Old LV avenue to get a new look

Thursday, June 17, 1999 | 11:21 a.m.

The Lewis Avenue corridor, which links some of the area's newest projects in one of the oldest parts of town, will get a face lift next year as a result of a $1.8 million federal grant, city of Las Vegas officials said today.

The money, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, will widen sidewalks and provide large canopy trees, public plazas, covered walkways, public art, decorative lighting, benches and kiosks for what the city calls its "Lewis Street Project."

"This project is a great way to bring life back to downtown," Councilman Gary Reese said. "The walkways and scenery will help beautify the area and encourage more pedestrian activity."

The project focuses on Lewis Avenue between First Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Among the new and existing facilities the street will link are the Clark County Detention Center, the planned Regional Justice Center, the historic Fifth Street School (now a government building), the Foley Federal Building and the under-construction $97 million U.S. federal courthouse.

The downtown area has been under redevelopment since the 1980s. Projects that have been developed to improve and revitalize the area include the Fremont Street Experience, the outdoor Neon sign museum and the planned Neonopolis shopping center.

City officials said the design for the Lewis Street Project will begin immediately. However, construction is not scheduled to begin until next spring.