MIAMI-Total industrial leasing activity was 451,000 sf, and sales activity increased to 577,000 sf from 225,000 sf at the end of last year. The overall vacancy rate increased from 6.3% to 7.1% from fourth quarter 2002 to the first quarter, however.

MIAMI-He left his position as senior vice president of Terranova Corp. to become a partner and vice president for CREC. Esquenazi has more than 21 years' experience in the South Florida commercial real estate market.

MIAMI-The financing for Ocean Blue, under construction in Miami Beach, was from Bank of America and arranged by locally based HR Mortgage & Realty Co. The 110-unit project is set to be completed by the end of the year.

MIAMI-The nearly $12 million, 97,800-sf complex, being developed on 10 acres in West Palm Beach, FL, will assist victimized children. The 13-building complex will include an administration building, a pediatric nursery, an educational development facility and eight residential buildings.

MIAMI-The 15-story, 226-unit condominium project The Aston, which is scheduled to be finished here in May, released 18,432 sf of space for purchase or lease. Purchase prices are $250 per sf, while leasing costs $25 per sf.

HOLLYWOOD, FL-Weingarten Realty Investors, a Houston-based REIT, bought the 372,000-sf shopping center here for approximately $106.11 per sf. Ross Matz Investments bought the center Dec. 21, 2001, for $33 million. The center currently is 98% occupied.

MIAMI-The county had more than 1.2 million sf of leasing activity and sales of more than 1.2 million sf in the first quarter, a recently released Cushman & Wakefield report shows.

MIAMI-The prepackaged Japanese food products company, currently set in about 16,000 sf at Miramar Park of Commerce, is adding approximately 18,000 sf. The space is occupied by Tropicana Products, which is moving down the street.