Industrial area’s face lift to serve as tool to recruit new businesses

Lisa Snedeker

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998 | 11:05 a.m.

A massive private makeover under way at BMI is an attempt to transform this industrial area bordering downtown into a complex attractive both to businesses and to individuals out for a walk or bike ride.

Instead of gazing out over the rusting shells of the Basic Management Inc. industrial complex to the north of Lake Mead Drive and east of U.S. 95, motorists will see joggers and bicyclists on a meandering path along a lush, tree-lined canal.

An estimated $2.8 million landscaping project -- part of a two-pronged effort to revitalize this pre-World War II industrial area -- will eventually run from the U.S. 95-Interstate 515 expressway to Water Street, encompassing about 11 acres.

A landscaped buffer 80 feet wide will feature Mondale pine, mesquite and fruitless olive trees. Caliche boulders, brought in from North Las Vegas, will line an existing drainage ditch to form the canal's retaining walls.

That's according to BMI officials, who are working with Henderson officials to help the city in its efforts to recruit new businesses to the downtown area.

Like the city, BMI is trying to improve its image, according to Dan Stewart, president and chief executive officer. To accomplish this, BMI worked with city officials to acquire 550 acres surrounding the plants with the idea of creating a light-industrial park.

The company is calling this effort the Black Mountain Industrial Center, or BMI Center. Originally known as Basic Magnesium Inc., the company is making its third name change in 60 years.

The redeveloped area will be bordered by Lake Mead Drive, Warms Springs Road, Water Street and Boulder Highway. It will feature landscaped areas as the exterior ring, the light-industrial area as the inner ring and the heavy industries of Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp., Pioneer Chlor-Alkali and Titanium Metals Corp. at its core.

Mark Van Steenhuyse, director of commercial development for BMI, said, "We are trying to clean up the area to attract businesses like warehouse distribution, light manufacturing, wholesale retail. They will be controlled by very strict CC&Rs. "

Van Steenhuyse said BMI has razed three of the former buildings in the heavy-industrial area in the past two years at a cost of $1 million apiece. Plans to raze more buildings -- two-thirds of which are empty -- will be carried out as funds become available, he said.

"The rusty hulks are not used, but the painted buildings have activity," he said.

The first phase of landscaping -- from U.S. 95 to Van Wagenen Street -- is anticipated to be completed in March.

"It's going to be incredible," Van Steenhuyse said of the landscaping project.

The light-industrial portion of the development will include 900,000 square feet of concrete tilt-up buildings on a 400-acre strip on the north side of Lake Mead Drive.

"We've already talked to some interested developers who want to come in," Stewart said. "If the market remains strong, we could get something in by the end of next year."

Timet Field, a decades-old city park on the corner of Lake Mead Drive and Water Street, will be one casualty of the BMI redevelopment.

Vicki Taylor, spokeswoman for Henderson, said the park -- which at some point will be swallowed up by a manufacturer -- was built in 1959 by the Titanium Metals Corp.

Taylor said that BMI has let the city use the park for $1 a year since 1969.

"We maintain it, but we don't have any programs on it," she said.

Taylor said the city can accommodate the flag-football league that plays there with four different facilities within a mile and a half.

"I think the greatest loss of the field is the heritage," Taylor said.

While not committing to it, Stewart said BMI is looking at donating another piece of property to the city for a park.

"We have a lot of issues with Timet Field," Stewart said. "We're going to work with the city. We're not going to wipe out Timet Field without some very detailed planning and discussions with the city."