Union Park plans are tweaked once again

Dan Kulin

Monday, May 15, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

It's been a constantly evolving plan. And the newest vision for Las Vegas' Union Park, the 61 prime downtown acres of former railroad yards, shows a slightly adjusted layout of buildings with a long central park cutting through the middle of the property.

Dropped from the newest blueprint, as expected, are plans for a new City Hall and a domed baseball stadium, which were featured prominently in earlier versions - before city officials decided the land was too valuable for those public uses.

Residential and office high rises are still included in the proposal, as are the Lou Ruvo Alzheimer's Institute and the Fred W. and Mary B. Smith Center for Performing Arts.

The performing arts center will be situated a bit south of its previous site, in order to accommodate a long park/promenade that will bisect the development. This open space will appear as an extension of Lewis Avenue, which currently stops at Main Street.

Newland Communities put this most recent development proposal together, and it will be considered Wednesday by the City Council.

San Diego-based Newland was hired by the city to oversee the master development and negotiate with potential builders of specific projects.

Scott Adams, director of the Las Vegas Business Development office, said any changes to the performing arts center plans will force the council to amend its agreement with the center.

For example, the land set aside for the performing arts center has decreased from 4.25 acres to 3.55 acres. Efforts are under way to restore the site to 4.25 acres - and for the inclusion of retail space on the center's ground floor.

As expected, the plan shows a hotel across the railroad tracks from the existing Plaza hotel on Main Street. Mayor Oscar Goodman said city representatives are discussing a land swap with the Tamares Group, owners of the Plaza.

The casino owners want about seven of the 61 acres for a new hotel tower, and the city wants about seven acres that is now a Plaza parking lot on which to build a new City Hall.

The Plaza is a key property for the development of the 61 acres, as the hotel aligns with most of the property's eastern border.

The Union Park plans show a pedestrian bridge over the railroad bridge from the Plaza site to the 61 acres. But Goodman said that contrary to some reports, the Fremont Street Experience canopy would not be expanded.

The council has agreed to borrow $40 million for public works improvements on the 61 acres that could be under way within a year.