MINNEAPOLIS-A new report from Colliers Turley Martin Tucker says the metro area's office market absorbed about 350,000 sf during the first quarter lowering the vacancy rate to 18.1%; Dakota County's office market posted the strongest gains.

MINNEAPOLIS-A new report from Colliers Turley Martin Tucker says the metro area's office market absorbed about 350,000 sf during the first quarter lowering the vacancy rate to 18.1%; Dakota County's office market posted the strongest gains.

BROOLYN CENTER, MN-The city recently hired the consulting firm to complete a study on a 90-acre area bounded by 57th Avenue on the south, Summit Drive on the north, Highway 100 on the east, and Shingle Creek Parkway on the west.

MINNETONKA, MN-Wells Real Estate Investment Trust purchased the class A facility for an undisclosed amount. The five-story facility is the headquarters of G&K Services and Opus Corp.

MAPLE GROVE, MN-The three-story, 96,733-sf facility will accommodate the expansion of Hartford's individual life insurance business.

ST. PAUL-As part of the state's $886-million bonding bill, the city will get money for a light rail connecting downtown St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as money to shore up Holman Field against flooding from nearby Mississippi River. Both projects were top priorities with St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.

BROOKLYN PARK, MN-The medical device manufacture signs a 10-year lease for 42,215 sf at the 140,000-sf speculative project, and expects to move in next month; Duke also signed OfficeMax Contract to a 40,000-sf lease at the nearby Crosstown 5.

MINNEAPOLIS-The $70-million expansion to the Walker Art Center, which has attracted national attention for its bold design, opened its doors to the public Sunday, attracting more than 8,000 people for the first public showing.