Buyout divides neighborhood

Adrienne Packer

Friday, June 30, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

Gilbert Barbieri's hand glided along the arching oak doors that open up to his dream home: a European-style mansion showcasing unique architectural design and imported furnishings.

The Desert Inn Estates resident built the heavy oak doors himself, duplicating the design of the entrance to his home in Florence, Italy.

Anchoring the home is a double-sided marble fireplace imported from Italy. The wrought-iron that frames each window was handmade by a Romanian artist. Artwork that decorates the walls was brought from Pompei.

It's the same obsession with detail, international influences and elegance that one might expect to see in a Steve Wynn megaresort.

Ironically it's Wynn who wants Barbieri's home bulldozed.

Wynn hoped to buy out Barbieri and about 40 of his neighbors to make room for his new project -- converting the land beneath the Desert Inn hotel-casino and its adjacent country club community into a resort that outdoes Bellagio.

Twin 3,000-room towers will overlook a sweeping 30-acre lake surrounded by restaurants. In order to fulfill his vision, Wynn needs to demolish the 50-year-old golf course, homes included.

The buyouts have polarized homeowners, most of whom have lived in the upscale neighborhood off Sands Avenue and Paradise Road for more than two decades.

The "interior" residents were first to sell, jumping at developer Irwin Molasky's offer to buy each home for $2 million. Those homeowners, who are surrounded by perfectly manicured fairways, call "perimeter" residents greedy. Even though their homes are next to thoroughfares, they, too, want $2 million.

Molasky, who is Wynn's business partner, said the perimeter residents were offered between $900,000 and $1.2 million for their homes -- amounts he says far exceed their worth. Their deadline to take the deal is today.

"It's my opinion they're making a huge mistake," Molasky said. "They're trying to paint us as the big bad ogre. They hit the jackpot, and now they want the jackpot and Megabucks. We wish them luck."

The offer of $1.9 million for Barbieri's house was the exception for perimeter homes. Barbieri isn't interested. His wife, Anna Maria, can't stomach the thought of giving up their home.

"We've never had any peace from the day we moved in here," she said. "It really wears on you."

The neighborhood has been under constant siege. Homes on the northern edge of the community were knocked out to make room for the Desert Inn Superarterial. A power substation was built on the western edge. And if a monorail project is approved, the rail would nearly clip the southeast edge of the property.

The Desert Inn Homeowners Association has a handful of lawsuits in the works. It has sued MGM Grand-Bally's Monorail LLC and Clark County for allowing a monorail route so close to their homes.

When the Desert Inn sued residents in an attempt to force them to give up their homes, homeowners countersued.

Negotiations on all fronts have become so nasty that few are willing to speak publicly about the neighborhood's struggles.

Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who freely discussed the residents' troubles only two months ago, declined to take phone calls related to Desert Inn Estates.

Paula Quagliana, perhaps the most outspoken Desert Inn Estates resident who organized her neighbors to fight the various projects, has disappeared from the spotlight. Quagliana reportedly refused to allow Molasky's appraisers in her home, and therefore was never given an offer.

Attorney Laura FitzSimmons, who represents the residents in the monorail lawsuits, has distanced herself from the feud with the Desert Inn hotel-casino. And John Netzorg, the lawyer handling the lawsuit with the Desert Inn, did not return phone calls.

While the residents refuse to give in to Molasky, they are fearful they could be pushed out.

The Desert Inn and adjoining neighborhood was the first golf course community built in Las Vegas in 1952. Since its opening, residents have received their water from the hotel.

Now there are rumors that Wynn, who announced the hotel will be closed by the end of September, will shut off their water, forcing them to either move out or pay hefty fees to hook up to city water lines.

Molasky never firmly rejected the possibility.

"They seem to feel the DI has an obligation to serve them with water; the (current DI owners') attorneys think otherwise," Molasky said. "I don't think anyone would shut off their water."

Residents who stay in their homes would be foolish to believe their back yards will open up to Wynn's vast lake with dancing fountains. A more likely scenario is that the homes will be within 50 feet of a massive concrete wall.

So why not sell?

Even representatives of the community, who asked not to be named, sided with Molasky. They, too, believe some homeowners are being too greedy and should take advantage of the deal.

Those who have accepted Molasky's offer will move into Wynn's planned time-share condominiums on the property. Others bought homes along the Las Vegas Country Club or Canyon Gate golf courses.

Barbieri said $1.9 million for his 7,400-square-foot home wouldn't come close to covering the cost for a comparable house at the Las Vegas Country Club. He recently looked at a 6,300-square-foot home. The cost? Nearly $4 million.

It's unlikely the Barbieris will stay in their home. But they won't sell it either. After all, Barbieri emphasized, Wynn said it himself: "This is the most powerful piece of real estate in Las Vegas."

While Barbieri's half-acre lot is not on the Strip, it's in a prime location. And if he moves out, there is always a chance he could convert his home into a business.

"He said it's the most valuable piece of real estate in the U.S., then he wants us to hand it over," Barbieri said.

Barbieri said unlike Wynn, who sold Mirage Resorts for $6.6 billion, he isn't willing to sell his dream home. It's not about the money, he said.

He spent nearly three years adding an extra 3,000 square feet to his home. He replaced carpet with hardwood floors and a marble stairway. Every window is triple-paned and etched with his family crest.

His guests are either treated to a room with an adjoining weight room, or if their stay is more lengthy, a 420-square-foot apartment -- kitchen included -- adjacent to their master bedroom.

"When I built this home, I thought we were going to stay here forever," Barbieri said. "I cannot replace this house. There are a lot of personal things here. I designed it with my heart."