NLV mayor: Improvement on way

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

Noting the irony of giving the speech in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon spoke to a group of professionals Tuesday, noting the city's accomplishments and struggles in becoming a thriving community.

Mondandon spoke to more than 60 members of The Society for Marketing Professional Services at the upscale Lawry's The Prime Rib on Howard Hughes Parkway, telling them similar food services are on the way "right now" in North Las Vegas.

While citing the upcoming construction of the Las Vegas Beltway and positive amenities planned with the development of 7,500 acres in the northwest part of the city, the mayor also discussed the challenges with a major gateway which gives off a less than welcoming feeling -- off Lake Mead Boulevard and Interstate 15.

The main entry into the city is on Lake Mead Boulevard and from Las Vegas Boulevard to Pecos Road, there are travel lanes, landscape, and underground utilities which make it a beautiful street, he said.

"The problem is, to get there, you have to pass 500 yards of the junkiest property you have ever seen in your life," he told the members. He added, joking, "does anybody out here own any of that property?"

The eyesore is something the city's redevelopment agency is actively trying to combat, setting aside $1 million to help spur new development in that area.

There is vacant land on both sides of Lake Mead, but a private company still needs to step in to develop the property.

The mayor also touched on reports that Station Casinos Inc. may seek a change in venue for its neighborhood casino.

Montandon, who was vehemently opposed to the location of the casino when it was first being planned by NevStar and later when the project was taken over by Station, said he would approve moving the location next to the Craig Ranch Golf Course on Craig Road, just west of Martin Luther King.

"For being someone opposed to neighborhood casinos, this is still something I can support because it is ... a win-win situation," he said.

The land deal between the current owners of the land site and Station will have to be approved by the City Council.