Council to consider post office bid

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

After lobbying the federal government for almost his entire term for ownership of a cultural gem downtown, Mayor Oscar Goodman may finally get his wish.

The City Council, at its April 17 meeting, is scheduled to consider giving Goodman the go-ahead to send a letter to the General Services Administration accepting the deed for the downtown post office, Richann Johnson of the city's business development office, said. A second agenda item would authorize the city manager's office to enter into lease agreements with the current tenants, she added.

Goodman has been negotiating with the federal government for three nears to acquire the Stewart Avenue post office -- the city's first federal courthouse -- and turn it into a museum or arts facility. The delay in recent months has been the future of the tenants, including the post office, Social Security office, and tax courts, which have a lease until 2004. Goodman has wanted immediate occupancy of the whole building once it is acquired.

The post office is part of the mayor's vision to redevelop downtown by encouraging new residential, commercial and cultural uses. He envisions a park surrounding the post office, where a paved parking lot currently sits.

Johnson said the tenants will finish their leases unless the city can find them a new location. In the meantime, the city will begin discussing programming for the building.

The city has received $170,000 from two organizations to prepare the building for occupancy, Johnson said. There have also been discussions with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a possible visitors center at the building.