DALLAS-Ross Perot Jr., Tom Hicks and the City of Dallas had a vision that now has equity backing. Come 2002, Palladium will be scouring the capital markets to finance a 20-acre, $600-million first phase to the 60-acre Intown Dallas dream. It's all thanks to a joint venture equity conduit.

DALLAS-Details are sketchy, but a Plano office project in Plano and a Ft. Worth retail center secure acquisition financing. The 350,000-sf Preston Park South in Plano shores up about $22.3 million while everyone's mum about the bottom line for the 406,342-sf Ridgmar Town Square.

DALLAS-Using Starwood as its model, La Quinta will restructure into a C Corp and REIT subsidiary. If it's not done, the REIT status will be stripped away in a year to 18 months, La Quinta's management team claims.

DALLAS-Equis Corp.'s Dallas team now has five fewer brokers, with four more following the lead of the senior office exec. The staff, says another senior exec, is now a good size and the team's ready to redirect its focus. It could take 30 days or more to fill the top spot.

DALLAS-It's been the talk of the town for weeks, but now it's official. Baker Commercial Realty is under the umbrella of Insignia/ESG. Baker Commercial president Phil Baker takes over as Insignia/ESG's executive director with the buyout.

DALLAS-High-tech litter seemingly isn't a problem in Texas, where building owners work hard in advance of access to guarantee tenants that providers are worthy for admittance. Should the provider exit, abandoned equipment is minimal at best.

DALLAS-Change is definitely coming for the Insignia/ESG Dallas team. Its weakest area, tenant representation, is its new leader's strongpoint. Phil Baker already is mining professionals looking for change while wedding two staffs to double business.

DALLAS-It's a done deal and everyone's wiping brows at Poynter-Scifres in Ft. Worth and Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP in Dallas. Office buildings in Arlington and Grapevine pass the proverbial test by fire fueled by constricting capital markets and Sept. 11.