SAN FRANCISCO-Vacancy both inside and outside the CBD here continues to fall, but job growth is needed to sustain demand and offset large users planning to shed space, according to the latest report from the local office of Grubb & Ellis.

DUSSELDORF-Cushman & Wakefield acquires a 25% stake in Kemper's Holding GmbH, a top retail advisor in Germany with eight offices throughout the country. The two organizations will continue to be managed separately.

PORTLAND-The overall region-wide vacancy rate rises from 16.1% at the end of 2003 to 16.9% at the end of March, and only three of 12 submarkets saw their vacancy fall during the first three months of the year.

RENTON, WA-Located at the southern end of Boeing's 280-acre plant here, the land has been rezoned for a mix of uses including office and retail, urban density residential and biotech lab/office. No offering price has been revealed.

SEATTLE-The City Council has approved a $2-million federal loan and about $200,000 in federal grant funds for the purchase and restoration of the historic structure, which was rendered uninhabitable by the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO-With plans to revitalize the asset, the New York based value-add retail investor pays $61.5 million for Centro Gran Caribe, a suburban mall located 18 miles west of San Juan.

SAN FRANCISCO-A California-based retail investment group and three California developers have created an alliance that will invest in and develop shopping centers in the Western US.

PORTLAND-The sites, which total about 900 acres and are spread across the state, have been certified by a third-party, private sector verifier to be no more than six months away from development.