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major office leasing breakthrough could be on the horizon for Downtown Manhattan by year's end. Jane Street, a global trading firm with 500,000 square feet at 250 Vesey St., is in talks to expand into neighboring Brookfield Place at 300 Vesey St. This would be welcome news for the area, which has struggled to keep pace with Midtown and Midtown South.

    The Manhattan office market is showing signs of recovery after a three-year slump. Corporate expansion drove leasing growth in the third quarter, particularly in high-end "trophy" buildings. The market's overall 5.47 million square feet of leasing was 8% ahead of its five-year average, with year-to-date totals up 32%.

    CBRE reports strong deal-making across Manhattan, except for Downtown. Midtown South saw a 29% increase in leasing compared to its five-year average, while Midtown was 5% higher. Avison Young's survey highlights Blackstone's 1 million sf lease at 345 Park Ave. as the quarter's largest deal.

    TD Bank is expanding its presence at SL Green's 125 Park Ave., adding another floor and increasing its occupancy to 130,057 square feet. The bank has been one of SL Green's fastest-growing tenants, with significant leases also at One Vanderbilt.