Grass-roots movement backs proposed movie studio

Those with the impression that Black Mountain Studios is not welcome in Henderson haven't talked to Tonya Hunt.

Hunt is a native of Southern California, where she and her entire family worked in the film industry.

Now she wants her daughter to have the same opportunity in Southern Nevada, preferably in Henderson.

Hunt has started a grass-roots movement to show the City Council that despite the negative publicity generated by neighbors, there is support in the community for the studio that would provide a clean, well-paying way to diversify Henderson's economy.

Original plans called for a Universal Studios-like theme park without the rides. Under that plan, visitors, estimated at more than a million annually, could tour movie sets and sound stages and take home a video clip of themselves in a film.

But since the project was announced in 1997, its scope has been scaled back. Current plans call for a working production studio, rather than a theme park, with approximately 250 employees, rather than an estimated 1,000.

Hunt and resident John Crandell have organized a rally during Saturday's Heritage Days Parade in downtown Henderson. Hunt said the group will gather at 11:30 a.m. at the United Steelworkers of America Local 4856 union hall, 47 S. Water St.

Crandell, a retiree who moved to Henderson six years ago from Philadelphia, said he would like the studio to receive the go-ahead from the Planning Commission and the council. He has been following the issue as it has come up at the various meetings since December 1998.

"I got involved because I think this could be the best thing that happened to this town," he said. "I want to see people get jobs -- union jobs, good jobs."

In addition to the Steelworkers, members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators Local 720, which supports the studio, have agreed to join the rally, Hunt said.

The Planning Commission last Thursday postponed a vote on Black Mountain Studios' recrafted proposal to develop a film production studio on 20.5 acres in the Wagon Wheel Industrial Park.

"I believe in this and would like to see this thing get passed with the 20 acres," Crandell said.

Long fight

The city in March 1997 sold Doris Keating, principal developer of Black Mountain Studios, the 20.5 acres to develop the project. The city also entered into an agreement that would allow Keating to buy the remainder of the partially developed industrial park -- about 66 acres -- in 20-acre parcels over three years.

Construction that was supposed to have begun on the 20.5 acres by November had not commenced in February, according to City Attorney Shauna Hughes. Keating then asked the City Council for a time extension on the purchase agreement.

Amid missed deadlines and protests from residents living adjacent to the project, the council in February denied Keating an extension of time on the purchase agreement and denied her tentative map for the studio. But the council said it would consider her application on the 20.5 acres that she owns on the southeast corner of Dawson Avenue and Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

That means the city can now develop the remainder of the property or sell it to another interested party.

Keating has filed a lawsuit to help her acquire those remaining 66 acres to develop the proposed $200 million movie studio in its entirety.

Keating's lawsuit argues that a "mutual mistake" was made in not allowing her to delay the purchase of the additional lots. The contract language that says the buyer may accelerate the sale also should have read "or delay," the lawsuit claims, and it asks that the contract be changed to include those words.

"We just want to know what our rights are under the contract," Paul Larsen, her attorney, said. "We are asking the court to determine our respective rights and obligations."

Larsen said Black Mountain Studios has asked to purchase a fourth parcel in the industrial park as part of the original contract. The city has not responded.

In the meantime, Larsen said, the company will develop the 20 acres "as a working movie studio, not as a tourist attraction or a novelty item."

Petition drive

Hunt is working to see that it happens.

So far she has gathered 462 signatures on a petition supporting Black Mountain Studios, she said.

Her goal is to get 2,000 signatures by April 29, when the Planning Commission will again consider the proposal. She plans to present the signatures to the City Council as well when it considers the new plan May 11.

Hunt, who moved to Henderson six years ago, is quick to point out that she gets no income from the studio. She works at Applied Hardcoating Technologies Inc. in Henderson. Her husband works at Titanium Metals Corp. of America and is a member of the Steelworkers union.

While she respects the Mission Hills homeowners who have been vocal in their opposition to the studios, Hunt said she wants to get out a message about the positives the studios would bring to the community.

Mission Hills residents have said they are concerned that once complete, the proposed 85-acre film production studio and sound stage adjacent to their neighborhood will mean an end to their rural lifestyle. They are concerned about noise and traffic, in addition to the impact of a huge influx of visitors.

Hunt understands that concern. She and her family live off College Drive not far from the studio site and would feel the impact of increased traffic.

Still, she said, "I feel very strongly that having a motion picture studio here is very valuable because it diversifies our economy and brings high-paying jobs.

"All their (Mission Hills residents) fears are issues they have to deal with," she said. "I'm able to look at the broad picture of what this will do for our community."

Hunt said she believes other businesses in Henderson will prosper, because it takes many other types of businesses to support a studio.

"It impacts so many people," she said. "It's phenomenal."

In addition to Hunt and Crandell, the movie studio proposal has others in its corner.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce supports the project in concept.

"We thought it would be very beneficial for the community," said Alice Martz, the chamber's executive director.

Charles Geocaris, director of the Nevada Film Office, said his office encourages any type of development that would bring more film and entertainment industry business to Nevada.

"They bring jobs and dollars you can't find elsewhere," he said. "We're very excited about developing Silver Star as well as Black Mountain studios."

Geocaris said he has about a half-dozen proposals from studios in the planning stages, but Black Mountain and Silver Star, a proposed studio on 80 acres in Pahrump, are the only two that seem to be truly developing. Plans call for ground to be broken for Silver Star as early as the end of the year.

Hunt said she does not believe members of the City Council think Keating is credible.

Mayor Jim Gibson said at the February meeting that he was concerned about construction delays on the initial 5 acres of Keating's property that are supposed to include a 190,000-square-foot building and a topiary park.

But Hunt thinks the project is worth pursuing.

"I just started out petitioning because I don't want to take no for an answer," Hunt said. "This is too important for Nevada and for Las Vegas. I don't think people realize the impact."

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