LV wants to make deals on land for City Hall expansion

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 | 10:51 a.m.

Las Vegas officials want to talk to the owners of property in the way of City Hall's planned expansion before a vote is taken that could lead to the sale or condemnation of their properties.

The Las Vegas City Council Real Estate Committee on Monday voted 2-0 to hold until June 1 a plan to finalize purchase agreements with owners of five parcels across the street from City Hall, 400 E. Stewart Ave. The vote also would direct the city attorney's office to begin the process of eminent domain -- the taking of the land for fair market value for the public good -- if negotiations are not completed within the next two months.

The parcels are the first of several the city will need to expand City Hall across Las Vegas Boulevard for a centralized building that would draw together all of its services currently housed in leased space. The city would save more than $500,000 a year in rent, city officials said.

The committee must vote on the plan before it goes to the City Council.

"There is no intent to squash you," Councilman Lawrence Weekly told property owner Robert Page, who attended the committee meeting to say he is against the city buying his property at 512 to 522 Mesquite Ave., a strip of small apartments.

Weekly noted that since he joined the council, there have been no eminent domain proceedings for private or public redevelopment projects. Mayor Oscar Goodman has opposed use of eminent domain.

"I want the opportunity to sit down and discuss (with the property owners) what is best for the city," Weekly said in calling for the delay. Weekly told Page that if he felt the expansion "would not be a good vision. I'll support you."

Page, who says he has owned the Mesquite property since 1983, told the committee of Weekly and Councilwoman Janet Moncrief that he doesn't want to sell because the rental income from the apartments "is my retirement."

"I just want to be treated fairly and I want my tenants to be treated fairly," Page said.

Page said his tenants are mostly seniors who have lived there for many years because it is close to the downtown casinos they frequent and other services they desire or require.

Other properties for which the city is negotiating are the Spirit Pump & Snack gasoline station/convenience store and adjacent parking lot at 321 and 329 Las Vegas Blvd. North, and homes converted into apartments at 405 and 409 N. Sixth St.

David Roark, manager of real estate and assets for the city, said last week that he hoped negotiations would be successful, but said city staff would ask the council to use eminent domain because, "We have to have this property for the expansion of City Hall."

The expansion is expected to break ground next year and be completed by 2007, Roark said.

Last year the City Council redirected proceeds from $25 million in bonds originally slated for a proposed parking garage near Third Street and Bonneville Avenue to help fund the expansion, for which a final price tag has not yet been set, city officials said.