Goodman says developers of downtown project on schedule

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Aug. 3, 2001 | 10:42 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday that the developers of a downtown 61-acre parcel are on-track to submit a preliminary agreement to the City Council Sept. 5.

Goodman met with Southwest Sports Group representatives Thursday, who asked him to step up cooperation levels with them so they could reach next month's deadline. Goodman said the city has been cooperating, but will make sure an extra push is made. Goodman will meet with Southwest Sports representatives again next week.

Last month, the council chose Southwest Sports Group and Mandalay Sports Entertainment to be the master developer of a 61-acre city-owned site located west of downtown.

At the Sept. 5 council meeting, the developers must submit an exclusive negotiating agreement that spells out what they will build on the site. If the council approves the agreement, the developers will have six months to prepare a market study and gather additional information before submitting a final development agreement.

"They're working very hard," Goodman said of the developers. "They're not behind schedule."

Goodman reiterated that the 61-acre project must include an academic medical center, performing arts center and high-density residential. Southwest Sports, though, is trying to warm the mayor to the idea of a minor-league stadium to house the Las Vegas 51s.

When asked how a stadium could fit into the plans, Goodman said there was a possibility that a high-density residential component would be built on a nearby 39-acre parcel being developed by Chelsea Property Group, which would free up space on the 61 acre parcel. But none of the three elements can be sacrificed for a stadium, he said.

"It's not an either, or," Goodman said. "It must have the three components."

Although Southwest Sports reps have said a minor-league stadium could be expanded in the future if the city were to attract a major-league team, Goodman said he will only accept a major-league stadium.

"They're going to try to convince me that that's good for the city," Goodman said of a minor-league stadium. "But right now I'm a major-league mayor."