About 200 attended last night's invitation-only "martini party"in the Ghostbar on the 38th floor of the W Hotel in Victory, acosmopolitan setting with a clear view of SMA-Moinian JV's stake inDowntown Dallas. The high-brow event was a low-key pitch toencourage brokers to bring their deals to the JV's Downtownproperties: Renaissance Tower at1201 Elm St. and 2100 Ross Ave. Sina Mahfar and Samy Mahfar,principals with SMA Equities, and Daniel Gohari, vice president anddirector of commercial assets for the Moinian Group, hosted theevent, which was orchestrated by its brokerage firm on the ground,CB Richard Ellis.

The Mahfars started to invest in the city five years ago. TheDowntown residential population was minimal and the inner corecrammed with empty or nearly empty high rises. The city's rebirthis well under way, with many brokers crediting the new crop ofowners like the SMA-Moinian JV with leading the charge.

"We're becoming a 24-hour city," Moody Younger, CBRE's managingdirector, told the crowd. "And these guys have been visionaries andhave had foresight."