Officials want to improve dilapidated NLV gateway

North Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in Nevada, bursting at the seams with new residential complexes and industrial developments. But economic development officials there are not happy with the look of a main gateway into the city.

That gateway -- the Lake Mead Boulevard exit from I-15 that runs east toward City Hall -- was made an official redevelopment area in 1990. And while there have been new retail developments at the corner of Lake Mead and Las Vegas Boulevard North, city boosters are still not satisfied.

So North Las Vegas is planning a much grander redevelopment scheme. City economic development officials want to entice people who own property in the "land island" bounded by the east-bound and west-bound lanes of Lake Mead Boulevard, I-15 and Las Vegas Boulevard to develop a "creative" project on the island.

If no property owners come up with an acceptable plan, the city will try to acquire the island itself. It would then be re-sold to a developer who has submitted an acceptable proposal, said Jacquelin Risner, economic development manager for North Las Vegas.

"We'll be coming out with a request for proposal shortly," Risner said.

The city had wanted the island redeveloped with office and retail buildings. But the city has now broadened its horizons and will consider all proposals, said Risner.

The idea, she said, is to change people's perception of North Las Vegas.

"We're trying very hard to change our image in North Las Vegas," said Risner.

Now, the land island is occupied by run-down residences with bars on the windows and shoddy retail shops. For many people, the land island is the first thing they see when they enter North Las Vegas.

"It's highly visible," said Risner. "We want it to be a real signature project here."

Since 1990, $100 million has been invested in the area, she said.

Risner made her comments during an economic development bus tour sponsored by the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Thursday. The two-and-a-half-hour tour gave officials a chance to show three busloads of business people some of the city's more notable development -- and redevelopment -- projects.

Among the highlights are:

Millennium Inc., an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena, that will be located on Las Vegas Boulevard south of Cheyenne Avenue. Officials said Millennium has faced financial challenges in the past several months, delaying its construction. But the arena is expected to break ground within the next 30 to 60 days, officials said.

Numerous industrial parks, including the Golden Triangle, a 320-acre park north on Lone Mountain Road and west of I-15; the Hughes Cheyenne Center, a 229-acre industrial park at Cheyenne Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard; and Brookspark, a 60-acre master-planned industrial park east of Commerce Street between Cheyenne and Carey Avenues.

The new freeway interchange under construction at the intersection of Losee Road, Cheyenne Avenue and I-15. The new $20.5 million interchange will give area industrial businesses much easier freeway access.

Some 7,500 acres of Bureau of Land Management land north of the Golden Triangle. Officials hope a BLM market analysis will find the land suitable for development soon.

A variety of new retail developments, including 5-Star Properties' plans for a $2.6 million, 75-room Holiday Express at I-15 and Craig Road, and a new Target Store planned for Craig Road west of Martin Luther King Blvd. Business is booming at two recently-opened shopping centers at Craig Road and MLK Boulevard, indicating strong demand for more area retail, officials said.

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