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A look at First Friday, a celebration of the arts held in the Las Vegas downtown Arts District on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011.
By Kyle B. Hansen (contact) 
Monday, Aug. 15, 2011 | 3:53 p.m.
Score one for former Mayor Oscar Goodman and his showgirls: Downtown Las Vegas is officially "fabulous."
In a USA Today listing of 10 "great" urban neighborhoods to explore across the country, Richard Florida, a senior editor for The Atlantic magazine and a professor at the University of Toronto, said downtown Las Vegas is “a fabulous area with great urban energy.”
It’s quite the compliment for an area that saw a steady decline as the Strip grew and “Fabulous Las Vegas” shifted south.
USA Today points out that downtown “has become home to hipsters, designers and, soon, workers of the online shoe giant Zappos.com, which will be headquartered here in the old City Hall building.”
Florida cites Las Vegas’ downtown as one of 10 urban areas that are making a comeback. The other areas listed were the H Street Corridor NE in Washington, D.C.; Wynwood and the Design District in Miami; Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh; Chelsea, New York; Wicker Park and Bucktown in Chicago; South Lake Union, Seattle; Queen West in Toronto; West 7th, Fort Worth, Texas; and Corktown in Detroit.
Cool stuff. Hope this keeps up for Downtown.
I wonder how much it cost to get this moron to publish this.
I'd love to wander downtown with this guy.
First friday? When the businesses down there handle it instead of whirlygig, it's worthwhile to attend, otherwise it's just a teenfest.
Someone has something nice to say about us and some of you just can't stand it. We need all the good publicity we can get, whether or not you think it is justified.
It was just a list of great up-and-coming urban neighborhoods..not from just one person, but an expert. He has been studying this stuff for 25 years...but what does he know? Why is everyone so negative? In fact, Richard Florida mentions the Fremont District neighborhood of downtown specifically...not all of downtown, although it is all pretty great.
If you are scared of the boogey man, then stay at home...just don't hate. If you want to come down and be part of a great new community, then come down and give it a try.
I lived downtown for the first 4 years I was in Vegas, (starting in '04)...downtown is MILES from where it used to be...thanx to the cameras, the drug dealers have moved on, the "Fremont East" project brings positive traffic east of the Experience, and a more obvious Police presence have made downtown somewhere that people can have fun again, without worries of being mugged or worse. If you're still whining about how dangerous Fremont is, you haven't been down there in awhile. Put on your big boy pants, & give it a try
Anyone who thinks downtown "isn't safe" isn't a grown up. Plain and simple.
We spend a great deal of our time downtown, both in the daylight and at night, mostly at night. We have never had a negative experience downtown.
Use some common sense when you go out anywhere and you can have a good time and be safe.
Some posting here I am not sure they have ever even been downtown, they just spout nonsense they "hear" from others.
Glad to see the rest of the world it taking notice of what many of us already know, Las Vegas is a great place!
Go downtown and wander off Fremont street. It is not pretty. This is like standing in manure up to your neck, downtown years ago, and then up to your waist, now. It's still manure.
I own a home downtown, a mere two blocks off of Fremont, and I love it. My neighborhood was one of the first downtown developments to be built in the early 1940s. For people like rejecto and others, do a little homework before you shoot off at the mouth. And if downtown really scares you, well, I'd rather not have someone like *you* walking through my neighborhood.
I just moved and now I'm closer to downtown. It is really coming along. Yes, it has room to improve. A LOT. But if you haven't noticed the vast improvements, you are purposely remaining blind.
A new arena downtown would be so huge though. Google what Sprint Center did for downtown Kansas City. Incredible. Their downtown was a scum pit. Then the Sprint Center opened in '07. Now they have the whole P&L District booming. And like LV, they have no NBA or NHL. But they have the 2nd busiest arena in the USA and it single handedly revived a whole area near downtown. LV could learn from KC but people have to think outside the box.
I'm not one who likes pom-pom waving or unjustified praise. But Richard Florida is a respected authority on Urban America, and, as far as I know, has no personal gain in promoting Las Vegas.
Furthermore, while I have not been a fan of the large hi-rise developments Downtown, nor much of the commercial development/plans for Union Park and the 61 acres, I AM a fan of the more organic (if you will) growth Downtown. This includes an poster's Beat Coffee House, the Insert Coins bar/arcade, The Verdict's In (my second mention of this nifty little place in one day), Theater Seven, Gaia Flower Shop, and ALL the other places (even Reza's hair place!) trying to give it a go and generally adding to the quality of life, Downtown.
(Okay P-Reza, and now back under the hood dryer with you.)
I always loved Downtown. Walked around a lot there during the day since I worked only a few blocks away. One of my friends and I would have the buffet at the Fremont and then gamble. Always walked out with winnings since we were "on our lunch hour" and had to get back to work! lolol And we always went down there at night. Never felt unsafe (maybe that's because I'm from a big city and a few bums and homeless people is no big deal). You just have to use common sense,ie no I would not walk the streets at 2:00am Vegas or not. I hope things do improve down there. It is a nifty little neighborhood. It needs a grocery store, though.
I have lived downtown for over 10 years and have seen first hand all of the outstanding things that have taken root here. Countless people have been putting the pieces of the puzzle together and are creating a real community where genuine friendships are formed, neighborhood pride is strong, and new growth continues, even during these challenging times. Lovin' Livin' Downtown!
I have been working downtown for over a decade now I've seen the area grow and get cleaned up. As far as feeling safe in my years spent in the area i cant recall any incidences where I felt any kind of endangerment. As far the zappos deal goes thats probably the best thing to happen to downtown. The Ceo has already rented out an entire floor at the Ogden which was having a hard time renting out their units. Once they take over city hall their bringing over 2000 employees to the area who cares if they got a great deal for the building the city should have given it to them just to bring them in. I say in 2-3 years downtowns gonna be thriving while the strip is gonna be struggling not to lose millions due to building so many new casinos. First friday is one of the only things to bring any kind of culture to a city that relies on gambling and drinking.
Downtown is so much more than Fremont Street or the Arts District. There's some 10,000 single family homes within a mile or 2 of Fremont. Those historic neighborhoods are full of excited enthused, cooperative and motivated neighbors. Every single home is uniquely different. We choose urban life for a reason, and it's not just about commuting time to work. It's about charming tree lined streets, mid century modern architecture, people who actually know each other and share a common cause and mission to improve. We have been re-building ALL of downtown for many years and it's truly starting to pay off. Yes, it is a jigsaw puzzle with many different pieces, but they are coming together now. It's terrific that Richard Florida recognizes what we downtown residents already know.
I don't have a problem with downtown, my wife and I go all the time. Once I saw security from the El Cortez come outside and tell a couple of junkies or drunks to hit the road. The police presance is great wheather on bikes or foot. Besides there are places in N. Las Vegas I wouldn't want to be at night.
The H Street Corridor in Washington has been listed as an "up and coming" neighborhood for at least 15 years. It has gotten a little bit of attention, but it still isn't a safe area at night - just a couple years ago a teen was shot and killed as he was getting off a bus - during the day!
There are some sections of Downtown Vegas that are unsafe but if you venture too far off Bourbon Street in New Orleans you can get into trouble, too.
We go to the Fremont East District on a regular basis. So much more fun than the Strip.
Can't wait for the Zappos crowd to relocate. Hopefully many of them will live and play in downtown.
Mobycat,
A young man was shot right in front of Tenaya Creek not too long ago. That's right across the street from Mtn. View Hospital and borders Summerlin. Hardly a high-crime area. These things happen everywhere.
I'm very happy to see downtown making a revival.
Hey, DTJ, did you ever make it over to that little bodega they opened on the bottom floor of that highrise down there?
Next,
You remember that? Yes, I did. Unfortunately, the prices were a bit too rich for me. Still, for the office crowd Downtown -- and IF they ever get any real tenants in the hi-rises around there -- I suppose the nearby handiness of the place would balance out the premiums this place presumably has to charge to make a go of it.
By the way, yesterday I was remiss to not include mention the East Charleston Animal Hospital. The previous owner was apparently a bit shady. But the ladies that took ownership of the place the year before last are some of the kindest and most caring folks you could ever entrust you pet to, and they deserve our community's support. Very reasonable fees, too.
...and the new Smith Center for the Performing Arts is gorgeous! It's located at Symphony Park. I would suggest to some nay sayers to Google it up and take the virtual tour. Finally, a theater destination that is truly world class. Robert and I just purchased our 2012 Broadway theater subscription yesterday and we look foward to dining and theater-going downtown!
Stuart & Robert Wyman-Cahall
Las Vegas 89142
Symphony Park, Union Park... call it what you want. What it is, is yet more gifting of publicly owned land (i.e. land bought and paid for by YOU and ME) to private development. The Lou Ravo building is a humiliating joke played on Las Vegas. The hotels and condos planned for there are corporate welfare to a criminal degree. I could go on, but screw it. I'm a "naysayer," alright. THIS part about Downtown stinks to high heaven.