Editorial: Raising the bar, again

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

Even Las Vegans who have become blase about our city's high-octane economy could be forgiven for being dazzled by the breathtaking scope of the latest undertaking planned for the Strip. Gaming industry giant MGM Mirage has announced it will build a $4 billion "urban metropolis" along Las Vegas Boulevard. When "Project CityCenter" is finally completed in 2010, it will consist of a 4,000-room hotel connected to a casino, three boutique hotels, luxury condominium towers, retail shops, restaurants and entertainment venues -- all situated on 66 acres.

The MGM Mirage's project is more evidence of the gaming industry's continuing diversification, as it offers much more than gambling. Las Vegas now has some of the world's greatest restaurants, retail shops and spas, truly making this city a premier resort destination. For this project the MGM Mirage will rely on the help of a New York firm known for developing and integrating residential and work areas that are pedestrian-friendly -- New York City's Battery Park and Baltimore's Inner Harbor East district. "This is the next evolution of Las Vegas, creating a much more developed urban market," MGM Mirage Chief Financial Officer Jim Murren said. (While we believe this is the right direction, too, government planners will have to address how Las Vegas Boulevard and nearby arterials will be able to handle the tens of thousands of extra vehicles on the road as b oth visitors and employees travel to the MGM Mirage project and other new hotel-casinos.)

Shortly after the latest wave of casino mergers, some industry experts wondered whether these corporations would be less willing to take chances. So far we haven't seen any inkling that the mergers have stifled creativity. Instead, these corporations have become even more competitive, further raising the bar for excellence. And all Las Vegans benefit when that happens.