NEW YORK CITY-The first environmentally sustainable or "green" residential high-rise opens in Battery Park City. The Solaire is also the first residential construction to be completed in Lower Manhattan since Sept. 11.

NEW YORK CITY-Brookfield Properties has agreed to sell a 49% interest in 245 Park Ave. to the New York State Teachers' Retirement System for a whopping $438 million.

NEW YORK CITY-The Home Depot is targeting the urban consumer and opening its first Manhattan store next summer. The home improvement retailer is taking 108,000 sf in Chelsea and is exploring other Manhattan area opportunities.

NEW YORK CITY-The legal battles over the rebuilding of the World Trade Center go on as GMAC Commercial Mortgage files suit to compel the Port Authority and Silverstein Properties to comply with contractual obligations.

NEW YORK CITY-Fitch Ratings will take 66,256 sf of space at the Broad Financial Center, 33 Whitehall St. The financial rating agency needs the additional space for expansion.

NEW YORK CITY-Cushman & Wakefield promoted industry veteran Edward J. Weiss to vice chairman. Weiss, who had previously served as executive vice president, has been with the company for nearly 30 years.

NEW YORK CITY-Big deals are still being made in Midtown as Clarendon Insurance inks a 20-year deal for 56,977 sf at Times Square Tower. An April '04 target date is set for move-in at what will become the firm's HQ.

NEW YORK CITY-In an effort to expand its national presence, Coldwell Banker Commercial teams up with WexTrust Capital's real estate division. Coldwell Banker expects this to be the first of a number of affiliations.