Developers ponder ideas for land in downtown LV

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 10:21 a.m.

A decision on which projects will be chosen for 61 acres downtown could come as early as next month.

Las Vegas officials on Wednesday set a timetable to select projects proposed for the land near the County Government Center.

By June 4 a panel that includes Mayor Oscar Goodman, Councilmen Lawrence Weekly and Gary Reese, City Manager Virginia Valentine, Deputy City Manager Steven Houchens, Business Development Director Lesa Coder and others are scheduled to have reviewed responses from 10 developers.

The mayor last month sent prospective developers a list of projects that would be considered, including high-density residential, offices, an academic medical center and a performing arts center. The responses are due May 31.

Developers will present their proposals, and a decision by the City Council is scheduled to be made by June 20.

Coder will begin looking for a "project coordinator" but not until a master developer is chosen by the council.

"The master developer may share the cost for the facilitator with the city, so it might be worthwhile for us to define what we are looking for," Goodman said.

Coder said it would cost about $130,000 per year for a full-time coordinator, and that person would be needed three to five years.

The Urban Land Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, suggested that the council hire a qualified consultant to oversee the project full time.

Coder will compile a list of people interested in the position and present it to the council in the coming weeks.

The position must be cleared with the city's human resources director and finance director due to a hiring freeze imposed because of budget restraints.