SAN ANTONIO-In back-to-back deals, Provident Realty Advisors has bought 32 acres and sold 14 to Lowe's in the economically depressed northeast submarket. It's a San Antonio first for both, with the end result to be a 320,000-sf retail project along Austin Highway.

DALLAS-Hillwood executive vice president Tom Mason had been the wearer of many hats for the company. He's passing the CFO's torch to Mark Welch, the first team member to hold what is now an official title in the Hillwood hierarchy.

AUSTIN-Aetna Insurance Co. has cut a deal for more space at the 175,000-sf Westech 360 office development. With the five-year signing comes a relocation within the project. It has taken losing one tenant for the expansion to occur.

DALLAS-In a flurry of lease signings, Grubb & Ellis brokers have finalized five new leases, totaling 120,371 sf, and a 75,000-sf renewal. Coming from Denver will be Optical Networks, a relocating Marconi Communications division.

DALLAS-Prentiss Properties and Brandywine Realty Trust have made good on a promise to close a complicated asset swap within a month of announcing the deal. It's a North-South exchange that leverages Prentiss' position in Northern Virginia.

LONDON-Harwood International has signed two New York City-based financial firms to two floors at the Cleveland House in London's West End near Buckingham Palace. The top-drawer address is rumored to be fetching a Queen's ransom, breaking rental records citywide.

DALLAS-A quartet of Bradford Cos. employees has exited to form a brand-new commercial real estate company. Maverick Commercial gets to office in the same spot as Bradford's North Dallas office, which is at corporate headquarters.

AUSTIN-Stratus Properties is moving on a second office project in its 500-acre Lantana development. The $11.5-million undertaking is jumpstarted with a 77,500-sf, value office building, with class-A finish.