BOSTON-A recently released study indicates that this area's hotel market is growing while the national hotel market is on the decline. Lodging Econometrics, which conducted the study, says that Boston will probably experience a softening of occupancy in 2001.

BOSTON-The proposal for Columbus Center, a hotel and residential complex here on Berkley and Clarendon Streets, faces opposition over the height of its towers. The developers, Arthur Winn and Roger Cassin, recently filed notice with the city.

BOSTON-As he prepares to leave his post, Big Dig chief Andrew Natsios presents his vision for the Surface Artery, the 30-acre parcel of land in the heart of the city to be exposed once the highway goes underground.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-A wait and see attitude is being taken by potential tenants here as a sudden glut of sublease space hits the market here. Within the past six weeks, the availability rate has shot up to over 650,000 sf of space.

BOSTON-The Saunders Hotel Group signs a purchase and sale agreement for the former site of the Boston Police Headquarters here. The company will pay $14 million and convert the building into a 200-room hotel.

WESTWOOD, MA-Lids Corp., the locally based hat retailer that filed for bankruptcy protection this past January, closes 95 stores, four of them in Massachusetts. Officials say the closures are part of a restructuring effort.

NEWTON, MA-Clarendon Photonics, a developer of planar integrated DWDM components, opens its 24,000-sf headquarters here. The company recently received $18 in equity financing from telecommunications investors who invest in start-up ventures.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-A wait and see attitude is being taken by potential tenants here as a sudden glut of sublease space hits the market. Within the past six weeks, the availability rate has shot up to over 650,000 sf of space.