Editorial: Land deal could be a boon

Thursday, June 29, 2000 | 9:29 a.m.

As a defense attorney, Oscar Goodman has had a penchant for the dramatic when appearing in court. Goodman's showmanship -- for better or worse -- has carried over into his tenure as an elected official. So it was only fitting that on the eve of his first year anniversary as Las Vegas mayor, he announced Tuesday that the city had finally reached an agreement to buy one of the most coveted pieces of real estate in the city.

The City Council still must sign off on the deal, but the city would give Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. about 97 acres of Las Vegas Technology Center land in the northwest -- and $2 million in cash -- in exchange for a 61-acre parcel in the downtown area near the Clark County Government Center and the Spaghetti Bowl. Another promising part of the agreement would allow UNLV to keep 12 acres of Las Vegas Technology Center land for its plans to develop a medical school.

More importantly, this pact has the potential to allow the city to finally fashion a cohesive plan to revitalize downtown. Other positive steps have been taken over the years, whether it is the construction of a regional justice center, a new federal courthouse or the building of new residential developments. But one of the critical pieces of the redevelopment puzzle has been the 61 acres of land, formerly owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, that the city is set to acquire.

The mayor has talked about the possibility of developing an arena on this land with some portion devoted to a casino. While gaming is the lifeblood of this metropolitan area, another casino isn't going to revitalize downtown. The City Council should instead aggressively pursue other options, whether it is an arena, a performing arts center or some type of commercial development that will lure residents back to the area. Downtown is in danger of withering away, as businesses and residents vote with their feet and relocate to the ever-expanding suburbs. So it is crucial that government take immediate steps to breathe new life into the city's inner core as other cities across the nation already have done successfully.