Gold Pedestrian Street was a project of great importance even in the esteemed Waterhoof City.
One could imagine the importance attached to the project as it was under the direct supervision of the relevant divisions in Swallow City.
With the money Jasper was throwing in, Victor was shocked by his generosity and could not help himself from saying, “Mr. Laine, how much do you know of the current situation with Gold Pedestrian Street?”
Jasper replied with a smile, “The pedestrian street is connected to the Bund and is a total length of 1,033 meters. It was expected to be completed by the end of 1999 and would be officially opened at the start of the millennium. Apart from the few shops on both sides of the street that have already been reserved by some large companies, there’s still a remainder of 266 shops that are not for sale but only open for rent, isn’t that right?”
Victor laughed bitterly. “Mr. Laine, it seems you’ve come rather prepared. However, if you already know that the city hall is only looking to rent the remaining stores and not sell them, aren’t you putting me in a difficult spot by making such a request?”
Jasper was smiling as he said, “There’s no rush. I’m a businessman, and from a businessman’s perspective, there’s no request that can’t be discussed.”
“Mr. Laine, you may be a businessman, but the city hall and I aren’t. This sort of thing is a matter of principle. I’m sure you understand what I mean,” Victor hinted.
Jasper waved his hand as he replied, “Please don’t be in a rush to decline, Mr. Gul. What if I say I want to build a 630-meter-tall building, worth a total investment of more than 16 billion next to Pearl Tower?”
Hearing this, Victor stood up abruptly and exclaimed, “Really?”
What was the domestic city hall lacking at present?
It was lacking in funds and political achievements.
In this era, a vanity project was the best way to boost their political achievements.
If it were other cities, this construction project that Jasper suggested was like him asking for the stars; and those city halls would find a way to retrieve them for him.
However, it was also a big enough project for Waterhoof City that the city hall would be shaken up.
“At present, the tallest building in the world is the Petra Tower in Marshmeet and it’s only 451 meters. Although the 110 building that is still under construction is slated to be the next tallest building in the world, it’s also only 509 meters.
“This building I’m proposing, however, is designed to reach a height of 630 meters. It’ll be the tallest building in the world for at least ten years once it’s completed. It will also hold the record for being the tallest building in the Mainland for at least 20 years.”
Jasper was not just spewing empty words as they were all real data from his previous life.
The record for the tallest building in the world had only been snatched away by the Dubai Tower in 2010.
“I’m personally not that interested in the reputation that comes with having the tallest building in the world, but I think the city hall would be, am I right?”
The words that Jasper was saying with a light chuckle had pierced right into Victor’s mind.
He knew that the current deputy mayor of the city hall had come from Swallow City years ago and that he was desperately in need of achievements to prove his capability.
Would he not immediately become a close confidant if such a huge project was delivered to the deputy mayor on a platter?
Thinking of this, Victor, who was in his 40s, flushed red.
Jasper took a sip of tea. He knew that ordinary people could rent the property rights to the pedestrian street, but buying it was very difficult. There were, after all, many talented individuals in the country and he was not the only one with an eye for business. The number of people after such an opportunity could fill up the sea.
The city hall would not possibly agree without being promised adequate benefits.
Thus, this skyscraper project was Jasper’s bargaining chip with the city hall to exchange interests.
Jasper had no need for the title of the world’s tallest building, but the same could not be said for the city hall and Swallow City.
After so many years, there were already some promising results. Now, Swallow City was in urgent need of major events to boost its national confidence as well as increase its international influence.
That was why the Olympics had been so grand.
Jasper’s plan for the world’s tallest building would certainly impress the Waterhoof City Hall.
