Hotel neighbors face thrill-ride fight again

Diana Sahagun

Friday, April 5, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

Residents living near the Stratosphere are bracing for a repeat battle with hotel executives next week, when the company is scheduled to present plans to the city of Las Vegas for a thrill ride.

In September, the Stratosphere's application for a 700-foot thrill ride was narrowly shot down by the Planning Commission after neighbors swarmed the meeting with concerns that the ride would affect their quality of life and drive them out of the area.

The new proposal calls for a slower, shorter attraction that would send riders down the tower and across Las Vegas Boulevard at 93 mph, compared to the previous 120 mph. The riders would head toward a steel tower fronting Paradise Road. The proposed tower has been reduced from 416 feet to 325 feet.

As they did in September, city staff members are recommending approval of the scaled back version because it meets code.

But residents are hoping the result is the same at Thursday's hearing before the Planning Commission.

"It's basically the same ride," said Ben Contine, who heads the West Circle Neighborhood Association. "We have a lot of the same concerns and it boils down to one thing -- as much work as we've done to improve the neighborhood, nobody wants to live in the shadow of a carnival ride."

Stratosphere officials had attempted to make peace with the residents to appease their concerns, but the parties were able to find a middle ground. At one time, the hotel had proposed running the ride toward Main Street or Sahara Avenue, without crossing Las Vegas Boulevard.

Casino representatives did not return calls seeking comment.

Contine said neighborhood leaders will be sending e-mails, walking the neighborhood and contacting Planning Commission members to maintain their opposition to the ride. They'll also try to get as many residents to the meeting as possible.

Once the commission makes its decision, the proposal will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.

The original proposal came before the City Council in November. But with overwhelming opposition from the neighbors, the Stratosphere withdrew the application, promising to bring the project back in some form.

Councilman Gary Reese told hotel officials not to bother bringing back the proposal unless the ride had significantly changed.

Contine said if the Stratosphere wants to succeed, officials could consider building bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, or other projects that are in harmony with the neighborhood.

"We all want the Stratosphere to succeed, it's just that they have to show some good faith and build products that work well with the surrounding neighborhood," he said.