NEW YORK CITY-"Herculean" financial challenges face Downtown, Insignia/ESG's John Powers commented at the firm's Market Forecast breakfast yesterday. Keynoter Rudy Giuliani said we can learn from the city's efforts a decade ago. Powers also proposed a specific mix of new development and memorial space for the WTC site.

NEW YORK CITY-The bribes were allegedly made to alter values on more than 500 properties over the past three decades. Seventeen assessors were named in the suit, which reportedly lost the city upward of $40 million in tax revenues--and could reach $170 million.

NEW YORK CITY-Despite some insiders' belief that "owners will come away clean," sources predict that industry heads will roll when the valuation scandal spreads beyond the confines of the Manhattan assessor's office. Valuation discrepancies of up to 50% have been reported.

NEW YORK CITY-China's entry into the WTO promises major changes in corporate activity in Asia, say Cushman & Wakefield executives. The firm's joint venture with Premas International is geared to take advantage of those changes.

The shakeup we're seeing in retail right now is simply the price of change.

NEW YORK CITY-It's not enough to rebuild Downtown, Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff said yesterday as Cushman & Wakefield made its 2002 economic forecast. It's an opportunity to build a true 24/7 environment. But market equilibrium is at least three years away.

NEW YORK CITY-It's not enough to rebuild Downtown, Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff said yesterday as Cushman & Wakefield made its 2002 economic forecast. It's an opportunity to build a true 24/7 environment. But market equilibrium is at least three years away.

NEW YORK CITY-The developer is charging that GM Building partner Conseco took improper measures to keep him from refinancing the 50-story Fifth Ave. asset and effectively killing a buyout attempt.