Strip giant in condo talks

By Liz Benston

Friday, Nov. 1, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

MGM MIRAGE is in talks with luxury timeshare developer Turnberry Associates about building a "condominium hotel" complex on land near the MGM Grand.

The complex would be built by Turnberry at the site of MGM Grand's now-defunct theme park, which sits near Koval Lane behind the Strip-facing resort, Las Vegas architect Joel Bergman said at a gathering of real estate developers and land use experts Thursday.

Bergman, president of Bergman, Walls & Associates, took part in a panel discussion on resort development hosted by the nonprofit Urban Land Institute advisory group.

Turnberry Associates has hired the firm to design the project, Bergman said.

MGM MIRAGE spokeswoman Shelley Mansholt confirmed that the company is discussing a project with Turnberry, but declined further comment.

It was not clear whether the project would be built on the theme park land or adjacent to it on MGM Grand property. It also wasn't clear whether the property would be owned by MGM MIRAGE, Turnberry Associates or both.

A Las Vegas-based representative of Turnberry Associates was not immediately familiar with the project and could not offer comment by press time today.

Bergman told the group that the complex will take shape over the next couple of years and offer units for sale or rent. The project could also yield as many as six towers with up to 200 units per building, he said.

Contacted after the session, Bergman said the project is "under serious consideration" but declined to reveal further details.

Bergman, Walls & Associates crafted Paris Las Vegas, Treasure Island, the Mirage and a host of other major casino resorts.

Florida-based Turnberry Associates developed Turnberry Place, a cluster of high-end condo towers on Paradise Road near Sahara Avenue.

Financing difficulties have put a second project -- a London-theme casino resort on the Strip near Turnberry Place -- on indefinite hold.