Utilities upgrade plan hits snags

Greg Harman

Tuesday, July 25, 2000 | 10:05 a.m.

A $3.7 million utilities upgrade project for Henderson's downtown, viewed as a critical first step in encouraging the redevelopment of Water Street, won't break ground this year.

The result of long-standing city promises, the infusion of modern water, sewer and electrical services along the central avenue of downtown Henderson may begin in mid-2001 at the soonest.

"I haven't seen something that would tell me how long it would take, but I've got a feeling that when we start construction it will take about six to nine months," said Kevin Hill, Henderson's engineering manager.

The city has begun actively looking for a project consultant, expected to be named within the next two months. Design work is expected to take as long as eight months after that.

But that won't delay the first phase of Phyllis E. Thompson Co. Fountain Plaza project, an office/retail complex expected to break ground across the street from the Henderson City Hall this fall. The company has committed to having room available for a Nevada School of Pharmacy by Sept. 1, 2001.

"We're discussing with the city (how) we may be able to do our own infrastructure," said Victor Vincent, executive vice president of Phyllis E. Thompson Cos. "We would be reimbursed if they chose to go that way."

Already $1.3 million in Henderson redevelopment dollars has been committed to developing infrastructure for the project and the donation of property at Basic Road and Water Street.

Upgraded utilities will be run beneath the entire length of Water Street and under sidewalks and alleyways from Boulder Highway to Ocean Avenue. Hill said that the city will try to run as much of the infrastructure as it can away from the street.

Henderson Principal Planner Bob Wilson could not be reached for comment.