Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.
Agency for blind seeks city space
The state Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired will negotiate with the city of Las Vegas for a lease of retail space inside the city's new parking garage.
The city this summer requested proposals for companies interested in leasing 1,900 square feet of retail space inside the parking garage add-on being built at City Hall. City officials contacted the state bureau about submitting a proposal, but the group did not respond.
On Wednesday, the bureau requested permits from the city without submitting a proposal.
The City Council directed the bureau to negotiate with staff to see if it could comply with the city's requirements, including whether it can pay market value for the space.
If the bureau sponsors a blind candidate with a proposal that is responsive to the city's request, that blind vendor would have priority over other competitors for the award of the contracts, city officials said.
In June, the council asked staff to negotiate terms with Kennedy-Wilson Properties Ltd., whose clients proposed a deli and U.S. Bank branch with an ATM, and ROI Commercial Real Estate, Inc., whose client proposed a dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up office.
Technology land to be sold
The city will gain $831,000 from the sale of 2 acres in the Las Vegas Technology Center in northwest Las Vegas.
The council on Wednesday authorized the sale of the parcel to SDMI Northwest LLC for the construction of a 32,000-square-foot medical office.
Construction of the project is expected to begin within one year.
The city also expects to receive $38,351 per year in new taxes from the project.
Chuckwagon races approved downtown
The city's coveted 61 acres west of downtown will host the city's first chuckwagon races in September.
On Wednesday, the council approved an agreement with the world professional Chuckwagon Races for the Las Vegas Stampede Sept. 19-22.
The contract allows the site to be used for four days of chuckwagon races, concessions and concerts. In return, the city will receive $100,000.
The event is expected to draw 10,000 guests. Lesa Coder, the city's business development director, said hopefully the guests will frequent some of downtown's newest projects and hotels as well.
"There will be several thousand people attending and when they do it is only natural to assume they'll either walk or drive their vehicles over to the east side of downtown and spend a little bit more time there," she said.
Money approved for Fremont stage
The City Council voted to provide up to $50,000 for a stage and lighting at the corner of Fremont Street and Fourth Street, in an attempt to generate more foot traffic eastward.
The intersection, where the Fremont Street Experience canopy ends and Neonopolis begins, has been called the "dead zone" by city officials. Tourists under the air conditioned canopy aren't likely to step into the hot sun across Fourth Street, city officials said, and are often unaware of Neonopolis.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he supported the request, but said the private sector needs to do more to support the project. The city spent $32 million for an underground parking garage at Neonopolis.
"We're not going to be the deep pocket," Goodman said. "It has to be driven by the private sector."
A special use permit
and development plan for a proposed arena at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Main Street was approved. The 6,500-square-foot arena is scheduled to be under construction in the next several months.
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