Two visions of downtown LV seen

Erin Neff

Monday, Aug. 7, 2000 | 11:08 a.m.

In the popular computer game Sim City, players begin designing their model town with only the vacant land laid out in front of them.

After hours of play, the city either emerges as a successful mix of residential, commercial and fun civic services or as a mishmash of congested highways, polluted air and boarded-up businesses.

Tate & Snyder Architects views the vacant 61-acre parcel of land in downtown Las Vegas in a similar light. To help city officials find the way to successful development, the firm has designed two visions of the property.

"Sometimes what happens is that people who make these decisions in government only hear from the developer," architect William Snyder said. "The vision needs to be what drives the project."

The imagination Snyder and fellow architect Kevin Kemner put onto paper for the city -- free of charge -- includes some of the elements Mayor Oscar Goodman envisions.

One design envisions a stadium-driven development with commercial centers and housing adjacent to the arena. The other is anchored by an aquarium with festival space surrounding a performing arts center, museum and library.

"A stadium is a real urban icon," Kemner said. "That's a real vision, and other cities that have gone that route have really benefited from it."

The other idea embraces civic institutions the city doesn't have -- at least not in its downtown.

"With a large civic plaza, all sorts of festivals could be held there," Snyder said. Currently, he said, "with the exception of Fremont Street, there is no need for people to be downtown after 5 p.m."

Goodman, who received a presentation from the architects in his office last week, said it was "nice to be able to see it in living color."

He was immediately drawn to the design showing a stadium.

"That's my favorite," Goodman said.

Goodman has proposed everything from a sports arena to a performing arts center, dot-com office parks, housing, a college campus and even a casino on the site.

The city is negotiating with Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. to swap portions of its northwest Technology Park plus $2 million for the 61-acre parcel Lehman owns downtown. That deal is expected to be finalized Sept. 1.

Goodman views the massive vacant acreage as the "best piece of urban real estate in the United States."

Kemner agreed, calling the parcel "a truly clean slate."

"Most of the time, this kind of development happens on the outskirts of the city," Kemner said.

The architects said they had fun during the two weeks spent on "the clean slate" at the entrance to downtown Las Vegas, because it gave them the opportunity to master plan with their own vision.

Snyder said Goodman's enthusiasm about downtown redevelopment prompted him to put together the designs.

"We've been listening to schemes upon schemes upon schemes on that land for many, many years," Snyder said. "I think to have a mayor who's so aggressive in his approach is refreshing."