Letter: Visionary thrill ride would be boon to city

Monday, May 20, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

To the editor:

I am writing in response to the May 13 editorial, "Thumbs down on thrill ride": The Stratosphere Casino Hotel and Tower appeared before the Las Vegas City Planning Commission on Thursday, May 9, for the purpose of a site development plan review for our proposed amusement attraction.

Attorneys and various experts for the Stratosphere made a full and complete presentation before the Commission. The presentation focused on the application for the revised design of the proposed amusement attraction. The revised plan was the result of months of planning, research and substantial expense associated with redesigning the attraction based on the input of the neighbors, the mayor and the Las Vegas City Council.

The Stratosphere provided experts to professionally address concerns previously brought up by select neighbors and the City Council: noise, vibration, traffic, property values and aesthetics. Qualified professionals with expertise in acoustical, structural and traffic engineering, as well as ride design, were on-hand to provide clarity to any questions posed by the Las Vegas Planning Commission. They presented facts, not subjective opinions.

Fortunately, the city of Las Vegas has its own experts on staff. These Planning Department staff experts recommended approval for the Stratosphere's revised design application based on a thorough review of the requirements and city ordinances. They found the Stratosphere to be in compliance with the city code and, therefore, lawful. The Planning Commission staff also recommended approval of the original design submitted last fall.

Although the Commission deadlocked 2-2, with three abstentions, the facts remain clear. The proposed amusement attraction is a viable project to be paid for with private investment dollars.

This investment would generate millions of dollars a year in incremental taxes to the city from a corridor where long-standing reputable business like the Holy Cow Casino & Brewery have closed. The attraction will create hundreds of new jobs during the construction and operational phases.

It is also forecasted to draw 765,000 additional tourists per year to the Stratosphere and the north end of the Strip by car, foot and other forms of mass transportation. The attraction will generate worldwide publicity for the city of Las Vegas. The influx of tourists will aid business development in the area. I believe this is extremely important considering the economy and the decline in tourism to this great city.

The attraction on Las Vegas Boulevard is planned in a C-2 zone, the equivalent of a H-1 zone in the county. Consequently, the Stratosphere is not seeking zoning approval; by law, zoning ordinance allows for this type of attraction. This type of project is compatible with other attractions that have been built up and down the Strip.

Contrary to the editorial, the attraction will not front Paradise Road. In fact, the new design has brought the ride 127 feet closer to the Stratosphere. The structure is still well within Stratosphere's property border.

The proposed amusement attraction is controversial because it is visionary. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world offering outstanding gaming resort properties, the best restaurants and the best shows. Many of them are located along the Las Vegas Strip, one of the most famous and celebrated stretches of roadway anywhere. This is what makes Las Vegas one of the leading tourist destinations in the world.

It was 11 years ago that ground broke on the project that became the Stratosphere Tower. At that time, a determined group of neighbors were adamant in their opposition. They believed the Tower would be ugly, obnoxious and obtrusive and its mere presence would cause property values to plummet.

Recently, the Stratosphere Tower was voted Best Las Vegas Landmark by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Tower has not caused traffic gridlock. In addition, according to the County Assessor's Office, property values have risen and kept pace with newer parts of the valley.

It is unfortunate that much of the media have misinterpreted the facts and fueled controversy where there should be none; especially since this area is already zoned for this attraction. Between the three Icahn gaming properties (the Stratosphere, Arizona Charlie's West and Arizona Charlie's East) there are over 800 employees and their families who live in City Council Ward 3.

It consistently surprises me that the opinions of this large a group have gone unnoticed along with the opinions of their neighbors in favor of the project. Also unnoticed are the contributions of these hard working employees who have persevered in revitalizing their neighborhoods and building the Stratosphere into what it is today.

Richard P. Brown The writer is chief operating officer of the Stratosphere Corp.