LV, developer eye plan for Metro headquarters

Sito Negron

Friday, July 2, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Las Vegas is considering an agreement with a developer to build a high-rise headquarters to lease to Metro Police.

The City Council is scheduled Wednesday to consider a deal with J.A. Tiberti Construction Co. and KGA Architects to develop by the end of the year a building and financing plan for a Metro headquarters at 200 S. Third St., currently the site of the Clark County Courthouse.

The arrangement would provide Metro with its building while generating property tax revenue because, instead of being owned by the city, the property would be owned by the developer -- much like the arrangement Irwin Molasky has with the IRS for a building adjacent to the Spaghetti Bowl.

The proposal also would add another piece to the downtown redevelopment puzzle.

In addition, "the potential exists for the city, through the Redevelopment Agency, to help build the building," City Manager Doug Selby said.

The Redevelopment Agency, which is an incorporated nonprofit agency designed to focus on promoting downtown projects through such means as tax incentives, consists of the members of City Council.

Councilman Gary Reese said it sounded like a good idea and, although Tiberti is getting the inside track, it was the company's idea, and it's put in plenty of work already.

If the agreement is approved by council, "we're giving them an exclusive ... to see what they can come up with," Reese said. "They've got a lot of money and they're ready to go."

Tiberti and county officials did not return calls seeking comment.

The county in mid-May gave Metro 120 days to explore ways to finance a new headquarters on the County Courthouse site.

Undersheriff Doug Gillespie said the idea for the agreement with Tiberti is the city's, and he could not comment on it specifically. Metro does like the site, however.

"We at Metro feel this is the ideal location. ... The city agrees with Metro."

Sheriff Bill Young has said that his department needs a central command building to consolidate functions currently scattered across the Las Vegas Valley. It spends almost $500,000 a year on leases, and officers spend precious time shuttling back and forth between various sites and the courts, Young has complained.

Occupants of the courthouse are scheduled to move into the Regional Justice Center when that building opens. The Justice Center is two years behind schedule, however, and no firm opening date has been set.