Editor's Note: Revised story includes another major real estate transaction not recorded in the local Commercial MLS. 

Commercial leasing activity staged a modest comeback last year throughout greater Wilmington as the Great Recession began showing signs of weakness and consumers grew more confident to spend money. 

According to Commercial MLS data collected from the Realtors Commercial Alliance of Southeastern North Carolina, a total of 72 retail transactions were reported in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties.

More than 210,000 square feet of office and retail space was leased to retailers and businesses throughout the region last quarter for an average of $12.82 per square foot.

Since brokers are not required to record all of their transactions quarterly, the regional Commercial MLS data does not reflect all of the area’s transactions. It does, however, pinpoint parts of the region that are seeing heavy retail leasing activity, along with what property has been leased.

Many of the lease transactions occurred in the midtown, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Mayfaire areas.

Team Silivanch of Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners recorded the highest volume of leases in the report, completing 23 transactions last quarter that filled more than 60,000 square feet of retail space across the area. 

The largest transaction completed last year was by Steve Warwick, broker and principal partner with Wilmington-based Maus, Warwick, Matthews & Company.

Warwick leased 46,080 square feet of retail space to Hobby Lobby in the Hanover Center on Oleander Drive in April.

Another major transaction not listed in the Commercial MLS involved the sale of two large apartment complexes near the University of North Carolina at Wilmington -- Brookstone Village and Campus Walk -- to a group of unnamed investors in October for $26.55 million.

Richard R. Cotton, a broker with Wilmington-based Multifamily Realty Advisors LLC, represented the investors during the transaction.

As part of the sale, investors will own 413 apartment units between the two complexes that average 100 percent occupancy in all 560 beds.

Overall for the year, Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners accounted for 56 percent, or 40, of the completed lease transactions, according to information submitted to the Commercial MLS. Maus, Warwick, Matthews & Company followed with the next-largest segment with 15 percent, or 11, total closings.