Steady leasing keeps W&M's suburban portfolio full.

Office leasing activity in Fairfield and Westchester Counties remained strong during the first half of 2004, and W&M Properties' Class-A office portfolio maintains a 97 percent leased rate, says Jeffrey H. Newman, executive vice president of W&M Properties.

The company owns and operates seven properties comprising more than 2.1 million square feet in both counties.

While a few large blocks of single-user space have come onto the market in both counties in recent months, new and renewal leasing has maintained a healthy velocity at W&M's Class-A multi-tenanted properties.

Throughout W&M's portfolio, 19 deals comprising more than 95,000 square feet were signed in the first half of the year: nine new deals, and 10 expansions and/or renewals.

"Tenants looking for between 2,000 and 15,000 square feet continue to drive leasing activity in the area, but we are also seeing a few larger tenant prospects at two of our properties: First Stamford Place in Stamford, and 500 Mamaroneck Avenue in Harrison," says Mr. Newman.

And with regard to existing tenants, Mr. Newman adds: "By pro-actively reaching out to our tenants to make sure their space needs are being met, we are able to find the best solution for those who wish to expand or contract their space.

"W&M strives not just to have its space fully leased to creditworthy tenants, but also to have those tenants fully using and occupying that space on a direct basis."

Another reason for the strong leasing activity throughout W&M's portfolio is the success of its newly implemented pre-built program, which enables prospective tenants to immediately occupy high quality space that is in move-in condition.

W&M Properties' Westchester County portfolio includes: Ten Bank Street, a 220,000-square-foot, 12-story Class-A office building in downtown White Plains; 500 Mamaroneck Avenue, the five-story, 285,000-square-foot multi-tenant office building in Harrison; and 711 Westchester Avenue, a 120,000-square-foot Class-A office building in White Plains.

W&M Class-A properties in Fairfield County include: First Stamford Place, a three-building, 810,000-square-foot office complex located along 195, adjacent to the Stamford Transportation Center; Metro Center, a 280,000-square-foot property at the Stamford Transportation Center; MerrittView, a 250,000-square-foot office building at the Merritt Parkway's exit 40A; and Darien Green, an 85,000-square-foot, two-building office complex in Darien.