CHAPTER TEN P: THE PUBLIC TOUR
Adrian Kessler announced an open tour of the redevelopment company’s proposed site on Wednesday.
Imani encouraged volunteers to attend because the company deserved the same careful questions they had asked themselves.
Nora arrived with Peter and Leona, who carried a notebook filled with practical concerns.
The tour began inside a temporary showroom decorated with photographs of successful waterfront projects.
Adrian greeted Nora with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
He introduced a designer named Felicity Hart, who had developed the plans for the arts complex.
Felicity explained the proposed performance spaces with obvious pride.
She described a flexible studio, a small screening room, and an outdoor plaza.
Peter asked whether the studio could accommodate large scenery pieces without blocking emergency exits.
Felicity answered with dimensions rather than promises.
He asked whether technicians had been consulted during the design.
She said that the company had consulted a theater architect but not local crews.
Peter asked whether she would be willing to meet with them.
Felicity agreed before Adrian could interrupt.
Leona asked how much it would cost a neighborhood group to rent the studio for a rehearsal.
Adrian said that pricing would depend on operating expenses.
Leona asked whether the company could provide even a preliminary range.
He said that the figures were confidential.
A woman standing behind Nora asked why a publicly advertised community facility required confidential prices.
Several visitors turned toward Adrian.
He repeated that the details were not final.
Nora recognized the woman as a parent whose daughter had attended the library rehearsal.
The parent said that her family could not plan around promises that changed after a building opened.
Felicity looked troubled.
She asked Adrian whether the operating proposal had been shared with the design team.
He said that commercial arrangements were handled separately.
Felicity turned back to the visitors and admitted that she had designed a building without knowing whether the intended users could afford to enter it.
Adrian ended the tour early, claiming that another group was waiting.
Outside, Peter said that the designer had seemed sincere.
Nora agreed and wondered how many people worked on the project without knowing what other departments had promised.
Felicity hurried after them before they reached the corner.
She asked Peter whether he would describe the old theater’s technical spaces to her.
He said that he could describe both their strengths and the failures that had hurt him.
Felicity said that she wanted to hear both.
Nora watched them exchange contact details while Adrian observed from the showroom doorway.
For the first time, the proposed new building felt like a real competing possibility rather than a villain’s painted backdrop.
That made the decision more difficult, but it also made the hearing more honest.
