Plans back on track for downtown mall

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2001 | 9:16 a.m.

After experiencing a few small delays, Chelsea Property Group has received final approval from the Las Vegas City Council to build a high-end outlet mall downtown.

The council Wednesday unanimously approved the site development plan for the 478,028 square-foot outlet mall, slated for 39 acres at the corner of Bonneville Avenue and Grand Central Parkway.

The review was scheduled for October, but developers asked that it be continued for a month. Mark Silvestri, senior director of development for Chelsea, said the events of Sept. 11 delayed the project, and the company had to refine the final conditions outlined in the site development plan.

Although ground was supposed to have been broken on the project last month, Silvestri said ground will be broken near the first of the year, with an opening in early 2003.

Silvestri said statements by Mayor Oscar Goodman, who said the company was having problems with financing, were untrue. Silvestri said the company, which owns 27 shopping malls in 15 states and Japan, could "pay cash tomorrow" for the project.

The company is investing $80 million to build the outlet mall -- named Las Vegas Premium Outlets -- which is expected to draw 8 million tourists annually.

The mall will be home to 100 high-end outlet stores, including Giorgio Armani, Versace, Polo Ralph Lauren and Chanel. It will also offer restaurants and a food court.

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