Arts center advocates to discuss joint effort

Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 6, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

Two separate groups proposing performing arts centers have committed to work together to bring a cultural facility downtown, and they may have the land to build the project.

"We've agreed to agree," said Dr. Keith Boman, a cardiologist who has been active in efforts of the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Foundation. "We've agreed to sit down and try to form a group from both boards."

Just a year ago, Boman's group and the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Inc. had different members, different plans and different locations. And many thought the separate fund-raising efforts would doom both projects.

Although Boman and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman are confident the two groups will work together, a lot of work remains to be done.

"There's a lot of ground to cover before we can even discuss that," said Donald Kemp of the non-profit Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Inc.

Kemp said it would be premature to comment on a potential merger of the two organizations because he has yet to present the idea to his board of directors.

"I've tried to act as a peacemaker there," Goodman said Thursday.

Union Pacific Railroad has told the city it will turn over eight acres for a performing arts center providing the city relinquish the taxes on the site.

"They indicated that they would break eight acres loose for us," Goodman said.

Don Caldwell, who handles real estate development for Union Pacific, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Goodman said he did not consider the loss of tax revenue from the site to be "substantial." Instead, he said, the city will reap the benefits when the area undergoes a cultural renaissance.

Boman said his group is tickled with the proposed property.

"It's perfect," Boman said. "It's great exposure. It's right on the corner of that whole (Parkway Center) development."

Now Boman said performing arts proponents need to devise a financial plan for building a cultural center.

In the past, the Foundation -- which had support from former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and Elaine Wynn, wife of Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn -- had considered a downtown site for its project.

Kemp's non-profit group had sought to buy a 43-acre parcel just south of Charleston Boulevard and the future Las Vegas Beltway for a 2,800-seat concert hall, a 1,600-seat performance theater, a 600-seat drama theater, a 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and a multi-purpose hall.

The Foundation had proposed a 2,400-seat lyric theater and an 800-seat drama theater on a 10-acre parcel next to the Clark County Government Center.