Goodman: It’s time for action on downtown revitalization

Erin Neff

Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.

Perhaps years from now cities nationwide will look to the Las Vegas model for help in revitalizing their downtown cores.

But city officials here readily admit they've only begun the process of developing downtown into either a booming commercial zone, a residential-friendly neighborhood or an eclectic zone of coffee shops, galleries and boutiques.

Many U.S. cities have all three examples in different zones throughout their core areas. However, past redevelopment efforts here are being described as "building the capacity" for future projects.

Mayor Oscar Goodman, admittedly impatient just eight months into office, wants more than just the unseen infrastructure and grass-roots efforts. He wants downtown to sparkle in ways San Diego, Philadelphia and San Francisco have recreated themselves.

"We're going to have some serious discussions about what we actually do now," Goodman said. "There's been enough rhetoric."

Those talks begin in earnest Monday when the City Council, Redevelopment Agency and the City Centre Development Corp. hold a workshop on how to forge a common plan with downtown's rebirth as the guiding goal.

Reports are expected from both public and private sector stakeholders, with key presentations coming from the city staff, the Nevada Development Authority, UNLV, the Fremont Street Experience, the Regional Transportation Commission and the Downtown Central Development Committee.

The meeting, to be held at 10 a.m. at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center, 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is open to the public.

With revitalizing downtown the key plank in Goodman's recent "white paper" presentation, the mayor has already infused the issue with his enthusiasm.

"We are very excited about the idea of actually doing something downtown," said Barbara Mulholland, Citibank's vice president for public relations and external affairs in Las Vegas. "The mayor has called on the private sector to join with him, and I think it's helping build consensus for what he's trying to do."

Mulholland is one of several local banking industry leaders who have met twice with Goodman to discuss what role their financial institutions can play in offering incentives for businesses trying to locate downtown.

"It's beginning to happen in Las Vegas, but you kind of have to hang in there over the slow periods," Mulholland said.

Redevelopment in San Diego, on which Las Vegas' efforts are largely based, has taken more than 20 years to reap noticeable benefits. The now-fashionable Gaslamp District was once the epitome of skid row.

Initial redevelopment efforts in Las Vegas focused on saving downtown casinos and the 30,000-plus jobs they supply. Creating the expensive Fremont Street Experience pedestrian mall drew criticism, however, from those who felt the city should instead focus on downtown housing, parks or civic buildings.

Now years later, city efforts are beginning to focus on those needs even as some critics beg for a cultural arts center or sports arena to spark revitalization.

Ken LoBene, state coordinator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said all of the elements are needed.

"In many of the downtown revitalizations that have gone on in other cities, there's been a hook," LoBene said. "Sometimes an arts center spurred growth of downtown housing or a sports arena helped the commercial business corridor."

LoBene said he is pleased Goodman is involving both private and public sector officials in his overall plans for downtown.

"It is all a piece of the process," LoBene said.