PETALUMA, CA-Orion Partners has brokered a handful of leases valued at more than $3.22 million recently for companies expanding or moving from higher rent areas. Most of the deals were for space in Sonoma County.

SAN FRANCISCO-Cisco is postponing expansion of two floors it occupies in Petaluma's Redwood Business Park, but the company is proceeding with development of 3.4-million sf in a Catellus Development Corp owned business park in Fremont.

SAN FRANCISO-Vacancies in class B space have risen from 2.3% at the end of the year to 16.5% today, and their rents have fallen to $55.32 per sf from $72.96 per sf a year ago. Class A offices rents are down to $74.16 per sf from $80.16 per sf in December.

SAN MATEO, CA-Glenborough Realty Trust signed two new tenants for the first new downtown office project here in 16 years. The 86,000 sf, six-story building is under construction at 101 Ellsworth and expected to be ready for occupancy in October.

SAN FRANCISO-Vacancies in class B space have risen from 2.3% at the end of the year to 16.5% today, and their rents have fallen to $55.32 per sf from $72.96 per sf a year ago. Class A offices rents are down to $74.16 per sf from $80.16 per sf in December.

ALAMEDA, CA-Simpata Inc., a provider of online human resources and benefits administration, recently moved its operations to Folsom in order to consolidate the company's Sacramento-based operations and lower operating costs while remaining in an area where skilled labor is readily available.

WALNUT CREEK, CA-Doerken Properties, which already owns shopping centers in Novato and Dublin, is acquiring Citrus Center, a 101,000-sf shopping center in Walnut Creek that is 100% occupied with tenants that include Bank of America, Washington Mutual and Nob Hill Foods.

SAN FRANCISCO-Virginia-based AvalonBay Communities Inc. has broken ground on a 250-unit luxury high-rise apartment tower within Catellus Development Corp.'s master planned urban development known as Mission Bay.