COUNCIL MEMBERS SEEING EFFORTS COME TO FRUITION
assisted by a $1.2 million community development block grant from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development designed to foster community input and develop public-private relationships to drive economics.
For both Barron and GoynesBrown, both native residents, this project is personal. They recognized that several important services were in need of repair or were missing in their wards, including access to commercial retail, entertainment, affordable housing, public parks and quality education.
“What it boils down to is bolstering up what we have, attracting what we don’t have — whether it’s medical, whether it’s new educational opportunities,” Barron said. “These are plans we’ve been working on, that we’ve been trying to execute for a long time. For us, it’s a big deal to see this come to fruition.”
Here’s what North Las Vegas is eyeing for its downtown:
Entertainment, restaurants, shopping
Barron has heard the narrative plenty of times:
“There used to be a not-sofunny joke: You can’t get a suit in North Las Vegas, and even if you could buy it, there’d be no place to wear it. And it’s absolutely true,” Barron said. “So what we’re trying to do us is bring a whole new wave of investment to where you will be able to buy a suit in North Las Vegas, and there will be a nice place for you to wear it.”
Maya Entertainment Center: The 14-theater cinema complex is located across city hall and is anticipated to open this December. In addition to the cinema, the complex also will develop retail and commercial space for shops, restaurants and more.
Dutch Bros: The cult coffee chain will open its second location in Southern Nevada across from city hall and adjacent to the new theater. The coffee shop gutted and overhauled an old taco shop that stood there.
Ross Dress for Less: A Ross store opens this month in a commercial retail space near the Silver Nugget, which also has undergone recent renovations. While other cities may not see this as big, Barron says this is the first step in getting people to “buy a suit” in North Las Vegas.
Education
The educational development will include renovations to an older library, converting a historic school into a community flex space and developing a larger community park that will have new trailheads connecting to the city’s older ones, Gavan said. The area is near Lake Mead and Las Vegas boulevards.
Washington Continuation School: This building will be renovated into a community flex space that can stage art exhibits, community meetings and more.
North Las Vegas Library: The city council just released the first architectural drafts of the library renovations that will be the focal point of Milestone Park. The second level of the new library is planned to be dedicated to job training.
Charter schools: Three new charter schools will open in North Las Vegas next fall. One is pegged for downtown.
Expertise Beauty: The second location of an expanding local cosmetology school will help diversify the economy.
Housing
The area is targeted for a pair of senior housing complexes.
Rose Gardens: A new senior living complex is being built across from the older Rose Gardens. The new complex will have the same number of apartments for the same rent, but will be larger and more energy efficient. It will feature free internet, a wellness center and modern amenities. Originally built in the 1970s, the older complex was not energy efficient.
Buena Vista Springs: Buena Vista Springs is an affordable senior living home dedicated to the continuation of care for older residents. Buena Vista includes housing for independent living to assisted-living care.