LV council delays MASH land splits

Dan Kulin

Thursday, March 3, 2005 | 9:08 a.m.

Two of three land transactions that would give nonprofit groups pieces of the site of the former MASH Village homeless shelter were postponed by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday.

The delays are not expected to cause any problems for the plans to build affordable housing on the land near the intersection of Main Street and Owens Avenue, officials said.

The council was scheduled to vote Wednesday on proposals to sell pieces of the former shelter property to the Salvation Army, HELP Las Vegas Housing Corp. II, and Shade Tree for $10 each.

The Shade Tree sale was approved by a 6-0 council vote. Councilman Michael Mack abstained from the matter because his parents own property nearby.

Shade Tree, which provides shelter to homeless and abused women and children, plans to use the property to expand its parking lot and add a playground and patio area.

Votes on the transfers to the Salvation Army and HELP Las Vegas Housing Corp. II were both delayed until March 16.

City Manager Doug Selby said the delay was needed in part to determine if the transfers should be voted on by the council or the city Redevelopment Agency board, which is comprised of the council members, although they are legally acting as the agency board and not as the council.

"I don't expect anything but a delay," Selby said about the impact of the issues surrounding the proposed transfers.

Maj. William S. Raihl, the Salvation Army director in Las Vegas, said the delay was needed so he could get his corporate board based in Long Beach, Calif., to OK the deal.

The Salvation Army plans to build as many as 100 apartments on 3.2 acres for low-income families.

The HELP Las Vegas Housing plans call for building 200 apartments on 4.8 acres.