The Legacy Dip

Q: I keep getting this sinking feeling every time I drive up the Dallas North Tollway heading into Legacy business park. What’s up?

-Claudio Barnes, Dallas A: Legacy, which houses the headquarters of Electronic Data Systems Corp., J.C. Penney Co. Inc., and Frito Lay Inc., is located near Baccus Cemetery, where some of the first settlers of North Texas are buried. Some believe it’s the highest point of land in the entire region.

But just down the toll road from Legacy, the flat stretch of concrete that runs from downtown Dallas to state Highway 121 in Frisco suddenly dips under a bridge, even though the land is rising gradually through the area. It’s the only time the road depresses for any reason besides the natural lay of the land.

For the sinking feeling, you can thank EDS and its founder, H. Ross Perot. The company owns much of the Legacy park, and, first inspired by Perot, has long been a supporter of the tollway project, especially its inevitable expansion into Piano. But there’s always been one hitch to that support, says a source in EDS’ real estate division, who asked not to be named. “We’ve always asked that the road should dip as it passes our building,” the source says. “That way, as you drive past us, you get a much better view of the headquarters. We love the results.”