NLV panel OKs senior housing

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Feb. 10, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Representatives of a proposed low-income senior housing complex hoping their site plan would be a "slam dunk" got their wish Wednesday at a North Las Vegas Planning Commission meeting.

The commissioners voted 6-1 to approve the site plan for a 72-unit senior complex at the corner of Owens Avenue and Davis Place in the city's redevelopment area.

Commissioner Anita Wood cast the dissenting vote with Commissioner Nelson Stone abstaining due to a conflict of interest.

Former Las Vegas City Councilman Frank Hawkins, the executive director of the nonprofit group Community Development Center, said there is a desperate need of senior housing in North Las Vegas and maintained that the complex would help improve the city's oldest area.

"This offers the opportunity to solidify the redevelopment of a community in great need of these types of projects," Hawkins said.

According to the site plan, 58 one-bedroom apartments and 14 two-bedroom apartments are proposed.

Hawkins said the center will have a clubhouse, offer classes such as arts and crafts and dancing, and provide a library with computers with Internet access. The seniors will also have use of a vegetable garden, a putting green, shuffleboard and game tables, he said.

All of these additions come at a price, he said. While he originally asked for four design waivers to help offset the cost of the center, Hawkins later agreed to just one variance having to do with landscape.