Redevelopment Agency gets 15-year extension

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002 | 9:41 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved without discussion a proposal that will extend the duration of the city's downtown redevelopment plan another 15 years.

Redevelopment, which began in 1986 with the creation of Redevelopment Agency, on which the City Council serves as the directors, was set to expire in 2016.

Deputy City Manager Steven Houchens told the council the extension was needed to allow the city to sell 20-year bonds for future projects.

Houchens said the past redevelopment projects have been partially financed by the city with the selling of 20-year bonds.

While much has been done under redevelopment with the construction of the Charleston Plaza Shopping Center, Fremont Street Experience, federal courthouse and other new buildings, there is still some way to go before the city achieves its goals of redevelopment, he said.

"There still is blight that has to be addressed," Houchens said.

The council's action Wednesday now sets the end of redevelopment for March 5, 2031.

When redevelopment began, city officials talked of projects that would revitalize decaying parts of Fremont and Main streets.

While the Fremont Street Experience has improved the aesthetics of the downtown area under its canopy, much of the eastern end of that key artery to downtown remains blighted.