Prudential Douglas Elliman has introduced Elliman Equity Design, a new group specializing design service which focuses on volumetric values, space, light and spatial dynamics.

Michael Bolla, a managing director at PDE, will serve as Elliman Equity Design’s executive director. He will manage the new group in conjunction with Carl Black, an expert in
custom color work, furnishings and architectural details.

Long Island City brokerage firm Modern Spaces has relocated to a new 2,100 s/f office at 47-42 Vernon Boulevard.

The location is three times larger than their previous office on Vernon and will display a panoramic-all-glass storefront. The company is expected to move into the new space by June 1.

“Modern Spaces is expanding at a very fast pace and we want to continue providing our agents with the utmost comfort as well as create an ambiance for our customers and the community where they feel just as at home and part of the Modern Spaces family,” said Eric Benaim, CEO of Modern Spaces.

The Neinast Team, a top-producing sales team at The Corcoran Group, has signed an official partnership with The Brooklyn Home Company (TBHC) that designates them as the exclusive marketing team for all new Brooklyn Home Company properties.

The partnership will begin with three new residential buildings in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn: the six-unit 225 15th Street, four-unit 1015 8th Avenue and four-unit 497 9th Street.

The Real Estate Group of New York (TREGNY) is about to get smaller and bigger at the same time.

The brokerage formed by the merger or The Developers Group and The Real Estate Group in 2009 is rebranding itself withe a new name – the more consumer-friendly MNS, which stands for ‘marketing and sales.’

And while its name is getting smaller, the brokerage is growing and will open its second Manhattan office at 189 Eighth Avenue in Chelsea on June 1.

“We decided to create a unified brand name that really represents what we are best known for,” said Andrew Barrocas, CEO of MNS.

As the middle market falls out of the business, construction employment hits its lowest level in nearly 13 years; plumbers, electricians are hardest hit.

When the development of commercial space primarily halted across New Jersey, Hampshire Companies had thevision to act. Kohn Pederson Fox designed them a suburban office space that sets new standards in design …

By Benjamin Fox

From the Opinion section: In general terms, there is no question that retail rents in Manhattan have moderated somewhat over the last couple of years in response to the economic downturn. On the other hand, rents in certain high traffic retail corridors have not decreased all that much and, in some cases, have even risen during this period. Why is this happening? Why are all these stores flourishing?