Crescent Sets Up VP Slot for Dallas Veteran

Tony Click, a partner and principal in TCC since 1997, worked out a two-week notice, turned over his pending deals to others and made a clean break for the Crescent ranks to join long-time friends on the leasing team and several others who occupy office space in the 1.1-million-sf trophy at 200 Crescent Court in Uptown. Click tells GlobeSt.com that word started to leak out in recent weeks, but the reaction was relatively calm until yesterday when he got bombarded with telephone calls and e-mails about a switch that caught most in the brokerage community off guard.

"It came up all of a sudden," Click says, hinting that the opportunity to lease the prized flagship property and work with long-time friends and in some cases, neighbors, helped sway the decision. The sweet spot undoubtedly was 25,000 common shares of Crescent stock, which vest at 20% annually for the next five years and based on the Jan. 2 closing price of $17.40 per share. Crescent added a vice president's slot for Click, who will report to Michael Lewis, vice president of leasing and marketing.

"It was a hard decision, but the timing was right and the decision was right for both parties," says Click, who merged his firm with TCC in 1992. "The yearend was a good time to start the New Year fresh."

Going-away parties and well wishes went with Click from TCC. "We appreciate Tony's 11 years of service to Trammell Crow Co.," says Mark Fewin, area director for the Dallas/Fort Worth office, "and wish him great success in the future."

Click says TCC's corporate chiefs made counteroffers, but his mind was set when he turned in the resignation. "There really wasn't anything they could dangle to make me stay," he added. "It was just a very nice opportunity to go to work for a fresh company."

Click is taking over an 87%-leased, 19-story building that's quoting the highest per sf in the metroplex, $34 plus electric. "I've leased a lot of properties in my career and I've never had anything like this," he says. Click is replacing Michael Silliman, who is taking over leasing duties for Waterside Commons, MacArthur Center I and II and 125 E. Carpenter Freeway, all in Las Colinas, and 333 Lee Parkway.