Lofts proposed for downtown

Jennifer Shubinski

Friday, Feb. 20, 2004 | 11:37 a.m.

For most people, a drive through downtown Henderson and its view of city buildings, a smattering of empty storefronts and aging homes doesn't evoke images of nightlife, or even a cool place to hang out during the day.

But developer Jack Webb sees an area on the verge of something big.

"This is how you can become a part of the community," said Webb, a developer who is working to form Parkline Properties LLC. "Stephanie Street and Lake Las Vegas and Green Valley Ranch are not our downtown. They are all parts of Henderson but they are not the downtown."

Webb is working with Henderson's redevelopment agency on a project that would bring 48 loft-style condominiums to Basic Road between Pacific Avenue and Lead Street, just down the street from City Hall.

Prices for the contemporary-style lofts are yet to be determined. Webb said the units will be aimed at young professionals who want to live downtown.

Webb has both developed and worked on redevelopment projects throughout California, including mixed-use projects and multi-family housing.

Henderson City Council members already have been briefed on the project, but it won't be formally presented to them until April at the earliest. The city's redevelopment agency, whose board is the City Council members, is to be presented with the project April 6, said Robert Ryan, city redevelopment manager. If approved, it will move on to the City Council for final approval.

Groundwork already is being laid for the development.

The city owns nine of 11 parcels along the south side of Basic Street, where the development would go. The city is in negotiations with the owners of the other two properties to increase the size of the overall parcel.

Mary Kay Peck, Henderson's community development director, said of the nine homes the city now owns, all were rental properties. The two properties the city is still in negotiations with are owner occupied, she said. Peck said one of the families wants to remain downtown and the city is working with them to find new housing nearby.

Peck said the loft project fits into the city's redevelopment investment strategy, to bring new kinds of housing to the area.

"People want to live at a place where they can walk," she said. "This project will have the park in its back yard. It's a housing choice that isn't available downtown right now."

Webb said even if the city does not buy the two remaining properties, it won't be a deal breaker, at least from his point of view.

Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers said there are people willing to live, and hopefully work, downtown. She said new housing is needed for the area and that loft-style units are a unique idea for Henderson.

"It's not for everyone, but it's for a lot of people and you find it happening in larger cities throughout the nation," she said. "It is for executive living, where people can work, shop, live and play."

Loft housing is multi-family housing that is usually attached, with high ceilings and large open spaces for the living room and dining areas.

In order for Webb to build the loft complex, the zoning must be changed to medium density residential. Zoning changes for parts of downtown already have been discussed and are expected to be hashed out again in the near future.

A development agreement hasn't been finalized yet by the city, Peck said.

"Once we enter into an agreement with the developer we'll know the numbers. But we don't know the details because there's no deal yet," Peck said.

Webb said preliminary discussions indicate that he would develop the land and sell the units for the city.

Since 1995, when the city established the downtown redevelopment area covering its original town site of 1,000 redwood-paneled homes, the redevelopment agency has experienced mostly struggles and frustrations.

But now developers like Webb are coming to the city with ideas.

Part of the reason is the push by Henderson's redevelopment agency to work one-on-one with developers to develop realistic plans, rather than soliciting general proposals and waiting to see what others come up with.

Another is the growing scarcity and rising costs of land in the Las Vegas area.

As costs associated with development in the Las Vegas Valley increase, downtown redevelopment plans are becoming more feasible and are beginning to gain momentum.

"It's all about timing and it's right now," Cyphers said. "It's the perfect time for downtown redevelopment and there are other (projects) in the pipeline."