HOUSTON-The freight forwarder sells a 138,000-sf industrial facility to the city's aviation division. The property, on the market for $5.2 million, became excess baggage for Panalpina Inc. after its move to a build-to-suit in the Houston Intercontinental Trade Center.

MORGAN'S POINT, TX-Granite Properties begins work on a twin to a fully leased first phase in the Barbour's Cut Business Park. With port properties at a premium, the project's rising with more prospects than space, says Granite's man on the ground in Houston.

HOUSTON-Southpoint Shopping Center, with half the roster as medical office tenants, has just picked up Pediatrics Plus Therapy Service and Othrodontic Centers of America, for a combined 4,430 sf. At Cypress Landing, a beauty supply wholesaler takes 7,600 sf.

HOUSTON-Three years after the merger, Cushman & Wakefield Inc. and Cushman Realty teams finally get one Houston address: 1330 Post Oak Blvd. A deal has been cut to sublease class A space for seven years. Move-in takes place by Oct. 1.

HOUSTON-Last year's industrial scene was dominated by users/owners buying or building, thanks in part to low interest rates. For the last three to six months, more tenants have been signing leases in the race for space, driving a second consecutive gain.

CONROE, TX-A private developer from Michigan will build a 30,000-sf headquarters building for Robbins & Myers' energy division. The two-story office building will rise beside the firm's local manufacturing plant along US Highway 75.

HOUSTON-Greenfield Commercial Credit sells a 22,000-sf building at 5905 Sovereign Dr. to a specialty importer while Ellis Properties hawks an 18,500-sf, two-building complex at 5610 Almeda Genoa Rd. to another local business.

HOUSTON-For the first time in a long time, the CBD shows significant absorption in its office inventory as did the Energy Corridor. Other suburban submarkets backslide, but still the second quarter tally overall shows the market's tuned up for a slow turn.