commerce. West says that though the investment market certainly hasn't completely recovered yet, 2010 was a big improvement over 2009, and momentum is building in the Portland metro area.

Here's a brief excerpt:

In 2010 we saw a total of $754.1 million in transactions ($500,000 and larger) in the tri-county area. This number, although only 24 percent of the total volume of 2007, is still encouraging because it represents a 19 percent increase over 2009. Last year also saw a rise in the number of transactions greater than $10 million, and all product types were represented in this category - another promising sign.

Rent trends seem to have reversed course - rates are leveling off and perhaps even rising. Vacancy rates are dropping slightly and absorption is rising slowly - however, this is as much a function of no new construction as it is of few new companies leasing up more space. Cap rates are dropping again, but not precipitously, and most of the movement is for trophy properties. Interest rates are still very attractive.

All in all, it appears the market correction has started, but it will take a while to turn the ship - which is actually a good thing. Significant volatility tends to breed uncertainty and uncertainty tamps down real estate investment activity.

The whole article can be accessed here.

NAI Global Releases Global Market Reports

NAI Global has published its 25th annual Global Market Report, containing information on commercial property in more than 200 markets around the world, including Portland.

2010 was a tough year for the commercial real estate market, but recovery is starting to occur, and there's some room for optimism.

“Although 2010 was another very challenging year for the industry, we began to see clear signs that the global economy and commercial real estate markets had stabilized and were beginning to improve with a noticeable pickup in transaction volume around the world,” said Jeffrey M. Finn, President & CEO of NAI Global. “Companies around the globe are taking advantage of the current market, extending or renegotiating leases, securing investment properties, disposing of underperforming assets and finalizing plans for growth in the next 24 months. We expect a much more active market for buyers, sellers and occupiers as conditions continue to improve.”

The full report can be found here, and the snapshot of Portland is on page 124. It discusses Portland's office, industrial, retail and multifamily markets.

Third Quarter Market Reports for PDX CRE: Signs of Improvement in Multifamily, Central City Office Markets

This week we released our Third Quarter 2010 quarterly reports for the Portland metro area. There's no doubt that we're still seeing the impact of the recession, but there was certainly some good news, too.

Office vacancy in Central City decreased to 12.13% with 282,442 sf absorbed, thanks to large leases at First & Main and the Meier & Frank Depot Building. Suburban vacancy remained stable at 24.06% with about 4,000 sf absorbed, the first positive absorption in the suburban office market since Third Quarter 2008.

Industrial vacancy was stable at 15.22%, with about 10,000 sf absorbed. A few large transactions occurred, including PFX Pet Supply leasing 70,000 sf at Columbia Corporate Park I in North/Northeast.

Retail vacancy decreased to 6.5%, and a few projects broke ground, including the 215,000 sf Progress Ridge Town Square between Tigard and Beaverton. Retail sales were up in August and September with the help of a strong back to school shopping season.

Multifamily was a bright spot during Third Quarter. Vacancy fell to 3.65%, the lowest it has been since Second Quarter 2008. The multifamily investment market also showed increased activity, especially for properties developed as condominiums and converted to apartments.

A PDF of all the reports can be found here.

NAI NBS Welcomes Ionescu to Office Brokerage Team

Alexandra Ionescu has joined NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson as a Real Estate Broker specializing in office properties. She will initially focus on the Sunset Corridor area, specializing in tenant and landlord advisory and working with local and regional clients.

Prior to joining NAI NBS, Ionescu was an Assistant Relationship Manager in the Commercial Real Estate Division of U.S. Bank in Portland. There, she performed financial and operational analysis of cash flow and leverage, and assessed client relationship risk.

Ionescu holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, with a dual specialization in commercial real estate finance and financial management, from Portland State University. She is a licensed real estate broker in Oregon.

Good News on Portland's Retail Development Front

It's been a slow couple of years for new development in Portland, so the fact that two new retail projects recently broke ground is great news.

In late July, Gramor Development broke ground on Progress Ridge, a $60 million, 325,000 sf retail development in Beaverton-Tigard. Big Al's Family Bowling and Entertainment Center at Progress Ridge just opened in August, and construction on the rest of the center should be finished by fall 2011. Tenants include New Seasons Market, Cinetopia, Rivermark Credit Union, and more.

And last week, Gramor broke ground on Lacamas Crossing in Vancouver, which includes a 154,000 sf Costco and 27,000 sf of additional retail space for 15 businesses. About half of the non-Costco space is preleased, and the center should employ about 500 people. Costco should open in November, and the rest of the space in First Quarter 2011.

This is good news for the market, and hopefully our Third Quarter reports, which will be released the first or second week of October, will hold some more positive indicators.

Local Investor Pays $1.8M for Burnside Commons

Owner Injecting New Life into Property, Space Attracting Tenant Interest During Lease-Up

FMK Properties – Burnside, LLC has purchased Gresham’s Burnside Commons, a 38,053 square foot, three-building retail property, for $1.8 million, and the property is already attracting new tenant interest.

Burnside Commons was built in 2001 and 2006, and offers spaces for lease of 1,200 square feet and larger, for a broad range of retail, office and service uses. The property is well-located in the heart of Gresham, at the intersection of Burnside and Eastman Parkway, with many large employers nearby, including Boeing, Boyds Coffee and ON Semiconductor.

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Associate Vice President Jack Gallagher is handling leasing for the center, and is already working with three tenants interested in space at Burnside Commons. The buyer owns a number of investment properties around the area, has flexibility in establishing competitive lease terms, and is a hands-on owner who works closely with tenants.

Burnside Commons felt the impact of the recession, losing three tenants in the past four months, which led to 91 percent vacancy and foreclosure. But the new owners recognized Burnside Commons’ potential. The property has many positive features and will be a solid investment, according to NAI NBS Senior Vice President Jack McConnell, who represented the buyer.

Multifamily Vacancy Down in Portland in Second Quarter

Overview

Multifamily vacancy decreased to 4.11% during Second Quarter. Downtown Portland units continued to be leased up at a healthy rate, as vacancy for both new and seasoned units fell around 2 percentage points. Last quarter, this report began tracking a number of recent central city deliveries, and two new properties, the Matisse in South Waterfront (272 units) and the Broadstone Enso in the Pearl (152 units), will be added to the report when they are stabilized in 2011. Rental rates increased by $10 overall, or a cent per square foot, and as expected, downtown units led these increases.

Market Trends

It’s a good sign that vacancy is down and rents are increasing, and landlords are offering fewer concessions (except for new downtown properties), which indicates a healthier market. If new units continue to be absorbed at the current rate and the economy shows signs of solid recovery, we should see stabilization in 2011. But owners and managers remain guarded in their optimism, questioning whether recovery will occur without significant job creation, which we haven’t yet seen.

Despite the uptick in occupancy and some other positive indicators, the multifamily investment market remains sluggish. According to CoStar’s sales comparables, just two transactions over $3 million occurred during Second Quarter, one being the $38.75 million sale of the 188-unit Tupelo Alley in North Portland, which was a solid institutional sale. Investors remain uncertain about the region’s economic outlook, and worry that the Portland Metro Area doesn’t have one particular economic driver or growth engine, which may lead to a flat recovery. Companies are hunkered down, waiting to see significant improvement before investing, and the volatility on Wall Street in May didn’t help. Potential owners are also deterred by the increased costs of utilities and fees associated with owning and developing.

The deals being done in Portland and around the Pacific Northwest are at lower cap rates; this doesn’t necessarily indicate recovery, but of finding the ideal buyer on the transaction. Few aggressive buyers are currently active, though, and there’s little leverage to do deals. Financing remains challenging, with a limited number of lenders. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the two most active lenders, and a number of other sources, like Chase and some life insurance companies, are becoming more active in pursuing deals.

The full report can be found here.

Retail Vacancy Flat in Second Quarter, Some Large Leases Signed

Overview

Retail vacancy was unchanged at 8.0% during the Second Quarter, with negative 20,547 sf of absorption. Vacancy in Central City decreased nearly a percentage point to 10.9%. Vacancy in Southeast/East Clackamas increased more than a percentage point to 6.5%, with more than 20,000 sf of negative absorption each at Clackamas Town Center and Hilltop Mall. However, there was considerable leasing activity in big-box stores that are not tracked in our report. For instance, Salvation Army leased about 40,000 sf at the former Linens ‘n Things on SE 82nd, and Dick’s leased the nearly 50,000 sf former Joe’s Sports, Outdoors & More at Johnson Creek Crossing in Clackamas.

Vancouver vacancy rose by half a percentage point to 11.0%, with 46,688 sf of negative absorption. At Columbia Square – Vancouver, 20,000 sf became available. This is a portion of the former Joe’s Sports, Outdoor & More space, which is partially occupied by Chuck’s Produce (expected to open in August).

Noteworthy News

Closely watched indicators of the health of the retail market were mixed during the Second Quarter. Retail sales grew by a seasonally adjusted rate of 0.6% in April, but fell by 1.2% in May. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index also dropped by almost 10 points to 52.9 in June. Economists didn’t expect such a significant decrease, as the index had been rising since February.

Portland continues to attract large tenants of all kinds. In recent months, Ultimate Electronics, which was acquired by Hollywood Video founder and former CEO Mark Wattles, leased the 40,000 sf former Levitz Furniture building in Beaverton. Two new clothing stores are also in the works: H&M confirmed its Pioneer Place store will open this fall, and Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth will open at Bridgeport Village September 2. Nordstrom Rack also leased 48,344 sf at Cascade Plaza Shopping Center.

Signs of life were present in the Portland retail investment market during the Second Quarter. Retail Opportunity Investments, Corp., purchased Vancouver Market Center in Vancouver for $11.19 million, and is under contract to purchase a portfolio of four other centers in the Portland Metro Area from Gramor Development for about $90 million.

Though retail development has slowed, with our report tracking just under 30,000 sf of space under construction in the metro area, some activity and future planning is occurring. Big Al’s, the popular bowling center in Clark County, has a second 66,000 sf location under construction at Progress Ridge in Beaverton. It is expected to open in August, and developers hope the site will also be the future home of New Seasons and Cinetopia.

The full report can be found here.

Portland Office Vacancy Rose During Second Quarter

Central City office vacancy increased to 12.73% during the Second Quarter, with negative 242,145 sf absorbed. About 40,000 sf of this negative absorption was from multiple tenants leaving the historic Stevens Building. The Church of Scientology of Portland purchased it in 2008 and planned to inhabit the whole building, but it was found to be unsuitable for the organization and is for sale. This quarter the Church of Scientology bought downtown’s historic Sherlock Building for $6.4 million to serve as its new home. In a highly-anticipated decision, the Portland Development Commission opted to remain at its current location in Old Town (but in 10,000 fewer sf), rather than move to the stalled Park Avenue West, its other primary option. It is uncertain when construction will restart at Park Avenue West, as the project lacks financing. Active tenants downtown include alternative energy groups, who seek environmentally friendly buildings. Many tenants are also seeking moderatelypriced Class A buildings with quality buildouts.

Suburban office vacancy rose about two percentage points to 23.92%, with negative absorption of 179,725 sf. This is the 7th consecutive quarter of negative absorption for the suburbs. Kruse Way saw the most significant increase in vacancy, from just under 23% last quarter to 29.36% during Second Quarter. Kruse Woods V had nearly 100,000 sf of negative absorption, as Northwest Evaluation Association vacated about 108,000 sf to move to the former Port of Portland building in Central City. However, Black & Veatch filled some of the space at Kruse Woods V, leasing about 25,000 sf. Vacancy in I-5 South rose significantly to 28.10%, but some large leases occurred, including State Farm’s lease of nearly 24,000 sf at Fanno Creek Building B. Brokers are seeing a flight to quality in the suburban submarkets, with healthy activity in nicer buildings.

Vancouver vacancy rose slightly to 18.55%, with negative 11,634 sf absorbed. The most significant deal was the $18.5 million sale of The Columbian Building to the City of Vancouver for its new city hall. The 118,000 sf building, previously listed at $41.5 million, was turned over to Bank of America early this year after the Columbian Publishing Co. filed for bankruptcy.

The full report is available here.

Unger Earns Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS) Designation

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson Real Estate Broker J.J. Unger has earned the Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS) designation through the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). He is the first NAI NBS broker to achieve the designation, which is a symbol of leadership and accomplishment and recognizes in-depth insight into every aspect of the shopping center industry.

Founded in 1994, the CLS program was designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate those who demonstrate knowledge essential to the practices of shopping center leasing. CLS designees must have at least four years of experience in shopping center leasing and pass a written exam; they must also maintain the designation through continuing education.

Unger joined NAI NBS in 2006 and has brokered a number of significant retail transactions in the Portland metro area, including John’s Incredible Pizza’s recent 46,212 sf lease at Washington Green Shopping Center.

Unger holds a BS in business administration from Colorado State University and is chair of the Portland chapter of ICSC’s Next Generation group for young professionals. He has completed Leasing I and Leasing II Institutes through ICSC’s John T. Riordan School for Professional Development to master the fundamentals of merchandising, economics and leasing strategies to effectively impact the income and retail productivity of a center and create value for the property.

Three Large Transactions in Portland Metro Area Announced This Week

Some good news on the Portland metro area investment front this week, just as sunny summer weather finally hit.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp, a New York real estate investor, is buying five Portland metro area shopping centers for about $90 million. It closed on Vancouver Market Center for $11.19 million, and is under contract for Cascade Summit Shopping Center, Heritage Market Center, Happy Valley Town Center, and Oregon City Point.

Phillips Edison & Co. also purchased Johnson Creek Shopping Center, a 106,709 sf center in Clackamas, for an undisclosed price.

And Behringer Harvard Holdings purchased the 188-unit Tupelo Alley Apartments on N. Mississippi in Portland for $38.75 million in the largest multifamily transaction so far this year.

Investors Pays $1.7M for Box & One in SE Portland

An investor has purchased the Box & One, two mixed-use buildings at SE 28th and Ankeny, for $1.7 million. NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson's Robert Black represented the seller.

The transaction had a 7.2 percent cap rate and was a market-rate deal, Black said.

The 7,318 sf project has ground-floor retail and five loft-style apartments above. It is home to Crema Bakery & Cafe, on the corner of SE 28th and Ankeny, whose space features roll-up garage doors. The other ground-floor retail tenant is Coalition Brewing, which is expected to open this year.

The retail and residential spaces have been fully occupied since the buildings were constructed in 2002, and the apartments garner market-leading rental rates, Black said. Just a block off of Burnside in a neighborhood with lots of pedestrians, the project’s location promotes bicycle and bus use, and the buildings are energy efficient and sustainable.

The buyer was familiar with the Box & One because he had often visited Crema on trips to Portland, Black said, and the building’s strong occupancy, unique design and excellent location were appealing.

“Mixed-use, neighborhood-scale projects are popular investments today, especially in Portland,” Black said. “The Box & One has such strong fundamentals that it was a great opportunity for the buyer.”

Is Commercial Real Estate the Next Storm?

Has the commercial real estate market reached bottom? Or do we have yet to see the worst? This is the question Denis O'Neill, an NAI NBS broker who specializes in the sale of retail properties and land, addresses in a column in today's Daily Journal of Commerce.

Here's an excerpt:

Just when it appears we finally have some good economic news, many investors wonder if another financial storm is brewing. The residential market, if not at the bottom, appears close to it. Though the number of residential foreclosures and loans 90 days past due are still rising in 2010, and unemployment is holding steady, few experts see significant additional drops in residential values on the horizon.

So is commercial real estate the next shoe to drop?

Of the $3.4 trillion in commercial debt outstanding, a congressional oversight panel in February estimated that $1.4 trillion will reach maturity between now and 2014; up to 50 percent is held by local banks. Residential defaults led the way, particularly development loans. With plummeting values and no income stream, these loans were the first to be turned back to lenders. Banks’ problem loans are near-term and dwarf the $380 billion of commercial mortgage-backed securities debt that matures from 2015 to 2017. Furthermore, the vast majority of bank exposure to these securities is held by large banks. The big banks have demonstrated the ability to both raise equity and generate profits.

Click here for the full article.

Overall Portland Multifamily Vacancy Down in First Quarter; NAI NBS Adds New Properties to Report

Multifamily vacancy decreased more than half a percentage point to 4.82%. Downtown, however, saw a significant increase in vacancy. This increase resulted in the addition of new product; we added ten properties totaling more than 2,100 units to the report this quarter.

Our report tracks buildings of 100 units and above in the metro area; we consider smaller buildings in some submarkets if they lack many 100+ unit properties. This quarter we added the majority of downtown units that have come to market in the past 24 months, excluding three properties that are under construction or have very recently delivered: the Broadstone Enso, the Matisse, and Indigo 12 West.

With the additions to the report, downtown vacancy rose 5 percentage points to 10.15% and vacancy in new units came in at over 15%. The new units have impacted existing and historic downtown apartments by pushing down effective rents on existing units and creating a more competitive environment. Concessions like free rent and parking are thus being offered on new and seasoned units, and marketing has become considerably more aggressive. If the economy continues to recover, the downtown market could begin to stabilize by the end of 2010.

Market Trends
Apartment managers and investors report seeing a significant uptick in tenant traffic in the latter part of the quarter. This is a good sign but doesn’t necessarily indicate a recovery, which is contingent on two to three quarters of increased tenant traffic, a reduction in vacancy and increasing rental rates. The suburban markets have seen good absorption of new product, since there has definitely not been an oversupply, and submarkets like the Sunset Corridor, East County and the close-in eastside are truly tightening up.

The multifamily market is heavily dependent on the state of the local and national economy, and especially on the fragile job market. Considerable improvement in the job market should be reflected in quarter-over-quarter improvement in occupancy and rental rates. The bright spots locally are that companies like FedEx, Boeing, and Genentech continue to invest in the area. And despite challenges, Portland continues to grow. U-Haul pegged Portland’s growth rate at 10.16% (No. 3 in the country) for 2009, meaning the number of families renting U-Hauls to move to Portland was 10.16% higher than the number of families renting trucks to leave.

Portland Retail Market Vacancy Increases During First Quarter, But Some Positive Signs

The Portland area’s overall retail vacancy rose about half a percentage point to 8.0%, with negative 293,920 sf of absorption. Central City saw the greatest increase of 1.5% for a total vacancy of 11.7%, the highest of any submarket. Nearly 15,000 sf is currently available at One Main Place, and Pioneer Place has about 50,000 sf available. Vacancy also rose nearly a percentage point in the Southeast/East Clackamas and Eastside submarkets. Vancouver vacancy stayed steady at 10.5%, though 59,573 sf was absorbed at Columbia Square. The 93,000 sf Bowyer Marketplace WinCo store, at the corner of NE 119th Street and 117th Avenue, delivered this quarter.

Construction remains slow, with 24,499 sf under construction throughout the Metro area. 17,000 sf of this is a freestanding building at 13233 SE McLoughlin in the Southeast/East Clackamas submarket.

Noteworthy News
The national retail market is showing signs of a slow recovery. Consumer spending rose for the fifth straight month in February, by 0.3%, according to the Commerce Department. And the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) expects retailers to close fewer stores in 2010 than in 2009. But many retailers continue to face challenges, and Saks Fifth Avenue announced that it would close its two downtown Portland stores. It is rumored that Swedish retailer H&M will take over the 23,000 sf men’s store, and Saks will vacate the 60,000 sf main store by the end of July. Area officials are working to find a quality tenant for this space. In one bit of good news, Saks may open an Off Fifth store, which offers discounted designer clothing and accessories, at Bridgeport Village.

Though restaurants have been challenged during the recession, Portland’s restaurant scene has remained solid. Affordable, casual restaurants have generally fared better during the recession than their higher-priced counterparts, so many are focusing on this market. For instance, Foster Burger opened late last year in Southeast, and Little Big Burger is expected to open in Northwest this spring. Some of Portland’s popular food carts are even opening storefronts – Korean taco truck Koi Fusion, has opened a restaurant on NW Lovejoy. Some higher-end restaurants are also in the works – Lucier is expected to reopen in South Waterfront, and a group from San Francisco plans on opening a restaurant in the former Bay 13 space in the Pearl.

Specialty grocery stores have continued to do relatively well. The Whole Foods Market on NE 43rd and NE Sandy in Hollywood opened in January, and work has begun on the New Seasons Market on SE 40th and Hawthorne, which has long been delayed but is expected to open this fall.

Featured Deal: John’s Incredible Pizza Lease
John’s Incredible Pizza, a family entertainment restaurant with ten locations in California, is opening its 11th location in Portland. John’s leased 46,212 sf at the former Circuit City at Washington Green Shopping Center, 9180 SW Hall Boulevard, Tigard. John’s features a pizza, salad, soup, pasta and dessert buffet, as well as themed dining rooms and carnival-style rides and video and ticket-dispensing games. It’s expected to open in First Quarter 2011. NAI NBS Real Estate Broker J.J. Unger and NAI Capital Senior Vice President Irwin Hyman of Encino, California, represented the tenant.

Three NAI NBS Brokers Earn CCIM Designation

NAI NBS' Neville Bassett (Portland), Doug Bartocci (Vancouver), and Garret Harper (Vancouver) have obtained the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation.

A CCIM is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor, and user, and is among an elite group of more than 9,000 professionals across North America and in 30 countries abroad. Only 6 percent of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide hold the CCIM designation, an indication of one of the most coveted and respected designations in the industry.

To attain the CCIM designation, each broker completed four core courses, an ethics course and three elective credits, prepared a portfolio and passed a comprehensive exam.

PDX Industrial Market Looking Up in First Quarter

Industrial vacancy decreased slightly to 14.56%, with 118,458 sf absorbed. Vacancy in North/Northeast remained stable at 17.58%. Some large leases were signed in this submarket, including Owens Corning leasing 123,120 sf at Bybee Lake Logistics Center – Phase II. Ferrotec USA and Archive Systems also signed leases at Birtcher Center @ Townsend Way totaling 81,850 sf. Vacancy in Vancouver decreased about 1.5 percentage points, as 82,800 sf was leased up at Hart Industrial Center, bringing that property to 100% occupancy, and 40,267 sf was leased at Westside Business Center.

Flex vacancy rose nearly two percentage points to 18.01%, with 166,559 sf of newly available space coming back on the market. Much of this space can be accounted for by Intel, which vacated more than 100,000 sf at the Amberglen Business Center in moving back to its headquarters, pushing Southwest Sunset’s vacancy up more than two percentage points to 19.71%. Some positive absorption did occur, though. BiAmp Systems leased 50,963 sf at Nimbus Corporate Center in the Southwest 217 submarket, whose vacancy stayed fairly flat at 17.76%.

Market Trends
The industrial market showed continued signs of a slow but steady recovery during First Quarter. Vacancy in the Portland metro area, though still high, appears to have stopped rising, and construction and new deliveries have been so limited of late that the market isn’t burdened by oversupply. National economic indicators were looking up. Factory orders rose 1.7% in January, the largest increase in four months, with heightened demand for commercial aircraft, and industrial production rose 0.1% in February.

Manufacturers continue to invest in the Portland metro area. LaCrosse Footwear is moving production of Danner boots to a new 59,000 sf factory about a mile from its Northeast Portland headquarters, a facility twice the size of its current plant, which it is replacing. Production is expected to begin there in Third Quarter 2010. Boeing is also investing up to $120 million in upgrading its operation in Gresham, which will add 152 jobs in the next three years. It will build a new 60,000 sf facility on its 87-acre campus where it will treat metals used in making commercial aircraft.

NAI NBS Earns CoStar Power Broker Awards for Performance in 2009

NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson made a strong showing in the 2009 CoStar Power Broker Awards.

For the fifth consecutive year, NAI NBS was named a top leasing and sales firm in the Portland metropolitan market.

CoStar said in an article about the awards:

"Given the extreme economic conditions in 2009, last year was one that many in the commercial real estate would just as soon like to forget. Every commercial real estate broker who managed to secure a lease or arrange a building sale during the year probably deserves an award.

The ones who excelled under those conditions and achieved the highest transaction volume in commercial property sales and leases last year in their respective markets are especially deserving of industry-wide recognition. Which is why CoStar is especially pleased to present the 2009 CoStar Power Broker Awards, singling out those who persevered and earned the right to be called one of the 'best of the best' in commercial real estate brokerage."

A number of NAI NBS brokers earned individual awards:

• Top Office Leasing Brokers: Jennifer Medak and John Medak
• Top Retail Leasing Brokers: Gina Barendrick and J.J. Unger
• Top Industrial Leasing Brokers: Michael Merino and Scott MacLean
• Top Sales Brokers: Chris Johnson, MaryKay West and Robert Black

Visit the Power Broker website for the entire list.