SOMERVILLE, MA-A petition to build a Home Depot on the site of the former Assembly Square Mall here has been denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The developer argued that use of the site would not have been significantly altered.

BOSTON-Last year, Boston's Downtown office properties weren't even ranked in the top ten for investment by Integra Realty Resources. But, this year, the city came in number two. It's also ranked seventh for investment in the suburban office market.

NORTH ANDOVER, MA-Stanley Works, one of the largest tool makers in the country, will acquire locally-based Contact East Inc. The New Britain, CT-based company says that Contact East will remain in its facilities here.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-Yet another tech firm has bad news as Art Technology Group plans to layoff 150 employees with most of the cuts happening in its headquarters here. The layoffs are part of a company-wide reduction plan that will include real estate consolidation.

BOSTON-Putnam Investments plans to lay off 256 of its workers. The mutual fund firm insists, despite industry speculation, that the move will not impact any of its facilities here or in Andover, Norwood and Franklin.

CANTON, MA-This area, 15 miles south of the city, is witness to another development as Conroy Development Corp. finishes work on a 175,000-sf Class A office building here on 130 Royall St.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-The New England Confectionery Company plans to relocate its manufacturing facilities from its 75-year old building here to more modern facilities. Despite speculation, plans for the company's building remain unclear.

BOSTON-Emerson College, the communication and theater school, takes another step towards its goal of moving from the Back Bay into the theater district here by acquiring another lot for $14.9 million.