A spokesman for Beverly Hills, CA-based Hilton Hotels Corp. recently confirmed the franchisee's project and timeframe for GlobeSt.com, but wouldn't reveal the name of the new owner of the former United Way of Tarrant County building at 210 E. Ninth St., which has been owned by Charter Holdings LP since June 2007. Several calls to Charter Holdings weren't returned. According to a locally published account, Pearl Real Estate, owner of two other hotels in Fort Worth, has taken the deed from the Dallas-based investment group, getting a prime infill location within walking distance of the convention center.

The two-story building will be razed, with a temporary fence now in place to block debris from spilling over into the street. City officials said no permit has been issued as of late last week. Charter Holdings bought the asset after United Way's board opted to relocate and become a tenant. The new headquarters office is at 1500 N. Main St.

Pearl Real Estate of Fort Worth was launched eight years ago by Prates Patel, Mites Railhead and Sámi Lavonia. Their Fort Worth flags are the Embassy Suites at 600 Commerce St. and Holiday Inn Express at 1111 W. Lancaster St. According to its website, the hotel company is planning to develop Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites and Springhill Suites in Austin and Lubbock, where it already owns two hotels.