LAS VEGAS | Boom Project Rundown! 2.0

[Aaron Auxier]

In case anyone missed it, recently, a local paper reported that there were over 12,000 high-rise condos under construction in Vegas. This is once again a false stat. I pointed out the HUGE error and they say they will issue a correction.

I have put together the REAL numbers for everyone to enjoy, as well as updated the journalist and the paper.

Also, I recently wrote an article about Another Day in Doom and Gloom Paradise (http://localism.com/article/536881/Another-Day-in-Doom-and-Gloom).

The truth about high-rise units currently under construction. The journalist reported over 12,000 (the number that a local statistical reporting service provided).

*All numbers are estimates, information provided from developers*

- Residential High-Rise Condominium Projects under construction -

227 - Mandarin Oriental at MGM MIRAGE CityCenter
674 - Veer Towers at MGM MIRAGE CityCenter
207 - The Harmon Residences at MGM MIRAGE CityCenter
372 - Panorama Towers T3
418 - Palazzo Luxury Condominiums
341 - Juhl (BTW, Juhl is considered a mid-rise)

- Total Residential approx. 2,239 units under construction (minus 341 if you don't count Juhl) -

- Condotel High-Rise Condominium Projects under construction -

2,000 - Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino
1,543 - Vdara Condo Hotel at MGM MIRAGE CityCenter
Approx. 1000 - Fontainebleau Resort (this is not 100 percent verified)

- Total Condotel approx. approx 4,543 units under construction -

THE GRAND TOTAL FOR HIGH-RISE Under construction in Las Vegas?

Approx. 6,782 units. Of which only approx 2,200 are residential. Only 1/3rd the inventory.

[Jake2006]

Aaron;

Thanks for that update. Where in the heck does the paper come up with those figures? Do the reporters do their homework at all?

[mdiederi]

Sullivan Square is officially stalled at least a year, probably more. The developer is suing the financier.
http://www.globest.com/news/1169_1169/lasvegas/171219-1.html

[Aaron Auxier]

Jake,

It's been a huge problem for two years and has severly harmed our market. The local statistical reporting firms need to do a better job of explaining things when they provide numbers to the media. ESPECIALLY when saying 50k units are cancelled. So if I print a brochure and say I'm building 10k units on a $20-billion development, reality sets in, then I get cancelled, does that mean Vegas now has 60k cancelled units?

Everyone also needs to do a better job of letting people know only 1/3rd of the current high-rise construction is true residential, the rest is condotel or timeshare.

Perhaps a class to teach the supposed experts what concrete and steel high-rise is may help as well, wood-framed stats should not be mixed in with "high-rise".

[mdiederi]

Shot last week.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/cc-2.jpg

[CHAPINM1]

:previous: FANTASTIC!!!:previous: It's tragic what has happened to workers on this project, but that last thing that should ever happen would be for this project to stop. Even though deaths are something that should not happen on this job, if the project stopped, it would have been as if the workers who died on the job died for nothing and their accomplishments wouldn't have meant anything. Project City Center will only continue to rise tall, symbolic, and proud! :tup:

[Jake2006]

Aaron;

I totally agree. Since Vegas' economy relies so much on the image it presents to the world, you would think the local reporters would want to present the best image and the most correct figures possible. They must have taken some lessons from the political campaigns this year on spinning figures.

[rhassoii]

Rumor that Apple will be putting a huge store in the Crystals at CC.
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/06/apple-megastore-in-las-vegas-citycenter-in-2009/

Eighteen 70" HD LCD's along the strip.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/04/eighteen-70-inch-1080p-lcds-to-advertise-along-las-vegas-strip/

[mdiederi]

TV 8 just had a story about how only 181 of the buyers who put down money on Trump units have been able to obtain financing and close their deals.

[vegasrain84]

I was in Vegas last week, and took some good pictures of the Harmon Corridor on May 28th. If anyone wants to use these pictures feel free to do so, I just ask that you credit them to Eli Corp.

Planet Hollywood Towers

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08105edit.jpg


The Harmon Corridor
It's starting to take Shape. Panorama Tower 3 in the distance, Aria, the edge of the Harmon Hotel, Vdara and Cosmo taking shape.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08108edit.jpg


Mandarin Oriental

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08103.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08123.jpg


The Harmon

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08119edit.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08152.jpg


Veer Towers

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08155edit.jpg


Cosmopolitan Resort

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08124.jpg

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa102/boyohio02/Las%20Vegas%20May%2028th%202008/Vegas08147.jpg

[True Blue]

TV 8 just had a story about how only 181 of the buyers who put down money on Trump units have been able to obtain financing and close their deals.

I'm a owner of a unit at the Trump Tower that's trying to close. The main problem is the credit crunch and the poor housing market. I put a 20% down payment 3 years ago, but today the lenders are demanding 40% or more. Most people investing in the Trump Tower are not super rich and cannot afford an additional 20%. The few lenders that are left want the mortgage rate to be around 10%. Most people will be forced to walk and lose their life saving. Those that do close will have to contend with having a negative cash flow for a few years at least. Add that along with a bad housing market, recession and high gas prices and you can see why so few units have closed. The timing for the grand opening of the Trump Tower could not be any worse.

The building itself is beautiful. I did my walk-thru and was impressed with my unit and the staff. One day things will get back to normal, but who knows when that will be. If I can close and hold for 5 years, I think I'll be okay.

[Snotick]

I know nothing about real estate finance, but why wouldnt Donald Trump step in and help with the financing of these units. I think he has the money. He could set up short or long term loans, earn 8% interest and everyone wins. Just my two cents.

[Claeren]

So what would a small unit at Trump go for now?

[mdiederi]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Gehry/Gehry.jpg
Curvy Gehry facade starting to be installed. It has some black paper protective coating on it to prevent scratches during installation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/skyline-1.jpg
Just a random skyline shot.

[Aaron Auxier]

They were taken from my iPhone so the quality is poor, but take a look at how awesome the views are from the top of the Palazzo.

Venetian Palazzo Condos under construction.
http://item.slide.com/r/1/149/i/ls20lhmV1T-eKBB1Tj1O0R6LHlQXGIbq/

Just imagine how nice the views will be from the condo tower.
http://item.slide.com/r/1/232/i/5uj6pUm_2D94cA1siIbXrYHeCq81VToH/

Shot towards the Mirage volcano makeover.
http://item.slide.com/r/1/120/i/aL8Oi_OS3z-9cphUqTRkW1U5BdaM3JGn/


Also, I did several updates on LasVegasStripDaily today.

[Patrick]

^Woah! Amazing shots Aaron!

[Aaron Auxier]

Thank you, they are very poor quality but it at least gives everyone a chance to see the view from very top of Palazzo.

[Silas]

True Blue,

Just walk away from the deal. It is hard but it's the only thing to do.

By law, they can only retain 15%, so you will be refunded 5% of your deposit. Oh, they haven't told that to you? I am shocked!

Your 15% is gone whether you attempt to close or not. Just walk away. Bite the bullet and walk.

[True Blue]

True Blue,

Just walk away from the deal. It is hard but it's the only thing to do.

By law, they can only retain 15%, so you will be refunded 5% of your deposit. Oh, they haven't told that to you? I am shocked!

Your 15% is gone whether you attempt to close or not. Just walk away. Bite the bullet and walk.

I actually have 20% down on two different one bedroom units. That’s $374K total. I’m working with Trump to allow me to combine my deposits into one unit. That way I would have 40% on only one unit. If Trump does not allow me to combine my deposits, then I’m walking. I am aware that Trump needs to refund 25% of my deposit if I walk. However, the contract is written in a way suggesting that it will be refunded only after expenses have been taken out. No one can tell me what these expenses are. As far as I know, no one has received a refund. Do I walk away from 374K and hope to get a $94K refund, or close in this poor market? What a mess I got myself into.

I know my thread is a little off target for most members of this group. I just wanted to let people know that things don't always work out when buying a condo/hotel. Some of you may be interested in purchasing a unit at the CityCenter or Cosmo. This type of investment is not for everyone. Only purchase a unit as a second home and don’t expect a positive cash flow. Just make sure you can afford it and have an exit strategy if things go wrong. If you can afford to purchase a unit, then you’ll have a beautiful place to stay when you visit Vegas and over time the unit will appreciate in value. Just be careful! I know several people that will lose their life saving because no one saw this coming 3 years ago.

[justdefended]

I actually have 20% down on two different one bedroom units. That’s $374K total. I’m working with Trump to allow me to combine my deposits into one unit. That way I would have 40% on only one unit. If Trump does not allow me to combine my deposits, then I’m walking. I am aware that Trump needs to refund 25% of my deposit if I walk. However, the contract is written in a way suggesting that it will be refunded only after expenses have been taken out. No one can tell me what these expenses are. As far as I know, no one has received a refund. Do I walk away from 374K and hope to get a $94K refund, or close in this poor market? What a mess I got myself into.

I know my thread is a little off target for most members of this group. I just wanted to let people know that things don't always work out when buying a condo/hotel. Some of you may be interested in purchasing a unit at the CityCenter or Cosmo. This type of investment is not for everyone. Only purchase a unit as a second home and don’t expect a positive cash flow. Just make sure you can afford it and have an exit strategy if things go wrong. If you can afford to purchase a unit, then you’ll have a beautiful place to stay when you visit Vegas and over time the unit will appreciate in value. Just be careful! I know several people that will lose their life saving because no one saw this coming 3 years ago.

Thanks for the info. It's such an unstable climate right now that this wave of CityCenter, Encore, Echelon, Cosmo, Trump, and Fontainebleu may be the last new projects around the Strip for a while. Banks aren't lending for these multi-billion dollar projects anymore and in a way we're lucky many of these were announced before the bust or else nothing would be built.

I would guess that MGM will have to partner up and offer a preferred lender to owners closing on CityCenter next year. Without the closings, they would lose $2.5 billion in estimated earnings from the residential units which would make any projected revenue estimate plummet along with their already lowering stock price.

BTW thanks for the pics guys. CityCenter looks amazing!

[RandalR]

Do I walk away from 374K and hope to get a $94K refund, or close in this poor market? What a mess I got myself into.


I doubt Trump will let you combine the units. Depending on what the rental rules are, you might be better off trying to close and the rent the units outside the strictures of the rip-off Trump rental pool (using a property manager) until the markets improve.

I'm not a fan of the condo/hotel concept. You're exactly right - second home or primary residence is the only good purpose for ownership.

[mdiederi]

Shot about a week ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/font-2.jpg

[mdiederi]

They're erecting a blue tower crane downtown, but I only saw it from a distance and couldn't see exactly where it was at. Anyone know what it's for?

[jazfingr]

They're erecting a blue tower crane downtown, but I only saw it from a distance and couldn't see exactly where it was at. Anyone know what it's for?


It's probably the Golden Nugget expansion. If someone could get a shot from the top floor of the garage, that would be great.:tup:

[Aaron Auxier]

Mdiederi,

Great shot as usual. Your pictures are always so crisp, well taken, and on a different level.

[mdiederi]

Thanks Aaron, but you get shots from better vantage points.

Drove through downtown again tonight and yeah, that new crane is at the Golden Nugget.

[GO_UAE]

omg ! 6 deaths at one construction site =S ? damn

[Aaron Auxier]

Hey all,

I am getting a private tour of the penthouses at Panorama T3 today. I'll post the views for everyone. With my connections and mdiederi's skills, I think we need to start a photo team haha. :)

[VegasMatt]

There is also a new crane up near the Rio. It's on the east end of the property, near the freeway. Does anyone know what it is for?

[Jake2006]

Aaron;

Do you know if the Vdara (South Side) will have a good view of the Panorama Towers? If so, what level would you need to be not to be blocked by the parking garage?

[Aaron Auxier]

Aaron;

Do you know if the Vdara (South Side) will have a good view of the Panorama Towers? If so, what level would you need to be not to be blocked by the parking garage?

I have not been in Vdara yet. I will try to take some shots of it today from penthouses in PT3!

I should have awesome photos for this forum within next couple of days, if not tonight.

[Jake2006]

Thanks Aaron. I will be in Vegas next week and will try and take some pics also but won't get the view you will. Thanks for all the pics and updates.

[RandalR]

Article on Streamline Tower - sounds like a big strikeout for the developers:

Quiet on the Northern Front (http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jun/11/quiet-northern-front/)

[neworleans]

last time i was in vegas i noticed they were finishing up the CC parking garage. So i called & asked if they where going to open it up for the monte carlo when it was finished & they told me no. They said it won't open until the CC opens. I can't imagine why they wouldn't open it, or at least part of it, because it's a pain not being able to park at the monte carlo.
Also, i can't really remember, but it looked like they where topping it at 10 floors as opposed to the model at the bellagio which shows it at 13 floors

[mdiederi]

I've seen lots of cars parking in it, but I figured they were construction workers.

[MrVegas]

The "M" Resort now has glass.

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5655/dsc01091bs9.jpg

[rhassoii]

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1342/dscn0194xp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7610/dscn0199rj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9009/dscn0203cv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9374/dscn0214zo0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Silas]

Great photos guys. I really like the way Veer is looking. That looks like the star of all the buildings going up.

[Aaron Auxier]

I went to the top of three structures yesterday (Including Eiffel Tower) and took 125 shots. I am going through them and will be doing a massive photo update hopefully by the weekend. I have shots of all kinds of stuff.

Luxury Realty Group was given exclusive access to the top-floor (approx. 12,500 sq. ft.) mega penthouse that takes up the entire top level of Panorama Tower 3. This unit will list for approx. $20 million (all information according to the developer).

There are very few "penthouses" in PT3 and they are massive in size. Check out how they see the Fountains of Bellagio. Very nice.

I'll post more photos and a link to the entire June 2008 Photo Update as soon as I can.

http://item.slide.com/r/1/166/i/LcRO6xse5T_pXpSzTqFteTNeMBKf_YL1/

Panoramic shot from top-floor penthouse at PT3
http://item.slide.com/r/1/96/i/8QMEtOFY6T_xdTEBvekbnE8TTR2GMHFP/

Shot over PT1 and PT2
http://item.slide.com/r/1/100/i/VDVwtmoAyz9R5c_JU6lTGs2ZDtXRyU_y/

Check out the direct shot of Fountians of Bellagio!
http://item.slide.com/r/1/216/i/CGz8Fmz_5z_M-2XPutV-nlWAe44qB_0N/

The massive interior space of the approx. 12,500 sq. ft. top-floor PT3 penthouse (according to developer)
http://item.slide.com/r/1/87/i/ZGGkuEfXwD82Ja7sRzg64lpu74TzEQzS/

Nice shot of T1 and T2
http://item.slide.com/r/1/133/i/NAQnggZb0z-KHKRBe5mT9PDJmFQkTw05/

I have tons of more shots to go through including Caesars, Palazzo, Cosmo, The Crystals, Veer Towers, The Harmon, and ARIA Resort & Casino.

[mdiederi]

http://www.globest.com/news/1175_1175/lasvegas/171423-1.html
The Naked City is officially up for sale. They formed a property owner's association to sell all 100 acres in one deal. It includes all the land next to Allure and bordering Sahara across the street from MGM's Kerzner/Dubia project. Also all the land south of the Strat, including the northwest corner of Sahara and LVB where the World's Largest Gift Shop is (I didn't even realize until recently that I know the owners of that gift shop) and west to Industrial and north to Wyoming.

The area was known as Naked City in the 1940 and '50s when, prior to tanning salons, showgirls and dancers lived in the apartments in the area and would get their overall tans out by the pools," Wright tells GlobeSt.com. "When suburban sprawl began, the nudies moved outward but the name stuck, according to veteran cabbies."

[Steven C.]

Rumor that Apple will be putting a huge store in the Crystals at CC.
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/06/apple-megastore-in-las-vegas-citycenter-in-2009/

Eighteen 70" HD LCD's along the strip.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/04/eighteen-70-inch-1080p-lcds-to-advertise-along-las-vegas-strip/

the guys over at the strip podcast are saying that fontainbleu are putting imacs in every room on that property. they also say they will likely rent out ipods optionally.

[Steven C.]

if anyone is interested, i have plenty of vegas videos on my youtube page:

http://www.youtube.com/vegassteven

[mdiederi]

Look at this jumbled render on the CityCenter site, everything's all mushed together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/ccwebmastheadrender.jpg
http://citycenter.com/vision/vision_sustainable.aspx

[Steven C.]

Look at this jumbled render on the CityCenter site, everything's all mushed together.

http://citycenter.com/vision/vision_sustainable.aspx


good golly that is ugly. it looks like something a high school student would make in art class when they are doing the unit on perspective and vanishing points.

[Steven C.]

btw - i drive past the riviera every day.
has anyone here pointed out how that property has renovated?

New leroys sportsbook where the nickletown used to be, new HD type marquee on the north part of the casino, and brand new singage on the main entrance facing las vegas boulevard.

they are also renovating the rooms.

guess they are not selling the property? i have heard plans for this thing for years. any ideas?

if they just took down that horrible mirror design on the front of the building, it wouldnt look THAT bad would it?

[Aaron Auxier]

It's taking me forever to go through all of the photos I took the other day. More on the way soon.

The Crystals and The Harmon Hotel from the Eiffel Tower on 6-11-08.
http://item.slide.com/r/1/64/i/aC0wLvlM2j9TAdJDOTLK5mmjjKhUeTwm/

The Cirque du Soleil Theatre at CityCenter (taken from penthouse at PT3)
http://item.slide.com/r/1/66/i/OI4iK_PP6T_vLr3y1CgNYREkI5PhXz0x/

[mdiederi]

Construction worker killed at Echelon.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/19980194.html

[Aaron Auxier]

I finally have completed my Photo Update.

You can see the entire June 2008 Las Vegas Strip Construction Photo Update (http://localism.com/article/553690/Photo-Update-Las-Vegas-Strip-Construction) Here.

Just a few shots from the update

http://item.slide.com/r/1/195/i/sLCpKJchzD8T3vX5Bjg_7EVUA5iuxbf9/

http://item.slide.com/r/1/170/i/Nl2swnhU6D_X8Pr_UFrpj2sRBM-nV6eT/

http://item.slide.com/r/1/92/i/-OW9nUQ-7D-J_vtgVEMhzgOAkO1qCqRT/

http://item.slide.com/r/1/198/i/BB6MO82q4j_1uKcoNcb8nsO9C3YViGu4/

http://item.slide.com/r/1/143/i/oPSlqCus7j_sn_ELTGHzVVqteEYWZWes/

You can see the entire June 2008 Las Vegas Strip Construction Photo Update (http://localism.com/article/553690/Photo-Update-Las-Vegas-Strip-Construction) Here.

[mdiederi]

http://www.globest.com/news/1181_1181/lasvegas/171631-1.html
I think it's safe to say that Sullivan Square is officially dead now. So now there are two partially built dead condo high rises near the southwest curve of the 215.

[DowntownGymRat]

Here's a shot of Crane City (aka Vegas) from my apartment

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/spencerryan/underconstruction.jpg

[DowntownGymRat]

edit

[mdiederi]

cool view from your apartment. Who says Vegas doesn't have density?

[LMich]

Wait, what building is this taken from? I'm assuming this is looking northwest, but I can't think of anything down by the airport that would be that tall or that high. Then again, I haven't been to Vegas in quite a few years so I don't know what's gone up that tall in the southeast.

[jazfingr]

Wait, what building is this taken from? I'm assuming this is looking northwest, but I can't think of anything down by the airport that would be that tall or that high. Then again, I haven't been to Vegas in quite a few years so I don't know what's gone up that tall in the southeast.

I think I figured it out.

He lives in either the Mark I building or Country Club Towers. These are mid-rise apartments on Desert Inn, just east of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The view is looking southwest.

So...am I right....is there a prize? :D

[DowntownGymRat]

ding ding ding! We have a winner. Good call Jazfingr, my gf and I live on the 13th floor at Mark 1. You def. know your Vegas buildings. My next pic will be facing more northwest to show F-blue's progress and all the cranes at Echleon.

[Vtown420]

Hearst Corp (publisher of Cosmopolitan magazine) is suing over use of the Cosmopolitan name.
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssLeisureProducts/idUSN1648593320080616

A bit ridiculous, no?

[Aaron Auxier]

Jazz sure does know his Vegas. Awesome call.

I recently put out my monthly newsletter on the real estate market (mostly high-rise). I know this forum is for development, in my newsletters I address the misreporting that takes place about the true numbers of the Vegas Strip etc.

If anyone wants to give it a read, you can see at link below.

http://localism.com/article/553956/Aaron-Auxier-s-VIVA-VEGAS-Luxury

A shot of Harmon and Veer from Paris' Eiffel Tower.

http://item.slide.com/r/1/118/i/kmfO2QC-4z-s1yf9nPfwibpWpKEg-Ls-/

[ScottG]

for the first time in vegas there is now RED glass facade! those crazy balconies on PH tower(s) is about half way done cladding... it looks indifferent with the bold blue glass but the red glass is GREAT. Red glass is really nice.......PH is different than other towers in that there is nothing to the tower (other than those balconies at the top - and only on the west end which really unbalances the front elevation) just a flat blue surface.


i was looking at WYNN and ENCORE thinking that they will fall backwards because of wind. it feels that these towers, being so tall and so thin, will fall forward or backwards becuase of lateral forces.... other Y-shaped towers have that 3rd leg for brace....so its weird to see this tall monolithic structure

i wonder if this was a concern when building WYNN (the hotel not the man)

TRUMP (which BTW looks like an addition to Mandalay bay when you enter the start of the south strip -by the sign) wouldnt have this issue since it is not long - hotels in vegas are a bit different than other skyscrapers in that although they are tall, they are also long...... not many other cities have wide towers like vegas does which make them feel like they are not skyscrapers at all

[CHAPINM1]

for the first time in vegas there is now RED glass facade! those crazy balconies on PH tower(s) is about half way done cladding... it looks indifferent with the bold blue glass but the red glass is GREAT. Red glass is really nice.......PH is different than other towers in that there is nothing to the tower (other than those balconies at the top - and only on the west end which really unbalances the front elevation) just a flat blue surface.


i was looking at WYNN and ENCORE thinking that they will fall backwards because of wind. it feels that these towers, being so tall and so thin, will fall forward or backwards becuase of lateral forces.... other Y-shaped towers have that 3rd leg for brace....so its weird to see this tall monolithic structure

i wonder if this was a concern when building WYNN (the hotel not the man)

TRUMP (which BTW looks like an addition to Mandalay bay when you enter the start of the south strip -by the sign) wouldnt have this issue since it is not long - hotels in vegas are a bit different than other skyscrapers in that although they are tall, they are also long...... not many other cities have wide towers like vegas does which make them feel like they are not skyscrapers at all

Wynn and Encore I think would be just as sturdy as any Y-shaped building in Vegas since they are so long for their height. Even Echelon, Aria, Vdara, Mandrian Oriental and Fountainebleau will have nice sized footprints...

[Complex01]

That is great looking view. I bet its awesome at nite...

:wizard:

[mdiederi]

for the first time in vegas there is now RED glass facade!
Rio

[mdiederi]

Just heard a report on TV 8 that an elevator cable snapped at Paris Las Vegas and the elevator fell about 15 floors before the breaks finally stopped it. Four people were trapped inside, but were rescued okay.

[solediavolo]

Help me out here.

I'm sure these are dumb questions, for most of you, so sorry if they are. I've had this laptop for about a year and a half, and for some reason I could never get my pics downloaded on my computer. I finally got it to work a couple days ago. I took a few unique pics of City Center last month and would like to post them, but I'm not sure what the best photo sharing website would be? Flickr seems popular. Is that a good choice around here. mdiederi and jazfingr, your input would be welcome, for sure, as well as anyone else.

Probably as much as which site, I'm wondering something else basic. If I put my pictures on a photo sharing site to post here, will all my photos therefore become public? I'd rather not have my family photos be openly accessed, if that makes sense. In fact, I'd like to also be able to send family photos to friends, and not have them be open to public consumption, but still be able to post Vegas photos here. I imagine that's possible?

Thanks.

[Kirre]

I have used smugmug for years and am happy with it. I never tried any of the other ones but am sure they have similar features. You can make galleries public or private, password protect galleries, hide them so only people that know the link can see them, or even make it so you are the only one that can view them.

[solediavolo]

You can make galleries public or private, password protect galleries, hide them so only people that know the link can see them, or even make it so you are the only one that can view them.


I guess that's where I'm a little unclear. Is every pic you put there part of one gallery? In other words, can I make some pics on these sites public, while keeping others private? Or if I make my Vegas pictures public, do all my family pics become public, also, because they are by default part of the same gallery? I looked around at a couple sites and couldn't tell without registering.

[solediavolo]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23695509@N03/2601818138/sizes/l/

[solediavolo]

Obviously, I don't know what I'm doing.

[solediavolo]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23695509@N03/2601818138/" title="IMG_2720 by solediavolo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2601818138_4a01eb451e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_2720" /></a>

[solediavolo]

I've just confirmed it. I'm lost

[ScottG]

Rio

haha i forgot abou that one - the glass on PH looks alot different than the rio red glass.... im thinking because you can see thru the red at PH and rio is opaque -

[solediavolo]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2601005721_2ba7d8baab_b.jpg

[solediavolo]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2601818138_4a01eb451e_b.jpg

Closeups
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2601025793_69f0647feb_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2601848744_e76d413d03_b.jpg

Tram Station abutting Veer
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2601837938_73ee508b96_b.jpg

More Veer
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2601007841_4ebc5236a1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2601017943_5cd9b3c4c7_b.jpg


Tram and what it does to the Monte Carlo Pool. See how it, and the building to the west will have to go right next to the pool and take away so much sun. I can only imagine the sunbather's concerns. I'm thinking the Monte Carlo staff is buzzing to itself, "second class citizen".
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2601005721_2ba7d8baab_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2601820578_1cd1f3e15f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2601831528_acd911b1e4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2601828944_15e20122e6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3107/2601826216_86511e83b1_b.jpg

Is that the convention center on the left?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2600995283_73c460e75f_b.jpg

Night shots
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2601841840_678b2ec3a8_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2601011949_e99bcbe3ab_b.jpg

[solediavolo]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2602072784_6f8d53f877_b.jpg

[solediavolo]

As a reminder, these pics are from late May.

I'm really curious to see how the lighting will work when everything's up and running. As a peek view, the reflections in the Aria glass should be pretty cool, but what will happen to that once the complex is lit up, inside and out?

Sadly, I think a lot of this will be lost on most viewers, anyway. I know some of you really like the Veer, but to be honest it's going to take away a lot of cool views what would have been a fascinatng looking facility. I can't imagine much will really be seen from the strip. This view from Monte Carlo will more than likely be the best views of entire Center, but PH should offer some alternately fascinating angles of view.

We're going back in July, but we'll be staying at the Mirage and the Bellagio(with a fountain view), but I'll still try to get some additional shots around the strip now that I can actually do it.

[Aaron Auxier]

Wow, those are some of the most important shots I've ever seen of CityCenter. Great job.

[Vtown420]

Great pictures! I don't see what the point of the tram is. It looks like the tram to nowhere.

[ScottG]

^^^ nice new perspectives! thats interesting to see how they are really butting into monte carlo

citycenter.com has a couple of interesting things not mentioned here before..... you can now see each hotel's logo / font style....also under veer they have some renderings showing unit views --- the unit facing the other veer tower kinda gets a crappy view of a yellow grid about 25 feet away - interesting note: the veer towers will has blue and read horizontal stripes on the corners

also vdara sections has some animated renderings of the exterior - each tower section uses that same animation mgm used awhile back for their promo where everything is scattered and flies in to create a room etc.

side note: they are not refering to the mall as the crystals, all i found was "retail component"

[ScottG]

whats up with vegas condo website?!


newportloftslv.com only has a welsome page with NO LINKS
cosmolv.com 'launch site' button does nothing
and when you google sky las vegas and go to its website, you get a message stating the site might harm your computer

[cosmo2k8]

Hey thanks for the refreshing angle of CC from it's neighbor to the south!

Just checked cosmolv.com link works fine although it seems they have not updated since late 2007. Try checking your pop-up windows.

Cheers!
:cool:

[goldcntry]

OMG! Those picks are extreeeemly sexy! The architecture geek in me just swooned... gotta get away and fly down there...

:tomato:

[BrandonJXN]

I can't imagine what's going throught the minds of the pool people at Monte Carlo. But that'll be one dope pool area once City Center is finished.

[DowntownGymRat]

I had heard or maybe seen somewhere that CC is to have beacons of light shooting into the sky that will put Luxor's to shame. Is that true or did I just dream that?

[Complex01]

Man those are great shots of CC. It is looking amazing. Very Kewl...

:yes:

[ScottG]

I had heard or maybe seen somewhere that CC is to have beacons of light shooting into the sky that will put Luxor's to shame. Is that true or did I just dream that?



that would be news to everyone.....on MGMMCC website there is an image of the strip seen from the far east end of the valley with the center strip (where CC is) glowing all the way into the night sky, but that is clearly just to show position and 'excitment'

[ScottG]

FIRE ON FOUNTAINBLEAU SITE!!!!!


i work at the firm thats doing FB, and there are reports of a fire - there is lots of smoke up in the sky - this could have just happened minutes ago since no media outlet has reported it yet....


more bad news for construction safety in vegas!

[mdiederi]

Channel 8 is saying that stacks of metal studs were burning. :shrug: I'm clear out at Summerlin but I could see a big cloud of black smoke down there. There was a brush fire near main street earlier and I thought it was that, but the smoke was really black, like the Monte Carlo fire, and south of where Main street ends.

[ScottG]

it turns out that it was NOT metal studs NOR the garage -

it was 'egg crate' material that is part of the cooling system - a stack of it was caught fire by sparks from weldering near by - i saw pictures of what was caught onfire - think of just a stack of paper on fire - it will cause more smoke than damage.....

[mdiederi]

Now the RJ website is saying that the fire is out and that it started from a welder working above insulation material that caught on fire below. This is not the first time that welders have started a fire at the Fontainebleau garage. Several months ago I was shooting the Font from high up in the Turnberry towers and saw a fire start, but they got it out fast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/Font7-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/FontFire.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/FontFire2.jpg

[Aaron Auxier]

Nice shots mdiedri.

[Aiphanes]

As a reminder, these pics are from late May.

I'm really curious to see how the lighting will work when everything's up and running. As a peek view, the reflections in the Aria glass should be pretty cool, but what will happen to that once the complex is lit up, inside and out?

Sadly, I think a lot of this will be lost on most viewers, anyway. I know some of you really like the Veer, but to be honest it's going to take away a lot of cool views what would have been a fascinatng looking facility. I can't imagine much will really be seen from the strip. This view from Monte Carlo will more than likely be the best views of entire Center, but PH should offer some alternately fascinating angles of view.

We're going back in July, but we'll be staying at the Mirage and the Bellagio(with a fountain view), but I'll still try to get some additional shots around the strip now that I can actually do it.


Dude you have the best nighttime vegas pics....Do you have the link to the original sizes on flickr? What kind of camera are you using?

[ScottG]

Now the RJ website is saying that the fire is out and that it started from a welder working above insulation material that caught on fire below. This is not the first time that welders have started a fire at the Fontainebleau garage. Several months ago I was shooting the Font from high up in the Turnberry towers and saw a fire start, but they got it out fast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/Font7-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/FontFire.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Fontainebleau/FontFire2.jpg


^^^ thats was NOT what caught fire the otherday - i saw pictures of a larger fire - that is probably the other fire - small nothing fire- a whie back

[Aaron Auxier]

Close-up shot of Vdara's pools.

http://item.slide.com/r/1/70/i/gHnIXfb0vD8vICLoWQk5SSL3AgUYzjwx/

[Jake2006]

Aaron;

I don't know if you have any updated information on the Cosmopolitan or not but TheStreet.com ran an article yesterday advising traders to short Perini Construction because they believe Deutsche Bank is getting ready to pull the plug on the project. I find it hard to believe that Deutsche Bank would have this much invested and then pull the plug. Does anyone have any updates on the project? Would City Center have any interest in buying the Cosmopolitan? I would think that as big as Perini is that they would have some type of protection against canceling the project.

[WonderlandPark]

How far along is Cosmo? I haven't seen any pics in a long, long time here.

[Jake2006]

Aaron has a good picture on his web site @ www.LasVegasStripDaily.com

[mdiederi]

Aaron;

I don't know if you have any updated information on the Cosmopolitan or not but TheStreet.com ran an article yesterday advising traders to short Perini Construction because they believe Deutsche Bank is getting ready to pull the plug on the project. I find it hard to believe that Deutsche Bank would have this much invested and then pull the plug. Does anyone have any updates on the project?
Bloomberg had an article about Deutsche bank making design changes to the interior.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a1YI9rQC09sw&refer=home

[Jake2006]

If Deutsche Bank is helping design the interior, it does not sound like they will be pulling out anytime soon.

[The_Analyst]

Deutsche is not in the development business. As such, it's unlikely that a single decision maker is managing Cosmo. It's probable that the finance guys are crunching numbers separately from the people managing the day to day construction/design decisions. Would it be efficient to buy 1,000's of TV's (as an example) now only to halt construction in a month? No. But, if they reach a conclusion in a month that completing the project will lose $1B and halting will cost $100 million, then the decision is relatively simple.

[lfc4life]

How far along is Cosmo? I haven't seen any pics in a long, long time here.

photo taken a week ago June 24th, both towers are almost half completed

http://i28.tinypic.com/5clmj5.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1503/2611909525/

[WonderlandPark]

Halfway-ish. Thanks.