One source maintains that selection of a winner is "very close," and claims the six-acre parcel attracted substantial attention from developers, investors and even potential users. The property at 125 Pennsylvania Ave. is in an industrial strip, but several prominent office buildings are located nearby, including the headquarters of Bose Corp. and multiple properties occupied by Genzyme Corp. The opportunity was initially detailed in a December 11 GlobeSt.com article that unveiled the asset's pursuit by well-known Boston developer Dean Stratouly.

Calls to Stratouly were not returned by press deadline, and Biette would not acknowledge whether the Congress Group Ventures founder is a finalist for the property, as several sources are insisting. "It would not be prudent for me to comment in any way, shape or form," says Biette, who also would not discuss other elements of the negotiations except to say that his client "is making sure the process runs its course."

Biette, who is handling the sale with G&E SVP Hank Amabile, was less secretive about his thoughts for the opening quarter, one which he accedes pales in comparison to the frenetic start in 2007 and is below the five-year average for regional sales volume. Having surged from $69.5 million to $277 million in deals brokered from 2006 to 2007, G&E managing director Stephen Brodsky describes the most recent effort as "a breakout year" for the firm's Investment Services Group. Nonetheless, Biette is already predicting that the Boston office will eclipse its record-breaking performance of 2007, insisting that the level of capital available will ultimately move owners off the sidelines.