The banner outside the convention center read "Green Industrialism: A reality - Our future." Reporters and news crews disembarked from the front curb of the center and hundreds of investors arrived by appointment only. At five-thousand dollar a plate, this dinner-lecture would be no open-to-the-public event.
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The dilapidated building was likely to be destroyed any day now. The entire downtown section was being torn down one building at a time to make way for a new entertainment center. Each street corner in the area boasted a full-color billboard showing the new center for the arts, a 4-story mall that would be classified as one of the worlds 10 greatest shopping centers, and the world's first 42-screen movie theater.
Given the future plans, hostility to change in the area was high, but the expectation for demolition on every building was a certainty. It was no surprise that the building inspector approached the men with a hardhat on and a clipboard in hand. The foreman was the first to stop what he was doing and acknowledge his presence. "If you're selling something, then get the fuck off of the property."