Deal approved for buying airport homes

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 | 8:43 a.m.

The Clark County Commission, without dissent, approved a plan that would allow some homeowners on Russell Road off Eastern Avenue to sell their properties to the county Aviation Department.

The intersection is slated to become a major entrance to McCarran International Airport. Some residents of the area protested this year after the County Commission approved a lease with Wal-Mart that would have put a company superstore near Russell and Eastern. A compromise eventually put the store south of the original site and a park closer to the residents.

Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey voted for the "willing seller, willing buyer" proposal from the Aviation Department, but expressed concerns that taking residential land and turning it into commercial property would exacerbate a shortage of land for homes.

Kincaid-Chauncey, who leaves office in January, said she is also concerned that the Aviation Department would make a profit on land vacated by the residents.

Randy Walker, Aviation Department director, said that is not happening.

"If anyone is accusing us of making a profit on this land, they need to come and look at our books," he said. "We buy it for airport purposes to protect the $3 billion asset we have at the airport.

"We're not looking at this as an investment in property. It's part of just putting the whole master plan together."

Commissioner Rory Reid, who represents the area and was sometimes in the middle of the debate over the Wal-Mart store, said the voluntary nature of the offers makes the proposal work.

"If they are willing to sell their homes, we should be willing to buy them," Reid said.