Las Vegas to become planner for 61 acres

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 | 11:09 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council directed its staff Wednesday to start negotiations with a team of experts to attempt to redevelop the old railroad yard in the western downtown area into an "urban village."

Before the unanimous vote, several council members expressed hope that this action will finally get the city off square one -- where it has been since acquiring the land in 2000 -- to develop the 61-acre parcel with high-density residences, an academic medical center, an arts center, retail stores and other uses.

In effect, the city, which has been looking for a master planner for the so-called "Parkway Center," will become the master planner, clearing the way for a number of developers to submit proposals for various pieces of the puzzle that the city will try to fit together.

"We need a team of experts to plan and market the site and receive proposals to get this site up and running," City Manager Doug Selby said, noting that his existing staff does not have the expertise for such a large project. "It would be an urban village -- a place to live, work and recreate."

What it will cost city taxpayers to pay for that planning dream team will not be known until the negotiated contracts come in, possible later this month or in early February.

The city will attempt to reach deals with the following companies and individuals for its panel of experts:

Selby said the expert panel contracts could be approved as early as the Feb. 5 City Council meeting and a development plan could be in place by May or June.

Selby said a Parkway Task Force comprised of the mayor, two councilmen, the City Centre Development Corp, a city attorney, the city manager, a contract supervisor, at-large members and the project administrator, would determine the vision of the project, receive concepts, screen prospects and oversee development planning.

Some council members said the matter has been studied for a long time and it is time to do something.

"We are still at square one," Councilman Lawrence Weekly said. "We know what we want. Now we have to find the money to pay for it."

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald warned that the city "must balance what we want with what the market will support" for that land.

She questioned whether the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the University of Nevada, Reno, the Board of Regents and the Legislature are seriously committed to an academic medical center on the site.

Selby said he will be meeting next week with the presidents of UNLV and UNR to discuss that topic.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he does not agree with those who suggest that nothing immediately be done with the site except to "land bank" it and let it rise in value in the coming years.