Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

EDITORIAL:

Water Street quenches Henderson’s thirst for night life, entertainment

Water Street in Downtown Henderson

Steve Marcus

Water Street, a venerable strand of old-town Henderson, is looking optimistically into a new age. With the opening of Lifeguard Arena ice rink, at left background, facelifts for two locals-friendly casinos, new businesses and a city events plaza, the Water Street District is attracting thousands of patrons to eat, shop and play, especially on weekends.

Water Street in Downtown Henderson

People head into Sticks Tavern during a tour of Water Street in downtown Henderson Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. Launch slideshow »

You can see a lot of interesting sights these days on a drive up and down Water Street in Henderson, such as new and refurbished businesses, open-air dining establishments, the $26 million Lifeguard Arena and the newly upgraded casino called The Pass, to name a few.

What’s not visible, but quite impressive in itself, is the success story behind it all. The new-look Water Street is the product of sound vision, more than two decades of hard work and a cooperative effort involving government, business and community leadership.

The transformation traces all the way back to 1995, when the city of Henderson designated Water Street and the greater downtown district as a redevelopment district. That designation opened the district to targeted funding from the city for physical improvements as well as city-led efforts to attract businesses and investors.

The focus sharpened in 2013 with the creation of a master plan for the Water Street District, which reimagined the area as a pedestrian-oriented corridor with accessible open spaces, dining/nightlife, entertainment, and high-density residential, retail, office and civic space where residents could live, shop and play without getting in their car.

As reported by Sun staff writer Hillary Davis in a recent feature, the anchor for the renaissance came with the 2019 demolition of the Henderson Convention Center to make way for Lifeguard Arena. That facility opened in November, serving as a practice site for the Henderson Silver Knights and as a public skating center when the Silver Knights aren’t doing their workouts.

The project helped draw attention to Water Street, and new businesses trickled in to complement several that had gotten a head start after the master plan was unveiled. Meanwhile, the city upgraded the street’s infrastructure to give the redevelopment a solid foundation on which to happen.

Now, Water Street boasts some 20 places to eat or drink, with more on the way, and comes alive with special events such as a weekly farmers market.

“It’s going to succeed because it’s at critical mass now,” Scott Muelrath, president and CEO of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, told Davis. “It’s here to stay.”

Next steps include adding apartments to the district, which has gotten underway with development of The Watermark, a mixed-use project that is designed to offer 135 residential units on its top five levels and 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The complex, which is planned for completion in mid-2022 across from the arena, is one of four parcels where mixed-use development is either available or being planned.

The district is a nice addition to the valley, along with other walkable areas in and around downtown Las Vegas and elsewhere.

It’s also a refreshing reminder that proactive governance and strong civic leadership is happening in our community. The revitalization of Water Street took a lot of work and patience, but its future looks bright.

As Tiffany Reardon, a member of the city’s redevelopment office, stated in the Sun’s story, “We like to call it a 30-year overnight success.”