Some landlords still raising rents

Going against the struggling market, some commercial landlords are raising the rents higher than ever before. The L&L Holding Company is asking for a rent of $85 per square foot at 200 Fifth Avenue, a 400,000-square-foot former International Toy Center office building. Overall, the market is comparing well in comparison to 2001, experts say. But figuring in concessions like free rent and remodeling, the market begins to look bleaker. As giants like Lehman Brothers and Citigroup look to offload some of their holdings, millions of square feet at prestigious addresses are hitting the market.