Downtown developer Ronald Aliano will get one last chance this week to convince the Rowland administration that the best site for the new Three Rivers is along the harbor, but that scenario is unlikely.

Aliano will meet with Rowland Chief of Staff Dean Pagani Thursday to make his final argument for the waterfront project.

The meeting should not be construed as an indication of a change of heart by the administration, Rowland Press Secretary Chris Cooper said. Rowland is not expected to attend the meeting.

"This is a courtesy resulting from former Chief of Staff Peter Ellef's promise to meet one more time, and to let (Aliano) present additional information," Cooper said. "But at this time, the governor agrees with the OPM report and feels the issue has been reviewed and studied enough and the project should move forward."

The Community College Board of Trustees Monday unanimously accepted OPM's recommendation to consolidate on Mahan Drive and authorized the state Department of Public Works to begin the design process.

But Aliano contends the OPM report is based primarily on the original DPW report which, he contends, skewed the downtown project information and omitted important factors that have not been considered. Ellef requested a more detailed breakdown of costs for the harbor site.

"I remain convinced that once the governor sees the information we have, information that was requested by the former chief of staff, that he'll definitely want to reconsider that decision," Aliano said.