HOUSTON-A founding member and three others exit to form Blackstone Partners, buying the corporate services division for their catalyst. A fifth leaves to start Avera Capital Partners. And the remaining four turn their focus to ownership and development.

HOUSTON-Hines is named one of four winners by the EPA for its annual Energy Star awards--and the only real estate firm in the lot. Since 1999, Hines has put strategies in place in 46 million sf of office properties to repeatedly earn the high-profile label.

HOUSTON-SepraMet of American Fork, UT enters the market with a long-term lease and a built-in purchase option for 14820 Talcott St. The extractor of pure metal from discarded products spent a year looking for the right spot in town.

McALLEN, TX-AmREIT and an investment group, led by Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, will develop a 42-acre project on what is viewed as a prime site in a fast-growing city. The tab's being fine-tuned, but similar projects cost as much as $40 million to build.

HOUSTON-Partners Lend America settles into a 4,200-sf office at 1616 Voss Rd. with a relocation that doubles its space and upgrades its image from a class B building to a class A address.

HOUSTON-E Productions Solutions boosts its commitment to 60,000 sf at 22001 Northpark Dr. in the Kingwood section of North Houston. The 10-year tenant signs a long-term lease for the extra office space.

HOUSTON-A 25,514-sf warehouse sells for the second time in less than a year, with the deed passing to a local couple who's working up plans for a residential conversion just like several other developers who are scooping up East End buildings for redevelopment.

HOUSTON-ChevronTexaco is planning a mid-March closing for 1500 Louisiana St., Enron's former headquarters and now a key part of a consolidation plan. Industry sources peg the price tag at $132 million to $144 million.