Goodman offers settlement deal over downtown property seizure

Diana Sahagun

Friday, March 31, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday he has made a settlement offer to a family who lost their property to the Fremont Street Experience.

The family has been entangled with the city in lawsuits for the last seven years.

During his press conference, Goodman said he had made a "fair" offer to the Pappas family, whose members told him they would consider the deal.

"I don't see anyone upping that offer," Goodman said.

The mayor added that he made an agreement with the family that he would not discuss the particulars of the offer.

Land on Fremont Street was taken by the city from the Pappas family in 1993 to build a garage for the Fremont Street Experience, a private development designed to attract business to downtown casinos.

A District Court judge ruled in 1996 that the use of eminent domain in that case was illegal and ordered the land returned because the city intended on transferring ownership of the garage to the Fremont Street Experience.

Goodman said he became involved and made the offer after reports criticized the city's role in bringing the matter to a close.

During the same time Goodman was making his announcement, the Nevada Supreme Court was dismissing the appeal of the Las Vegas Downtown Redevelopment Agency in the condemnation cases involving Carol, John and Harry Pappas and Adrienne Lobello. The redevelopment agency had appealed the 1996 court decision.

The Supreme Court said there were still pending counterclaims in the District Court in Las Vegas that would have to be resolved before the redevelopment agency can file an appeal.