Airport growth to take 440 homes

McCarran International Airport officials might be cutting a swath through established neighborhoods north of Russell Road to make room for a new terminal, but they're not doing it in typical government fashion.

At least that's what they hope to prove to displaced homeowners.

In taking about 440 apartment units, condominiums and homes north of Russell and between Spencer and Swenson streets, Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker cut an unusual -- and pricey -- deal with residents.

Russell Road, which stretches along the south side of the neighborhood, will be relocated and widened to feed the airport's new terminal -- a facility expected to accommodate 16 million passengers a year.

In exchange for infringing on neighborhoods with the airport expansion, Walker has agreed to build residents a new 27-acre park and extend a "willing buyer-willing seller" offer to homeowners whose property isn't taken with the airport's eminent domain powers.

As a result, Walker believes, residents left behind after the eminent domain process will either live next to a park or will voluntarily live on Russell Road, having turned down the county's purchase offer.

The deal, which will add $15 million to the $35 million eminent domain project, is unusual for government agencies, who typically take only the homes needed to build a roadway and leave remaining residents living next to a busy street.

"What we're trying to do is be good neighbors," Walker said. "I wish I could satisfy 100 percent of the residents, but I'd say at least 90 percent are OK with this.

"I think some are concerned we're not going to do what we're saying we're going to do. There is general mistrust."

Whether Walker can alleviate the mistrust depends on whether Clark County commissioners approve the extra $15 million to appease residents. On Tuesday the board will consider amending the project first approved in October.

Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera worked closely with airport officials and residents, whose homes are in his district. His goal was to ensure that no homeowners were forced to live next to the new Russell Road thoroughfare.

He also wanted to provide neighbors with a park, a task difficult to accomplish in older neighborhoods where there is little open space.

"We thought it was important not only that we continue progress at McCarran, but be mindful of residents who have been living in close proximity to the airport for a long time," Herrera said. "We're taking potential negatives and making them potential positives."

Walker said eminent domain laws are beneficial to many residents because the fair market value the county pays is often higher than market value.

The law also says the county not only must provide comparable housing, but safe housing which means, for example, it would provide a five-bedroom home for a family of 10 who is now living in a three-bedroom house.

Joe Estrada is one of the residents being displaced. Estrada, who sits on the board of the Gold Dust Village townhomes, said he has been impressed with the airport's eminent domain process.

"I haven't heard of anyone who is unhappy; disappointed maybe," Estrada said. "Some of the older residents came here and never planned to move again. This won't be a windfall for anybody, but nobody will lose money."

The airport's $700 million expansion is the last McCarran project that will creep into adjacent neighborhoods.

The 14-gate terminal will accommodate international flights and have its own baggage claim and customs area. The airport also plans to build a train linking the terminal to the D Gates to the west.

Accompanying the terminal will be a new parking garage and several new airport roads to help circulate traffic.

It will take the airport about three years to acquire all the needed property and another three years to build the new road and terminal. The new gates are expected to be open in 2006.

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