Chapter 155: Still choosing a new area?
"Mr. Lin, do you have a project in Yicheng?" Wei Xu couldn't help asking one more question after greeting him. He didn't think that Mr. Lin came here just to find him. Otherwise, he would be willing to do so without such a chance encounter. He would just call him to pick him up at the airport or even ask him to go back to Beijing directly.
After all, after dealing with his cousin's funeral, things developed beyond Wei Xu's expectations and made him feel troubled. If he had any excuse to leave, it would be great.
He hadn't imagined that even though he wasn't the lead actor in a hit movie, he would be so highly regarded by his hometown. He even had free accommodations at Yicheng's best hotels, daily interviews and meetings, and several manufacturers approached him about endorsement deals. He felt unworthy of the support, but CEO Dai at his company told him to stay put and even approved his vacation time.
The film's box office has already reached nearly 40 million yuan, but Mr. Lin's initial investment of 30 million yuan hasn't been recouped that quickly. The distributor and theater chain take a significant share of the box office revenue after a film's release. Generally, the box office must triple the investment to truly make a profit for investors. If that doesn't happen, the film's distribution rights will generate some revenue after the film's release.
Wei Xu had acted in numerous television dramas that aired on local TV stations, establishing a solid audience base. He didn't have to worry about the sales of his films after they closed. But now that the film hadn't even made back its investment, he felt like he wasn't working hard enough, wasn't worthy of such a good script and opportunity, and wondered if he was holding himself back. The two leading actors were both renowned artists, and as a newcomer, he felt a bit guilty.
"I'm here to see the project. Professor Qiao introduced me to it. I just got in touch with that old company. Their factory is moving to the new district, so I came to see if I can participate in the development." Lin Ruoyan did not shy away from talking about her project with Wei Xu.
It's November now, and she's already spent all of her 800 million yuan dowry this month.
The 100 million yuan she'd saved her life for next month, and she could even expect it next year. So, at this point, she was incredibly ambitious, and spending and earning money forced her to talk about projects all the time. Wei Xu was also from Yicheng, so she asked him about the company and his thoughts on the old and new urban areas.
Wei Xu had just finished recording an interview today and had some free time, so he happily accepted the invitation to Lin Ruoyan's large suite.
Lin Ruoyan chose the best suite in the hotel and also booked business king-size rooms for Qin Shuang and Chen Jun so that each of them would have a comfortable resting space.
She had originally planned to book the suite next to hers for Qin Shuang, but was told that it was booked for two weeks. These were the only two large business suites in the hotel. Now that she had met Wei Xu, she realized that it was actually Wei Xu who lived next door.
They sat down in the outer room. Qin Shuang and Chen Jun had gone out for a walk. Lin Ruoyan was originally planning to sleep in, so she had to cheer herself up and start the "interview".
As long as they didn't talk about relationships, Lin Ruoyan was so relaxed and at ease, and Wei Xu could relax a little. Although Lin Ruoyan no longer asked about movies and acting, Wei Xu had come into contact with many people from all walks of life in Yicheng these days, and he could still feel some real emotions. After understanding Lin Ruoyan's concerns, he was able to offer some valuable insights.
First of all, the entire administrative department has been relocated to the new district. Wei Xu has been in contact with those leaders and can certainly make a judgment.
Yicheng City has been unanimous in its statement, firmly stating that it plans to relocate eastward. The application has already been submitted to the provincial government, awaiting approval. This is indeed the case. The old office building is shabby, and various departments are scattered across the traffic-choked old town. A new, integrated administrative center would be a better place for staff, providing a better work environment, and allowing those seeking work to avoid traveling extensively, improving efficiency and allowing them to handle all matters in one place.
The location of the new comprehensive administrative center has been confirmed: it's located between the new district and the old city. With the construction of this comprehensive office building, various related departments and upstream and downstream enterprises will undoubtedly move there, forming Yicheng's new CBD.
The hotel Wei Xu and Lin Ruoyan were staying in was right in the heart of the old city. From the top floor, they had a clear view of the entire old city. The architecture of the city was rather outdated, with low-rise buildings, narrow streets, and little open space, leaving little room for maneuvering.
However, it's unclear when construction of the comprehensive administrative center will begin, or when it will actually be moved in. The provincial government has held back approval. While Yicheng can independently build factories and sell land for residential development in the new district, the overall planning for the new district has already been approved. However, the relocation of the administrative center requires multiple approvals, provincial financial subsidies, and other policy considerations, so they can't act rashly.
If Lin Ruoyan were to inquire about it herself, she would have to contact a reliable leader in the city. This time, she saved time and found out through Wei Xu.
According to the experience of building new cities in the real world, if the administrative departments do not move, the new area will not be able to develop quickly in a short time. At most, a bunch of new houses will be built, and people will live there, and may also return to the old city to work.
If the factory can be moved there first, it may boost the economy of the new district. But will the old city be abandoned?
Yicheng's old town is a dense network of factories and residential areas. The so-called factory-city integration means that anyone can walk from their residential complex to the factory next door. The city is small, with roads still the width of horse-drawn carriages a century ago, and shopping and leisure activities are all within walking distance.
If a new factory is built in the new district, its employees will undoubtedly need to meet all the requirements for housing and daily life. Currently, the new district is all farmland, and workers live in the city. Commuting to work in the new district is definitely not as convenient as working in the old city. New housing is easy to build, but businesses in the new district require more time to develop.
Therefore, in addition to building factories, new districts also need to provide supporting facilities for daily life, including hospitals, schools, and businesses. Even if these supporting facilities are built simultaneously and people start businesses in the new district, it will take time for factory workers to adapt to life in the new district.
Moreover, in most cases, new residential areas are fully sold, while other buildings, including ground-floor shops, remain unopened. After all, few people live there, shops don't make money, and hospitals and schools are empty shells, lacking in popularity. Those who live there don't move in if it's inconvenient, and without people, there's no consumption, thus creating a vicious cycle.
There is another point of concern, which may also be the most troublesome issue for the local people.
Wei Xu said, "I recently overheard several city leaders privately discussing what to do with the old factory buildings left behind after the factories in the old city moved away. This is actually a problem that they have been unable to reach a conclusion internally. One solution is to simply demolish the dilapidated buildings in the old factory area, convert them into residential or commercial land, and then sell them. However, there are still some historical and cultural buildings in the old city, as well as beautiful and sturdy factory buildings. Should those also be demolished as dilapidated buildings?"
Lin Ruoyan unfolded the city map and saw a large area of old factories in the old town. Already in the bustling city core, the land prices were definitely much higher than in the new districts. According to the overall city plan, the area where the old factories were located might be developed into commercial and residential areas in the future.
Once the factory is demolished and the land is leveled and put up for sale, the listed price will undoubtedly be higher than in the new district. To achieve a higher price, local officials will likely invite several companies to bid together.
Are the cultivated land in these urban core areas more valuable? Could the historic buildings in these old factory areas, if worth preserving, serve as testing grounds for her envisioned urban complexes?
However, her funds are limited, she spends 100 million a month, and there are many projects recommended in the next few months. She can only add one more project at most. If she chooses the old city, she will definitely not invest in the new district.
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