Instead, county commissioners have started talks with their No. 2 developer choice: Austin Convention Center builder Landmark Organization Inc., of Austin, TX. If talks break down with Landmark, the commission could go to its No. 3 selection, Orlando-based Tempus Resorts International, or scrap the $100 million, 500,000-sf convention concept completely.

If built at all, the convention center won't be breaking ground until early 2004 with expected completion in 2006, area construction industry estimators familiar with comparable projects tell GlobeSt.com. Xentury had planned to have the center open for events by early 2005.

The county's decision to sever ties with Xentury City hinged on two issues: complete ownership by the county of Xentury's donated 30 acres and unproven allegations of ties to terrorist-related groups against Xentury's parent, Xenel International of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.