MASH Village, Las Vegas to discuss land deal

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, April 24, 2001 | 11:11 a.m.

The California-based company that runs MASH Village will meet with city leaders this week to negotiate a contract, after last week's threat that the company would leave if the city did not sell it the land on which the homeless shelter sits.

Representatives from the nonprofit company, St. Vincent de Paul Management, told the City Council last week that the company has been operating in Las Vegas since December without a contract, and if the land is not sold to the company MASH Village will either close or have to find new management.

The request contradicts an agreement the company signed with the city in 1998, which required the company to make $5 million worth of building improvements before the city would sell it the property. This agreement was sought by the city as an assurance that the company was indeed committed to the homeless cause.

The company has made only $2 million in capital improvements, but board members for the management company argued last week that the city should now include the center's operating expenses, which they said total $4 million if added together since 1998.

Executive Director Ruth Bruland said the company is having problems with fund-raising because nonprofit agencies want the management company to own the land before they will provide funds.

If the city refuses to sell the land to the company, it will cease to run MASH Village, she said.

The threat to leave Las Vegas infuriated Mayor Oscar Goodman, who said he was inclined to vote against the item on the City Council's agenda. Instead, however, he delayed the item so both parties can negotiate. The council will next discuss the matter at its May 2 meeting.

"That's one thing the council isn't going to stand for -- it doesn't work for us," Goodman said of the threat. "We're not going to be threatened by a deadline."

Of concern to Goodman is if the city sells the company the land, it loses all say in how the property is developed. Goodman said he was worried the company would built a high-rise complex for the homeless, which would be in direct conflict with the city's stance that it should not carry the whole weight of homeless services.

Douglas Bell, manager of community resources for Clark County, said the city is better off finding a new operator for MASH Village.

"I don't believe the transfer of this land is in the best interest of the city of Las Vegas or the community," he said.