(Crystal Proenza is associate editor of Real Estate Florida.)

WESTON, FL-Duke Realty Corp. has inked more than 270,000-SF of high-credit tenants at its West Broward offices. Ed Mitchell, senior vice president of the Indianapolis, IN-based company, says the healthy activity in the Broward region is a result of the area's labor pool, housing and highway access as an alternative to the Miami market.

"Miami is doing very well despite the downturn because Latin America is doing well," says Mitchell, pointing to the county's numerous multinational tenants. "A lot of what you see in Western Broward is an offshoot of Miami."

One example of that type of growth is Marriott International's lease of 11,000 sf at Weston Pointe I at 2400 N. Commerce Parkway in Weston. The hotel giant will employ about 60 employees at the space, which will serve as its Latin American and Caribbean headquarters. CB Richard Ellis' Jim Warstler and Peter Livaditis represented Marriott in the long-term lease transaction.