The home that was used in the movie “Casino” is seen during a mid-century modern bus tour of homes in the Paradise Palms neighborhood of Las Vegas on Sunday, October 28, 2012.-
Wednesday, May 16, 2018 | 10:33 a.m.
The Nevada Preservation Foundation has launched the second phase of a campaign to obtain historic neighborhood status for the Paradise Palms neighborhood in central Las Vegas, with the new phase focusing on a portion of the area that was home to some of the most famous and infamous figures from the city’s past.
After achieving the designation for the far northern part of the neighborhood, the foundation has moved on to a portion bounded by Desert Inn Road, Eastern Avenue, Viking Road and Spencer Street/Seneca Drive — essentially the homes in and around Las Vegas National Golf Course.
Notable former residents in that part of the neighborhood included entertainers Donald Sutherland and Debbie Reynolds; former boxing heavyweight champion Sonny Liston; Robert Maheu, a CIA operative and Howard Hughes' public persona; and prominent casino host Ash Resnick, whose home was used as the residence of the main character in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 hit film “Casino.” Like other portions of the area, it's also home to a large number of residences designed by noted midcentury modern architects Dan Palmer and William Krisel.
The foundation notified homeowners in the area that organizers would be going door-to-door Sunday to answer questions and gauge interest in the designation. A neighborhood meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
To obtain the designation, 51 percent of homeowners must be in support, an application must be submitted to the Clark County Planning Department, and both the Clark County Commission and Paradise Town Advisory Board must give approval.
The purpose of the designation is to preserve the architectural, economic and cultural characteristics of neighborhoods. It would establish a mandatory design review of new construction, alterations to existing structures exceeding more than 10 percent of the visible area and any significant alteration to the exterior view of a home. In all cases, the review would apply only to construction and alterations visible from the street.
Supporters of the project say homes in designated neighborhoods often appreciate faster than average and that the area's architectural and cultural historic significance makes it deserving of protection.
