People have been on this same packing line for 25 years.

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Unlike trendy new condominiums along the High Line or in the Meat Packing district a few blocks away that are attracting foreign buyers, most of those looking at the West Building are New Yorkers, familiar with the Chelsea neighborhood, Mr. Lansill said, and some prospective buyers only want to look at the old building.

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He said he learned to be cool under pressure while a teenager, when he was a production-line supervisor at a tomato-packing factory.

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Earlier this year Chinese soldiers crossed the presumed line of control in the west and sent a herder family packing.

ECONOMIST: Banyan