North Bay Business Journal

MARIN COUNTY — Central and northern Marin office space markets have strengthened significantly in the past 12 months, with vacancy rates finally dipping below 20 percent for the county.

The rough ride endured by the Marin County commercial market in the late part of the decade got smoother in 2010. This trend continues in 2011.

Sonoma County office vacancy rates decreased in the third quarter to 22.7 percent 13.7 million square feet from a peak of 24.8 percent at the end of last year and was about the same as it was in the fall of 2009, according to Keegan & Coppin.

Damian Friary of Damian Friary Real Estate in Novato represented the Derryberry family in the June 11 sale of 2789-2877 Giffen Ave. to Lawrence Brooke and four family members, founders of General Hydroponics in Sebastopol. The Brookes were represented by Brad Yust of Santa Rosa. Haden Ongaro and Mr. Yust brokered the Derryberrys’ 2005 purchase [...]

NOVATO – BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. is expanding across Hwy. 101 into 20,000 square feet on Wood Hollow Lane.

The purchase of a never-occupied 166,200-square-foot southwest Santa Rosa building by the founders of a growing Sebastopol-based hydroponics equipment supplier may be part of swelling industrial real estate activity not seen for two years.