Affordable housing faces costly fight

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, April 12, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

An affordable housing complex proposed by American CityVista has had its share of hurdles, but company representatives say they remain committed to building a positive project for the city.

The housing complex, proposed near Washington Avenue and Rancho Drive, has been postponed for more than a month after residents of the area near West Las Vegas found fault with the original plans.

Victor Miramontes, chief operating officer of American CityVista, said the project is still alive, although it will be more than a month before he makes a new presentation to the council. Miramontes said he has received an extension on the contract with the landowner. This gives the company the time it needs to revamp the project.

Since March 7, when residents voiced concerns during a City Council meeting, the company has held two community meetings with neighbors.

"We're trying to make it happen," Miramontes said. "The neighborhood residents have a very clear view of how they want their neighborhood, and that's positive. American CityVista has that same vision."

Residents were mostly upset with the number of lots proposed for the 31 acres. The project was proposed for 409 homes, or 13 per acre. About 25 percent of the homes were proposed as 750 square feet, the average size of a one-bedroom apartment.

American CityVista had also proposed a variance to get by without open space, where 6.8 acres is the minimum.

City Councilman Lawrence Weekly, who represents West Las Vegas, said one of the obstacles the company is facing is the high cost of the land. American CityVista will buy the parcel, which is zoned commercial, and rezone it residential.

"They're trying to turn a commercial parcel to residential and purchase the land at a commercial price," Weekly said. "The numbers are really high, and to pencil out the bottom line, the density has to be what it is."

The land, which is owned by Sandra Norris Living Trust, has a gross assessed value of $1.09 million, according to Clark County records. With improvements, the land is worth more than $3 million.