NEW YORK CITY-The Gemological Institute of America takes 17,715 sf at 270 Madison for its educational programs. The non-profit gem authority will remain in headquarters space at 580 Fifth Ave., as well.

NEW YORK CITY-Two housing projects that would bring hundreds of apartment units to Northern Manhattan and Williamsburg, Brooklyn, get the go ahead from the city's Board of Standards and Appeals.

NEW YORK CITY-The Clarett Group unveils the first development of its joint venture with PREI--the 22-story, 151,000-sf Opus Condominiums at 2770 Broadway at 107th Street. One Clarett exec calls it the "Uptown Flatiron Building.

NEW YORK CITY-Rockrose Development Corp. intends to build atop its 220,000-sf 660 12th Ave. space. The site is home to a FedEx distribution center that will remain as the anchor tenant.

NEW YORK CITY-The fourth quarter of 2003 saw office markets improve and the amount of sublease space decline nationwide, according to research from Cushman & Wakefield.

NEW YORK CITY-Future-thinking big-name companies making deals for large amounts of space stand as proof that the market is bottoming out, according to one real estate veteran.

NEW YORK CITY-A joint venture comprised of Swig Burris Equities and Zamir Equities closed on its acquisition of the 25-story, 340,000-sf 44 Wall St. for a price of just under $200 per sf, or more than $60 million.

NEW YORK CITY-The New York City Economic Development Corp. will remain in its Lower Manhattan headquarters for the next 10 years after inking a 262,500-sf lease renewal deal.