Complex sentence: Chandler was intrigued by Sterling's idea for packaging the Plaza area as romantic "authentic" replica of the city's past--in reality, more a romanticized version--and helped by providing extensive publicity and support for the development plan in "The Times".
Split into simpler sentences: Chandler was intrigued by the idea of packaging the Plaza area as replica of the city's past (though in reality, only a romanticized version). He helped by providing extensive publicity and supporting the development plan in "The Times".