NEW YORK CITY-With funding by two institutional investors in place, the global real estate firm's newest fund plans to acquire a major office portfolio within the next year. The investments will be short-term, averaging four to five years.

NEW YORK CITY-The Plymouth Meeting-based REIT yesterday revealed the appointment of Chris Marr as the company's new chief financial officer, ending a nine-month recruitment process.

NEW YORK CITY-The travel and accommodation-services firm will move from its 1500 Broadway space to 25,000 sf at 37 Street and Seventh Ave. The travel industry's Post-Sept. 11 slump and the firm's acquisition of a competing firm fueled the move.

NEW YORK CITY-The Philadelphia-based managed services provider acquires 14 assets from Hilton Corp. The transaction includes two owned, two leased and 10 managed properties.

NEW YORK CITY-Well known among local residents as well as artists and dabblers throughout the city, Lee's Art Shop is taking space on at least two additional floors of its French Gothic Revival home.

NEW YORK CITY-More than eight months after the Sept. 11 bombings shut it down, the first hotel ever to open in Battery Park City has once again put out the welcome mat. After hosting several events connected with the Tribeca Film Festival and a splashy reopening celebration, The Embassy Suites Hotel New York City is now officially 100% operational.

NEW YORK CITY-The Mexico City import is a mini-metropolis with mega-sponsors behind it. Youngsters play at grown-up pursuits like gassing up a new Chevy, tossing Domino's pizza dough, or booking a flight on American Airlines in this pint-sized CBD.

NEW YORK CITY-The 15 original RFP respondents were cut back to a field of six finalists last week and only two were left as of this morning. This afternoon, a partnership of Beyer Blinder Belle and Parsons Brinckerhoff walked off with the prize.