Renovated apartments celebrated in march to new downtown image

Aaron Clemens

Tuesday, June 20, 2000 | 9:47 a.m.

The difference at the corner of Maryland Parkway and Ogden Avenue was startling.

"Nevada HAND and the city did one great job of cleaning up this area of Las Vegas," said Robert Butler, a resident of the newly renovated Ogden Pines Apartments. "Senior citizens and young children can walk around here. We really appreciate what has been done."

The city of Las Vegas envisions a revitalized downtown area serving as the city's cultural and business center instead of a rundown crime-ridden neighborhood.

"It's good to take something considered a dump and turn it into somewhere residents can be proud to call home," Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly said.

Both public and private funds helped make the vision a reality, as noted at the Ogden Pines grand reopening Monday at the like-new apartment building.

"It's good to see that public and private can work together," Las Vegas Councilman Gary Reese said of the $1.2 million renovation of the 39-unit complex. He later praised the private nonprofit Nevada Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) for five years of hard work.

"We combine public funds with private funds to keep housing affordable for low-income citizens," HAND President Michael Mullen said. The city provided $310,000 in redevelopment set-aside funds, Nevada State Bank loaned $675,000, $150,000 came from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and $50,000 came from a federal HOME grant.

The money went toward property, new roofing, new siding and a variety of internal improvements.

HAND has work ongoing on 800 units in Southern Nevada with work on another 100 units about to begin. Since its founding in 1994, the group has received $6.5 million in government grants and secured $100 million in private loans and equity grants.

A total of 604 units have been completed so far, bringing the total units completed and under way to about 1,500.

Reese said he favored new development over renovation because it fosters further development, but the refurbishing was better than the status quo. The project began in Reese's ward, but following redistricting and the creation of two new seats on the council, the area is now in Weekly's ward.

At the grand reopening, Weekly thanked the private sector for believing in the city.

People interested in learning more about low-income housing in the city of Las Vegas can call Carol at 229-2330.