Carrion hired architect to renovate home and then approved separate project, South Bronx has few banks … and more

1. White House Office of Urban Policy Director Adolfo Carrion, former Bronx borough president, hired an architect to design renovations for his home, and after it was complete, approved a project the architect was working on, the Daily News says [NYDN]
2. In the South Bronx, there is only one bank per 20,000 residents [NYDN]
3. RE/MAX Dolphin Real Estate closes 11 offices without losing employees [Inman]
4. Government expected to have a plan to refinance office towers and malls in April [CSM]
5. Whole Foods to sell 13 stores [NYT]
6. U.S. economy could be headed for depression [Bloomberg]
7. Best Buy could see benefits from Circuit City closure [Market Watch]