State’s preservation plans for Binion’s home fall through

Friday, March 5, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A plan to acquire the home of pioneer gambling figure Benny Binion and turn it into a cultural and historical center has fallen through.

Las Vegas' Department of Planning and Development had submitted an application to the state Commission for Cultural Affairs for $952,125 to acquire and restore the home, on Bonanza Road near Rancho Drive.

But Courtney Mooney, historic preservation officer for the city, told the commission Thursday it "had recently lost support of the owners of the building," so the city withdrew its application for money from the commission.

The home was constructed in the 1940s. A spokesman for the cultural affairs commission said the Binion family did not want to deed it over to the city.

Applications from across the state for restoration and preservation projects totaling $7.5 million have been sent to the commission, which has only $1.94 million to allocate this year.

The commission is to start parceling out the money today.

Commission Chairman Robert Ostrovsky said this will be the final disbursement from a $20 million bond issue that passed 10 years ago.

Ostrovsky said the commission intends to ask the 2005 Legislature to authorize another bond issue. He said the commission wants to be able to distribute $3 million to $5 million a year instead of an annual $2 million.

"There has been clear and convincing evidence of saving the treasures of Nevada," said Ostrovsky. "We have a positive story to tell."

He said he has not had an opportunity to visit with Gov. Kenny Guinn, who will be preparing the next budget starting in September.

The largest amount of money during the past 10 years went to Oats Park School in Fallon, which got $2.3 million. The biggest beneficiary in Clark County was the Friends of the Huntridge Theater, which received $1.5 million.

At the meeting Thursday Dr. Robert Fielding, representing the Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services, asked for $390,000 to help restore the old post office building downtown.

It was opened in 1933 and is now on the state and national historic registers. Plans call for turning it into a cultural center, but Fielding said it needs many improvements. He said some events are set for May 1, 2005, when Las Vegas celebrates its 100th birthday.

The cultural commission has allocated $187,565 to the post office renovation over the past two years.