anchor: The city had a fairly nondescript history until this century, when the construction of the Haifa-Damascus railway and the massive new harbour (finished in 1934) transformed it into the vital trading and communications centre it is today.
positive: The construction of the Haifa-Damascus railway and the massive new harbour transformed it into the vital trading and communications centre it is today; before, the city had a farily nondescript history.
negative: The massive new harbour was supposed to be built in the city, but they suspended the construction indefinitely.