OAK BROOK, IL-The Great Lakes REIT saw its overall vacancy rate rise to 8.1% in the fourth quarter, up from 6.7%. One of the REIT's biggest occupancy problems is 148,514-sf Lisle Executive Center, 28% vacant.

BATAVIA, IL-Home and garden products supplier Suncast Corp. is moving into a new 715,000-sf distribution center in this far western suburb of Chicago on a 45-acre site near Fabyan and Paramount Parkways.

CHICAGO-"The last vestige of the Douglas Elliman association" is dropped from the commercial real estate firm's name, which now is MB Beitler. The MB stands for Milstein Brothers.

INDIANAPOLIS-The Indianapolis-based office and industrial REIT announced a 10.5% increase in funds from operation in the last three months of 2000, its 21st straight quarter of double-digit growth.

CHICAGO-The market's largest industrial REIT will use PropertyFirst's Private Label System to market its inventory and maintain information on availability on the company's web site.

CHICAGO-The multifamily REIT and BPMT acquire the 483-unit AMLI at Osprey Lake. The 22-building project on 87 acres was built in 1997 and 1999. That fits in with the REIT's goal of keeping its portfolio young.

CHICAGO-The $1.3-billion sale of 21 malls by The Richard E. Jacobs Group to CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. includes three in Madison, WI, and one each in Brookfield, WI; Racine, WI; and Rockford, IL.

CHICAGO-The discount books retailer is shutting down nearly a third of the stores in its chain, with this market being the hardest hit. Crown also is closing stores in California, Maryland and Pennsylvania.