Leasing

NEW YORK CITY-Charlotte, NC tops at a 2.6% downtown office vacancy rate, while Midtown Manhattan has 4.9% and Boston came in third with 6.1%.

DALLAS-Equastone unveils a $3-million plan to change Merit Centre into TriStone. Work begins in November and will take one year to complete.

GREENSBORO, NC-RF Micro Devices signs a long-term lease for the $5.5-million, 120,000-sf industrial property.

SOUTH BARRINGTON, IL-The 15-year lease with the upscale movie chain brings the $200 million 600,000-sf lifestyle center to about 70% pre-leased.

DALLAS-Grubb & Ellis and the University of North Texas collaborate on a program to create an expert global team that speaks and understands supply chain language.

LANSING, MI-Christman Co. renovates a former 10-story power station with plans to lease 182,000 sf in it and tack on another 120,000-sf building.

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA-The discount designer shoe retailer will open in the Pavilion portion of the 2.8-million-sf King of Prussia Malls' Court here.

PARSIPPANY, NJ-DuPont's Belco Technologies will use the space at 9 Entin Rd. as its divisional headquarters, moving a short distance from its current space.