Among some of the key prevailing trends in the market include strong activity by food tenants that are expanding or debuting new dining concepts in the area.

Morgan Properties acquired the portfolio from Pittsford, NY-based Morgan Communities, which has no relation to the Pennsylvania-based company.

Brides by Young, which has locations in Indianapolis and Schaumburg, IL, has signed a lease for 5,650 square feet at Liberty Plaza in Rochelle Park.

The contract award with joint venture partners Byrd Retail Group of New York City, includes more than 7,500 square feet of expanded retail space inside Newark International Airport.

JACK Cleveland Casino opened in May 2012 in the historic Higbee Building in Downtown Cleveland, featuring 96,000 square feet of gaming space.

Altenau will lead the firm's Debt Capital Markets platform for Chicago and the Midwest. Yarnoff will partner with Altenau in growing the company's business and execution of large, highly complex structured real estate financings as well as middle market financings across all asset types and service lines.

The board also authorized $2.05 billion to develop a new AirTrain Newark to serve Newark Liberty International Airport. The new AirTrain would replace the existing three-mile monorail system that opened in 1996.

The new owner plans to undertake a $20-million capital improvement program at the property that consists of 26 three-story apartment buildings spread out over 10 acres.