"This will be a redevelopment," Trout emphasizes. "At least, that's what I envision." The Exchange Avenue land includes a right-of-way that leads to a vacant 9.8 acres with 23rd Street frontage. Tax records show a 2.1-acre tract fronts 21st Street.

The last property known to change hands in the district was the 29,266-sf Spaghetti Warehouse at 601 E. Exchange Ave., once the headquarters building for Armour's predecessor, Swift & Co. Local investor Richard Hand, a Texas Rangers pitcher in 1972, bought it in May and flipped it to XTO Energy, which is now returning the structure to office use. Tarrant Appraisal District has the 2.5-acre asset assessed at $1.2 million.

Trout says so few properties change hands in and around the Stockyards that comps simply aren't available. "I said 'let's just put it out there and let people make an offer on it,'" he says.

As word gets out and Sept. 6 draws nearer, interest from would-be buyers has picked up dramatically. "They're close-mouthed about what they want to use it for," Trout says. "But if somebody wants to do more of the Stockyards, you almost need this piece of property." Although it can't be confirmed, several of the city's wealthiest investors are said to be using front-men to make a run for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

With the Barnett Shale gas reserves underlying the region, Trout says the mineral rights "aren't necessarily on the table" but certainly could be. "It would depend on the offer and the wherewithal to close the transaction," he says.

According to Trout, Bunge just wants to sell the real estate regardless of the scenario whether it's the whole shebang, piecemeal and with or without the mineral rights. What can't be disputed, he says, is it's one of the largest contiguous land sites in the historic Stockyards to come to market in years.