Future of downtown eases onto council’s priority list

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999 | 10:03 a.m.

As the city of Las Vegas enters the next century, the future of its downtown will be a driving force in policy and funding decisions.

So-called "re-urbanization" was added to a list of three other key issues guiding city decisions during the council's annual strategic planning meeting Monday.

Although the three mainstay issues -- quality of life, growth and finances -- have received the most consideration on city agendas in recent years, downtown has now officially become a priority.

"We added a focus on re-urbanization because we have heard your concerns about downtown," said City Manager Virginia Valentine at the beginning of a three-hour workshop at Cashman Center.

The city uses information culled during strategic planning sessions to drive both its policies and guide the next fiscal year's budgeting of resources.

Even as city staff was detailing accomplishments in the three previous areas of focus, downtown's future crept into play.

Councilman Gary Reese asked his fellow council members to "re-dedicate themselves to supporting Neonopolis" in light of the recent bankruptcy of anchor tenant, Mann Theaters.

Mike Forche, president of the City Centre Development Corp., met last week with representatives of Prudential -- Neonopolis' main financial backer -- and assured the skittish councilman that the $99 million entertainment center will be built.

"They are not flinching," Forche said of Prudential. "They are dedicated to the project."

Forche also deflected concerns about a lack of leasing at the site.

"They do not want to fill the place with T-shirt shops and coffee mugs," he said. "They want to go for upscale retail."

Although Mann's future at Neonopolis is in doubt, Forche said he expected another theater company to take its place anchoring the blocklong center at Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street.

Other concerns about downtown dealt with the potential for housing and creation of an arts district.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said he wanted an arts district roughly from Charleston Boulevard to Fremont Street along Fourth Street. But Reese said the city should redouble efforts in its existing cultural corridor where museums dot Las Vegas Boulevard in the area of Cashman Center.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said she any serious city effort for downtown revitalization should come with the appropriate funding.

"If we're really serious, we have to plan on tying up the dirt," she said, regarding land acquisition to entice developers. "I don't see how any of these areas can be developed without the city tying up the dirt."

Reese said he thought downtown housing will either "make or break the city of Las Vegas in the new millennium."

"We have done everything we can do to make downtown a viable place," Reese said. "Now we need to concentrate on making downtown a viable place for people to live."

When each council member was asked to identify his or her greatest area of concern, both Reese and Goodman listed downtown. Boggs McDonald listed the need for aggressive lobbying before the state Legislature.