City Council briefs

APARTMENT REMODELING -- The Aladdin Villas apartments in the Meadows Village neighborhood behind the Stratosphere hotel-casino have been purchased by a new owner and will be remodeled into the Stratosphere Apartments. The buildings that make up the complex were condemned and vacated by the city of Las Vegas a few months ago after the city extended several deadlines for the owners in an effort to get the buildings cleaned up. The owners, Nick and Brian Mallas, claimed bankruptcy and the demolition was held off until the court decided what to do. Three weeks ago, the court held an auction of the buildings, and they were bought by Apache Enterprises, of Las Vegas. At Monday's City Council meeting, Apache unveiled its plans to renovate the buildings and turn them into the Stratosphere Apartments. The Council voted to accept Apache's plans and timeline for the renovations. Meanwhile, four of the buildings that made up part of the complex but were owned by Colleen Baker were declared a nuisance and ordered to be vacated and demolished by the Council.

DEMOLITION SET -- After months of extended deadlines and broken promises, the City of Las Vegas has decided to demolish the dilapidated structures that were once the Sierra Nevada Arms apartment complex. The City Council voted unanimously on Monday to have the structures, which have been up on trailers and are full of asbestos, demolished in two weeks. City Councilman Arnie Adamsen was not present for the meeting. The buildings have been bothering the neighbors around Coran Lane, Simmons Street and Holly Avenue for months. After the complex was sold to Shepherd Hills Development Corp. by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development two years ago, Shepherd Hills contracted with Southwest Colored Rock to have the buildings on the land demolished. Rather than wreck the buildings, Southwest claimed salvage rights and sold the structures to Mike Kinzler, a local contractor. Kinzler has since been attempting to move the buildings to different locations throughout Clark County. But more than 120 days later, they remain. The city has 14 days before it can start wrecking the buildings, which will also require asbestos abatement.

AUDIT COMMITTEE -- Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones appointed herself, City Councilman Michael McDonald, Pioneer Citizens Bank President Bill Martin and accountant Connie Lentz to the new city Audit Oversight Committee. The committee will be the organization the office of the city auditor sends its reports and investigations to. Currently, the office sends reports to the city manager, who the city auditor reports to.

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