REBusinessOnline just published a reader survey on the future of lifestyle centers, also known as mixed-use or multi-use, and the consensus is that the sector is still strong, although 20 percent of those surveyed believe there is a danger of overbuilding. Three-fourths said there is demand for more lifestyle centers in their region, but many commented that developers should proceed with caution to get the right site, a solid anchor and the right mix of tenants.

The vacancy rate in all classes of office space in St. Louis dropped from 16.5% in 2005 to 12.2% in the third quarter of 2006, according to Heartland Real Estate Business. Vacancy rates have declined continuously over the past two and a half years, and rental rates also have picked up. The market is driven largely by medical facilities and build-to-suit construction.  Hospitals, banks, Express Scripts, Edward Jones and Anheuser Busch are some of the largest office users that are building or leasing new space.

Lease rates for Class A office buildings in St. Louis range from $19.50 per square foot downtown submarket to $28.50 per square foot in Clayton. The total vacancy rate is 12.2 percent, ranging from 4.5 percent in the Manchester/Interstate 270 area to 25.7 percent in the Olive/Lindbergh area.

CB Richard Ellis directors are starting the New Year by reevaluating business plans and projections to incorporate the addition of their former rivals at Trammell Crow Co according to Midwest Real Estate News.

Here in in St. Louis, where Trammell Crow|Krombach and CB Richard Ellis are two strong brokerage houses, the terms of the merger agreements will not be finalized until the end of this month.

St. Louis was ranked fourth on the list of top 10 markets for real estate investing by HomeVestors of America Inc. HomeVestors is the franchise real estate company whose billboard ads read “We Buy Ugly Houses” — but we won’t hold that against them! The top 10 markets named are:

1. Gary, Ind.
2. Tucson, Ariz.
3. Fort Worth, Texas
4. St. Louis
5. Dallas
6. Oklahoma City
7. Atlanta
8. San Antonio
9. Kansas City, Mo.
10. Houston

“Despite changes in the real estate market, our franchisees are buying more houses than ever before and posting record-setting numbers in markets across the U.S.,” said John Hayes, president and CEO of HomeVestors, in a statement.

Dallas-based HomeVestors of America Inc. specializes in buying, rehabbing and selling single-family homes in the U.S. The company has more than 250 franchises in 32 states.

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Planning work is underway to remake three blocks of Euclid Ave, from Lindell Blvd on the north to Forest Park Parkway on the South. The group behind this makeover is the Central West End-Midtown Development Corporation which is spending $400,000 on the planning and engineering for three city blocks of a single street. The development team, headed by Denver-based Civitas, made a public presentation Monday evening on the issues and proposed options. Check out Steve Patterson’s blog Urban Review STL for lots of details.