Concerns over retail delay furniture mart

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 | 9:49 a.m.

Plans for the largest wholesale furniture mart on the West Coast were delayed again Wednesday after local retailers expressed concerns that the project would hurt their businesses.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said an attorney representing several retailers has been working with the developers for days on a provision that would allow the furniture mart to hold clearance, or sample, sales following trade shows.

The City Council had been scheduled on Wednesday to take action on an agreement that spelled out the city's commitment to grant the developers up to $40 million in tax rebates over the next 20 years. It was the second time the item has been delayed.

Attorney John O'Reilly, representing several retailers including nearby Walker Furniture, declined to comment.

But an attorney representing the developers, Richard Jost, said the two sides are "very close."

The original agreement states that no tax rebates can be used toward any retail portion of the project, Jost said.

The developers say they are only proposing that at the end of trade shows, several days a year, manufacturers would be able to sell their remaining merchandise so they don't have to truck it back home.

It's a common practice at furniture marts in High Point, N.C., and San Francisco, Jost said.

"This is not going to be a retail mall," said managing partner Jack Kashani.

Goodman said the item needs to be finalized as soon as possible so the project can move forward. The mart is slated for a 57-acre site west of downtown on old Union Pacific Railroad property.

"This is very important to the city of Las Vegas," he said. "There will always be issues as to whether redevelopment projects will affect those existing businesses and it's important that we as a council make the right decision."