Land eyed by Magic, Agassi may soon be sold

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 10:53 a.m.

A piece of land in West Las Vegas that has stood vacant for more than a year after being eyed by retired basketball star Magic Johnson and tennis champ Andre Agassi could soon have a new owner.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Wednesday that Urban America, a real estate investment firm with branches in 23 states, is negotiating with the city for an 11-acre parcel in the heart of West Las Vegas. The developer is planning a massive commercial project, Goodman said.

John Edmond, owner of the nearby Nucleus Plaza, said the City Council is expected to vote on a deal with Urban America March 7, in which the city would sell the land to the firm for $1.

In turn, Urban America, based in New York, would develop a commercial project as part of an attempt to revitalize the area.

The 11-acre parcel at Owens Avenue and H Street was first planned for development by Johnson as part of a two-phased commercial project.

The celebrity, through his Johnson Development Corp., opened the first phase as a Vons supermarket in 1995, and stores began opening up in the Magic's Westland Plaza.

The second phase of the project, planned for the 11-acre parcel, fell through after Johnson determined he didn't have enough tenants.

Agassi then stepped in, requesting the vacant parcel for a charter school planned by the Andre Agassi Foundation. Residents opposed the project, asking that it be reserved for commercial development, and the school was moved to J Street and West Lake Mead Boulevard.

West Las Vegas citizens have long complained that in order for them to find services commonly located in commercial areas, they are forced to drive miles away.

Urban America primarily develops urban core projects and has three other projects on the drawing board for West Las Vegas.

The group started in New York, where 10 Wall Street investors put up $10 million of their own money and various banks contributed $100 million for projects, Edmond said.