Library, St. Jude's temporarily win fight over property

It's not often that a large chunk of property blanketed with lush grass and dotted with flourishing trees becomes available smack dab in the middle of town.

That may explain why a handful of Boulder City agencies are playing tug-o-war with the 12 acres that was once home to the Southern Nevada Children's Home.

St. Jude's Ranch for Children wants to create a second campus for its organization that houses abused and neglected children. Boulder City Library District members want property for a new building. And the city's parks department suggested creating a teen center and park.

After residents and organizations pitched their grand ideas to the Planning Commission on Wednesday evening, many walked away stunned by the board's decision and some even called it a cop-out.

"I'm shocked," said Boulder City resident Heather Wilmesher. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

While Boulder City staff recommended the library and parks and recreation department share the parcel, the commission voted 4-3 to allow the library and children's facility to use the land.

Wilmesher, who had suggested linking the library and park with an outdoor amphitheater for poetry readings and plays, said the children's home and library are not compatible.

She, like other neighbors of the parcel, is concerned about the safety of neighborhood children.

"When those children run away," she said, referring to the children housed by St. Jude's. "They are going to hide in the first garage they come to."

The state purchased the land for $1 from Boulder City in 1967 to build the children's home. The home, which housed about 60 children, was closed last year and the city has been negotiating to reclaim the property since.

Longtime residents said when the children's home was built, it was on the edge of town. Over the years, development has surrounded the facility, pushing it into the middle of Boulder City.

Commissioner Robert Herr's assessment that the children need the property more than Boulder City residents was met with a groans, but his associate, Paul Fava, agreed.

"(St. Jude's) is dealing with children who have had doors shut in their face all their lives," Commissioner Fava said. "I don't want to shut another door in their face."

After listening to Boulder City Library District Director Duncan McCoy describe how the library has outgrown its existing building, the commission agreed to allot the organization part of the land.

"I feel it's a very excellent place to put a library," said McCoy, who added that the new facility will cost about $4 million to build. "The present library is very quickly running out of space."

The Planning Commission's decision will be forwarded to the City Council, which will hold another public hearing. That meeting has yet to be scheduled.

The other entities that expressed interest in the property were WestCare, which wanted the buildings for office space for outreach services; the Clark County Housing Authority wanted the cottages for low-income senior citizens and the National Park Service wanted the land for storage space.

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