Buller is convinced any pickup in the economy will be felt by warehouse and distribution-center landlords a year or two more quickly than it will be by landlords downtown.

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Basildon was chosen by NYSE Euronext in part because the site, once planned as a distribution warehouse for an air-conditioning firm, offered proximity to London without flooding risk or being on flight paths.

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Cuti even tackled the distribution nightmare, consolidating four warehouses in three states into one 500, 000-square-foot warehouse in Queens, N.

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