The metroplex has been buzzing since articles were publishedabout the 286-room Westin Beechwood hitting the list just 45 daysafter its grand opening. David R. Farmer, Beechwood Co.'s presidentand CFO, says he's confident that a deal can be cut with lender,CoServ Realty Holdings of Denton, TX, before the Dec. 4 auction. Ifnot, other legal measures will be sought to stave a bankruptcy, hetells GlobeSt.com. The fiscal woes are being laid at the doorstepof the Creeks at Beechwood, a Greg Norman-designed championshipgolf course. The two properties are bundled in across-collateralization loan of $10 million for the golf course and$43 million for the hotel.

But, the Westin Beechwood is just one on the list. George RoddySr.'s Foreclosure Listing Services of Dallas this month alone hasnotices tacked up for the Town Lodge, a 40,000-sf property at 1101Watson Rd. in Arlington, with a $2.4-million value; NilayHospitality's 22,000-sf hotel at 13954 Trinity Blvd. in Ft. Worth,with a $1.6-million value; and VPSI LP's 54,000-sf, 126-room,property at 3950 Airport Freeway in Irving, carrying a $2-millionvalue.

Roddy says the alarming part of the freshly compiled list is therise in property value of the roster. "It could be a barometer ofthings to come," he says. In 1998, the average posted value was$300,000; this year, it's a shade under $1.4 million. The count toohas spiked with this year's foreclosures coming in at 123commercial properties in comparison to 73 last year. "That's achange of 68%," he points out. And that's just in Dallas, Denton,Tarrant and Collin counties.