City likely to phase out downtown tent

Erin Neff

Monday, Oct. 18, 1999 | 12:22 p.m.

Las Vegas city planners don't think the Lady Luck hotel-casino's tentlike showroom does much for the area's aesthetics.

But it's not likely the City Council will vote Wednesday afternoon to order the downtown hotel to immediately remove the 5-year-old structure.

A compromise 2-year time period may allow Lady Luck Chairman Andrew Tompkins enough leeway to build a more permanent structure on the Ogden Avenue and Fourth Street side of the casino, currently home to an 88-by-118-foot soft-sided white structure and a trailer.

"My logic is, let's phase it out," said City Councilman Gary Reese, in whose ward the Lady Luck sits. "I'd like to see something more permanent because we're really trying to redevelop downtown."

Greg Borgell, who will represent Lady Luck in Wednesday's 5-year aesthetic review of the structure, said his client doesn't like the tent any more than the city.

"We understand the city's position in not wanting that there permanently," Borgell said. "Mr. Tomkins doesn't want it there permanently either."

The City Council first approved the temporary structure in October 1989 and authorized a trailer to be added to the site in 1990. Both structures were granted continuances during past reviews.

But that's not likely to occur given the current redevelopment efforts nearby.

Reese said he would like the rest of downtown to follow the path of Neonopolis, Race Rock Restaurant, the federal courthouse and the planned Regional Justice Center.

"We have so much great stuff coming, it's not OK to keep things that aren't up to par," he said.

The tent is made of heavy vinyl and is 12,000 square feet with an attached accessory tent. It has been used since 1990 for group meetings and entertainment for large parties.

The structure's occupancy permit expired Jan. 1, according to Building & Safety Department records.

City planners are recommending the council deny the continued use of the tent. If the council approves the use, the planners recommend removing the structure within two years.

Borgell said Tompkins does have plans for improving the east side of the Lady Luck, but has thus far developed the Third Street side of the facility.

If a permanent structure were built now on the Fourth Street side, the ensuing construction, when added to the Neonopolis work a block away, would make for traffic and pedestrian nightmares, Borgell and Reese said.