Las Vegas council briefs for August 18, 2005

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

McDonald given time on land deal

The members of the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday decided to give one of their former colleagues more time to finalize negotiations for city land where he wants to build a senior housing complex.

Former City Councilman Michael McDonald was given an additional 120 days to negotiate for 13.4 acres on the southwest corner of Decatur Boulevard and Vegas Drive. The land was once occupied by a Wonder World shopping center that has since been demolished by the city.

This was the second extension given to McDonald, who also received a 90-day extension in May.

McDonald, who was on the council from 1995 until June 2003, initially offered $8 million for the property and said he wants to build a senior housing complex on the land.

The city has spent at least $7.6 million buying the property and demolishing buildings on it, city officials have said.

City Director of Business Development Scott Adams has said that according to an appraisal done for the city, the land is worth slightly more than $6 million.

Housing authority plans apartments

The Las Vegas Housing Authority's plans to build 60 apartments and homes along Charleston Boulevard next to U.S. 95 were approved by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday.

The new homes will be built at 3901 E. Charleston Blvd. on the site of a former housing complex known as the Ernie Cragin complex, which included 54 apartments. Those apartments were closed in 2002 because of problems with asbestos, lead paint and mold inside some apartments, and remained boarded up for at least three years. Those apartments have since been demolished.

The new 60-unit complex would cost about $16.5 million to build, with construction expected to start in March 2006 and be completed by June 2007, Housing Authority Director Parviz Ghadiri said.

The council voted 7-0 to approve the project, which was announced earlier this year.

Ghadiri said the new complex would include two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes in duplexes and detached single-family residences.