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ABI Research, headquartered in New York , predicts that the video surveillance market is about to have a burst of growth. ABI has reported that in 2006, the industry had revenues of about $13.5 billion and their research indicates that revenues will swell to $46 billion in 2013. This growth will affect all the kinds of services and equipment that are necessary in security systems work, such as cameras, computers, storage and hardware infrastructure–as well as professional services. ABI Research vice president and research director Stan Schatt explained to CPN some of the factors that are pushing this growth. First…

Dallas-based Behringer Harvard has switched its transfer agent to DST Systems, of Kansas City, Mo. to handle the record-keeping, transfer agency, account statement processing and other reporting for all of its real estate investment programs. Behringer Harvard will be the first direct participation program, and the first non-traded REIT sponsor to use the DST systems. Previously Behringer Harvard had used Phoenix Transfer out of San Rafael for its recordkeeping. Said Jason Mattox, executive vice president of Behringer Harvard, “We switched because the DST platform offers us a wider range of technology, and in particular enhanced servicing technology that will benefit…

Interthinx, a California-based provider of mortgage fraud detection products, announced recently major findings discovered with the use of its FLEX program–or fraudNET Loan Exchange. Company analysts analyzing mortgage applications submitted over the last 6 months of 2007 found 42,000 applications with misrepresentations. The potential losses equaled some $11 billion dollars. Interthinx gathers data about borrowers and any participants to the loan, about lenders, brokers appraisers, sellers and agents. The systems look at information that concerns identity and income. Interthinx validates phone numbers, employment histories, and occupation data, and aggregates all the derogatory data. For example, the systems collect any complaints…

World Trade Center developer Silverstein Properties has contracted with Mirage Networks solution for the technology security at 7 World Trade Center. Its Network Access Controls, or NAC, has greater security, a must for sites like the World Trade Center and other financial institutions. Said Greg Stock, President and CEO of Mirage Networks, “I can’t imagine an organization more focused on security than Silverstein. We absolutely consider their deployment of Mirage a badge of honor and a testament to our capability.” Network Access Controls helps an IT department with a combination of layers of protections Typically in any space that needs…

Cleveland-based Intuit Real Estate Solutions has announced the availability of a second version of IMPACT, V2.0. The software is geared towards corporate real estate managers and the global property management industry. V2.0 IMPACT is the second version of software originally launched a year ago, a solution that was based on a demand from real estate managers for ways to model, evaluate, and project multiple scenarios based on key performance indicators. IMPACT lets portfolio managers more easily make decisions about buy, hold and sell choices, debt levels, and capital deployment investments. It features a client-customized dashboard views for comparison. The new…

Merchandise Mart, the 4.2 million-square-foot, 24-story historic landmark in downtown Chicago will use TAC developers to help it be part of the Clinton Climate Initiative, it has reported. Dallas-based TAC develops building automated solutions for IT–providing technology for indoor climate, security and energy use. “They are also targeting transportation and other entities, but the biggest impact is definitely from pollution in buildings. It’s pretty innovative for a commercial office property to have as its primary focus to address climate change,” Shon Anderson, vice president at TAC told CPN. What will stand out for this project is that the mart will…

Kimpton Group Holding L.L.C., which raised $246 million in an institutional real estate fund, plans to acquire more than $800 million worth of hotels over the next three years.The parent company of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Kimpton Group Holding said the KHP Fund II L.P., raised 50 percent more than the first KHP Fund. The KHP Fund I closed three years ago and now owns interests in 13 Kimpton properties. Kimpton’s first institutional fund was called the Kimpton Opportunity Fund. That $122 million fund acquired nine properties, seven of which have been sold. KHP Fund II will be used to…

Bank of America Corp. is reportedly putting the 135 S. LaSalle St. building in Downtown Chicago on the block. If all goes according to plan, the bank will then lease back the space it occupies in the building–most of its total of 1.25 million square feet.The building, one of the last built in Chicago before the Great Depression put a halt to commercial development in the city for many years, had previously been owned by ABN AMRO, former parent of Chicago-based LaSalle Bank. When the consortium of Fortis N.V., The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and Banco Santander Central…

Construction of Eldridge Oaks, a 700,000-square-foot office development in Houston’s thriving Energy Corridor, has just gotten underway. Developer Transwestern plans to complete the first phase of the environmentally-friendly Class A project in September of next year.Eldridge Oaks (pictured) sits on a 21-acre site on Eldridge Parkway, just one mile from I-10. The initial phase of the project involves a 14-story tower featuring 350,000 square feet. Phase II, for which no construction start date has yet been set, will also consist of 350,000 square feet of space for multiple tenants or for build-to-suit use. Additionally, both buildings will be designed to…

Fears of a recession and rising energy prices weren’t enough to deter Macfarlan Capital Partners L.P. from putting approximately $180 million on the table in its purchase of five upscale resorts and second home communities in Texas, New Hampshire and North Carolina.  The Dallas-based private real estate investor made the acquisition from Centex Destination Properties, a division of Centex Homes.  “The economic contraction and high gas prices have an impact,” company CEO Dean Macfarlan told CPN. “That being said, Boomers have capital for recreation, and they are historically purposeful travelers who place a high priority on leisure and ‘getting away.’…