College town

Valerie Miller

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 | 11:18 a.m.

A new state college in Henderson will be located in the shadow of the industrial plants off Boulder Highway.

Henderson officials announced Wednesday at City Hall that 300 acres on Boulder Highway north of Lake Mead Drive have been selected as the future site for the Nevada State College at Henderson. The Henderson City Council will be asked Tuesday to approve and acquire the site, one of seven or eight considered, to donate for the four-year college.

The land, in an island of Clark County across from the Black Mountain Industries, is part of a 2,400-acre parcel owned by the LandWell Co. It is on the east side of Boulder Highway at the intersection of Water Street.

The college would be adjacent to a master-planned community on the site. Construction on the community, called Provenance, is scheduled to begin before the end of the year.

Henderson and college officials hope to begin classes at the Nevada State College at Henderson in fall 2001, likely in temporary facilities.

LandWell, according to Assistant City Manager Bonnie Rinaldi, is hoping to be annexed into Henderson.

While no cost for the land has been determined, Rinaldi said the city is considering several options to acquire the land for the college, including purchasing it, getting LandWell to donate it, or brokering a land swap.

LandWell has expressed an interest in some city-owned land for its planned development, Mayor James Gibson said.

The site was selected because of its easy access, size of the parcel, expected affordability, and location near the future LandWell community, which will cut down on infrastructure costs, Rinaldi said.

The college, about a mile away from downtown Henderson, could also bring an influx of shoppers to the ailing area, but benefits to the redevelopment area were secondary issues in the site selection, she added.

Once the Henderson City Council has approved the site, it will go to the legislative advisory committee on the four-year college before a final vote by the Board of Regents.

Valerie Miller is a reporter for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-2319 or by e-mail at valerie@lasvegassun.com.