Furniture center plans expanded

Friday, Feb. 16, 2001 | 10:38 a.m.

A sprawling furniture trade center slated for the old downtown Union Pacific Railroad property has a new name and an expanded concept that eventually could blossom into three towers and seven other buildings at a cost of $750 million.

The developers of the International Furniture Mart Limited Liability Company announced this week the project's name change from Furniture Mart to the World Market Center, which includes the World Market Center Towers, the World Market Convention Center, World Trade Fair and World Pavilions.

"Our goal is to create a trade center in the West -- the ultimate showcase for every segment of the home furnishings industry," said Shawn Samson, one of the managing partners for the project.

The developers say they plan to make a formal application to the city of Las Vegas next week. The architectural plans for the project that was announced last September could go before the City Council for approval in May.

Groundbreaking for the $100 million first phase of the $750 million, 57-acre project -- a 10-story tower including two stories of parking -- is scheduled for next year at Grand Central Parkway near Alta Drive. Opening of the tower showroom that will market manufacturer wholesale merchandise to retail industry buyers is slated for early 2003.

Tim Quillin, project spokesman, said today that Furniture Mart officials met this week with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilman Larry Brown to reveal the concept which, if approved, eventually will include 14- and 17-story towers, each with two stories of parking, and seven other buildings.

Quillin said the World Market Center will serve as the umbrella brand to market the multi-phased campus. The components of the 7.5 million-square-foot project include: