Compromise helps Agassi’s school

Erin Neff

Thursday, Sept. 7, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Andre Agassi may have bowed out early from the U.S. Open, but a decision Wednesday by the Las Vegas City Council gave game, set and match to his planned charter school.

Agassi's plans were formerly at odds with the neighbors, who wanted the school but preferred that the proposed site be set aside for economic redevelopment.

The compromise reached Wednesday gives the school a different parcel and withholds the coveted "Parcel B" at Magic's Westland Plaza for new businesses.

The Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation will negotiate with the city to lease 7.5 acres in the area of Lake Mead Boulevard, Lexington Avenue and J Street.

Six separate parcels have been combined and earmarked for the charter school, including parcels recently acquired by the city from the Las Vegas Catholic Diocese.

When the school was first proposed on 11 acres at Owens Avenue and H Street, residents packed a neighborhood meeting to express concern that the school would take up the best real estate in West Las Vegas.

Former NBA star Magic Johnson originally owned the Parcel B site next to the Vons shopping center that he developed and was considering building movie theaters and a restaurant as a second phase.

But in March Johnson decided to relinquish his exclusive development rights of the parcel, and the land reverted to the city. Agassi representatives wanted it for the foundation's planned $3.1 million school initially set to serve fifth through eighth grade students.

The outcry from residents stalled city talks for that site and led to the current compromise.

The city and foundation officials will now be working on terms of the lease agreement, which will then come back to the council for approval.