LAS VEGAS | Boom Project Rundown! 2.0

[mdiederi]

News story about Inspirada
http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/20.../feature1.html

Excerpts:

Mammoth locals casino planned in Henderson

By Brian Wargo / Staff Writer

The developer of a Henderson master-planned community that's about to introduce New Urbanism to the Las Vegas Valley has unveiled its proposal for a large casino at the heart of the Inspirada development.

In preliminary plans submitted to Henderson, Focus Property Group has called for a 153,000- square-foot casino on 37 acres of the 1,953-acre development in west Henderson. The 190-foot-tall hotel will measure 510,000 square feet and have 1,000 guest rooms.

If the casino is built as planned it would be the biggest locals casino in the Las Vegas Valley, eclipsing the 137,000-square-foot Orleans, according to Gaming Control Board numbers. The Inspirada casino would be the fourth biggest in the valley, behind only Strip megaresorts Bellagio (160,000 square feet), Mandalay Bay (157,000 square feet) and MGM Grand (156,000 square feet).
...
"We wanted to get the boundaries of the hotel set as early in the process as we can," Amick said. "The preliminary plans we submitted could change to what the operator wants, but we wanted everyone to know where the site was going to be for disclosure purposes when they are buying a home."
...
The venture will be one of the nation's largest New Urbanism communities that at a minimum will feature 11,500 residences.
...
There will be no gated communities and few walls and homes will emphasize the porch and deemphasize the garage.

KB Home prices aren't available but there will be a mix of garden homes with a backyard courtyard, town homes, estate homes and homes with a central courtyard and homes with garages in the rear.
...

[mdiederi]

Story on the Dragon City Hotel and Resort to be built in Chinatown on Spring Mt. and Wynn Roads. It will have 50 restaurants.
http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/20...3/tourism.html

[JonVegas]

It's funny that the In Business article mentions the Conde Nast Traveler magazine top 100 list because I happened to read it in a waiting room this week.

It's also funny that the only reason I picked it up was to find pictures of Las Vegas and see where it ranked. I was a little bit stunned when I couldn't find it on the list.

I guess I just don't understand how Las Vegas could be overlooked like that considering the amount of visitors and touristy things here. Don't get me wrong, Frisco and Chicago and all those places are way cool but they're not Las Vegas. Any city that has a "last call" would not be on my list of places to spend a weekend away from work.

Traveler magazine readers can feign sophistication all they want. I don't believe they actually like spending their vacation taking in bohemian charm and sampling hippie food at some secret hookah bar in an even more secret section of Frisco. In truth they are all going to make a least one Vegas trip this year and on their way home they'll lament losing the kids college money (again). Then they can get their payback by snubbing the city in their pretentious little list.

I'm getting a little sick of the condescending "not a real city" attitude. It implies that the citizens are not real people. I disagree. Travelers magazine can stuff it.

BTW. Travelers is filled from cover to cover with Vegas ads.

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by JonVegas

It's funny that the In Business article mentions the Conde Nast Traveler magazine top 100 list because I happened to read it in a waiting room this week.

It's also funny that the only reason I picked it up was to find pictures of Las Vegas and see where it ranked. I was a little bit stunned when I couldn't find it on the list.

I guess I just don't understand how Las Vegas could be overlooked like that considering the amount of visitors and touristy things here. Don't get me wrong, Frisco and Chicago and all those places are way cool but they're not Las Vegas. Any city that has a "last call" would not be on my list of places to spend a weekend away from work.

Traveler magazine readers can feign sophistication all they want. I don't believe they actually like spending their vacation taking in bohemian charm and sampling hippie food at some secret hookah bar in an even more secret section of Frisco. In truth they are all going to make a least one Vegas trip this year and on their way home they'll lament losing the kids college money (again). Then they can get their payback by snubbing the city in their pretentious little list.

I'm getting a little sick of the condescending "not a real city" attitude. It implies that the citizens are not real people. I disagree. Travelers magazine can stuff it.

BTW. Travelers is filled from cover to cover with Vegas ads.

Yeah, I was going to comment on that bogus ranking too. Vegas has more tourists than any city on Earth. I bet the visitor bureaus for those other cities got every city employee and their relatives and friends to send in votes. Guess the LVCVA dropped the ball on that one. Those popularity polls in publications are always manipulated like that. I know because I work in advertising and we always do that for our clients with the annual Las Vegas Review/Journal "Best of" list.

I'm getting a little sick of the condescending "not a real city" attitude.

If you look at the SSP list of number of buildings for each city, Vegas is ranked number 4 in the U.S. That's a real city IMHO.

[LMich]

Originally Posted by mdiederi

Story on the Dragon City Hotel and Resort to be built in Chinatown on Spring Mt. and Wynn Roads. It will have 50 restaurants.
http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/20...3/tourism.html

I really want to see this one built. Very unique, and a breath of fresh air, it looks to be.

[LMich]

It's only that way because Patrick has included every single proposal and failed proposal in the entire city. lol In fact, quite a few of them need to be switched to "vision" status, as they aren't formal proposals.

[mdiederi]

Ah, I was wondering how we got so far up the list. Stacking the deck, huh Patrick?

Oh well, at least we're still the city with the most hotel rooms in the world.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by LMich

It's only that way because Patrick has included every single proposal and failed proposal in the entire city. lol In fact, quite a few of them need to be switched to "vision" status, as they aren't formal proposals.

Lmich, the count only includes Built and Under Construction Buildings, so Las Vegas is still high up the list.

I include all the proposals on the agenda so if the project dose come through, we already have the height and dont have to beg the Architect for the heights..

The reason there are so many buildings is Vegas actually really dose have a lot of buildings, I count every buildings 5 floors and above.

[SpeedyFarrar]

A bit O/T, but 3D cities (including Vegas) have been added to http://local.live.com/ with textured 3D buildings. You have to download a plugin and use IE for the 3D stuff.

[ScottG]

Rumor: Steve Wynn To Buy New Frontier

A very interesting tid bit in todays Las Vegas Business Press, that Steve Wynn may be partnering with Kerry Packer's family to purchase the New Frontier. Well, why the hell not, right? The Frontier is right across the street from WLV and could be developed as a sister property - giving Wynn a nice chunk of adjacent real estate on the strip (semi-adjacent, that is). Apparently Jack Binion has been gabbing about a potential Packer/Wynn deal. But there's a hitch, and it's name is Donald Trump. Fortunately, seems to have already been ironed out - Trump International Towers are under construction back behind the Frontier, and Donald and Steve have been "talking" a lot lately. Could Steve buy out the Frontier, Trump Plaza and take in Packer's $300 M investment, to build two new properties in the U.S.?

There's no way that Steve Wynn is going to rest on his laurels now - he's a developer and all developer/artists need to have a queue in their product pipelines. Macau is built (mostly), Encore is under construction... something else needs to be on the drawing board for 2010 and beyond.



We hear ... that things are finally moving on the New Frontier site. Rumors swirl that outside investors are helping Phil Ruffin get his "Montreux" project off the ground. Representatives of James Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. have put $300 million on the table but plan to take a passive role in their first move onto the Strip. Legendary whale Kerry Packer enjoyed the high roller rooms much too much to ever think about having to get licensed in the Silver State. However ...

We hear ... also that if the Packer scion is putting 300 mil into the New Frontier it may be part of a joint venture with Steve Wynn to obtain the strategically located Strip acreage. Wynn's trans-Pacific envoy, Jack Binion was talking up a Wynn-Packer Vegas alliance just days ago. Complicating matters further, Donald Trump is rumored to be pushing his own redevelopment plan for the New Frontier, one that Ruffin is resisting. After all, once The Donald weighs in, Ruffin is unlikely to be anything but a very distant second banana, especially from the perspective of the mass media.

[future29]

Originally Posted by ScottG

Rumor: Steve Wynn To Buy New Frontier
There's no way that Steve Wynn is going to rest on his laurels now - he's a developer and all developer/artists need to have a queue in their product pipelines. Macau is built (mostly), Encore is under construction... something else needs to be on the drawing board for 2010 and beyond.

I do not believe this rumor. Wynn has plenty to work with past 2010 he has his whole golf course redevelopment project which will take atleast 5 years to complete.

oh and great news about Neonopolis. extending fremont east is a great idea.

[ScottG]

Tropicana Spared, Partially
The new owners of The Tropicana say they will be sparing much of the nearly 50 year old resort a date with the wrecking ball, choosing instead to redevelop the property and build a lot of new stuff around it - $2 billion worth, to be specific.
The plans, revealed in a session with state gaming officials, include keeping the two main hotel towers but those will both get major overhauls. Although prices will undoubtedly go up, the company swears it will maintain a focus on the middle-market Vegas visitor, eschewing the luxury market that everyone else is going after.

The less than appealing “garden rooms” will be demolished and as many as five new hotel towers will be built on the property, including at least one that will launch a new brand for Vegas (the name hasn’t been announced yet).

The existing casino, restaurants, and showroom will be kept open while new ones are being built elsewhere on the land but then those will eventually be torn down or substantially overhauled.

Construction is expected to begin as early as July of 2007.

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New Prince of Las Vegas
As had been rumored, music icon Prince will be taking up residence at The Rio in Las Vegas. More than just a stage and high ticket prices, Prince will take over the space once known as Club Rio and the Scinta Showroom, turning it into something called 3121 – a combination nightclub, performance space, and restaurant for “Jazz Cuisine.”

Prince will perform on Friday and Saturday nights in the intimate venue for a royal sum of $125 per person. Dinner and show packages start at more than $300 but include a meal, VIP tickets, and bottle service during the show.

Other performers will take the stage on Wednesday nights, with Prince occasionally sitting in, and Thursday nights will be a Latin themed dance club.

The gig starts November 10 and is currently open-ended.

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Other New Prince of Vegas
Blah, blah, blah, Prince, blah, blah, music icon, blah, blah. What about the other big news in Vegas entertainment this week, much more exciting than the Purple Rain guy playing a couple of concerts.

The Hoff is coming to Vegas, baby!

David Hasselhoff, star of such classic, hard-hitting, award-winning fare as “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch,” will be taking on the role of Roger DeBris in the upcoming run of “The Producers” at Paris Las Vegas. Those hoping for a swimsuit scene or perhaps a singing car, will have to make due instead with David Hasselhoff in a dress, which might just be the pop-culture oddity that this production needs to break the Broadway curse.

The Producers will start its run in February of 2007 and tickets are now available online or through the Paris Box Office at 877-374-7469. Shows, at opening, will be daily except Wednesday at 8pm with an additional 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are $75-$144 inclusive.

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Last Chance to Take a Drive
If you’re looking to slip behind the wheel of a sports car or massive SUV that you’ll never be able to afford and flog them mercilessly for a few minutes, you’re going to have to hurry. The Drive, a unique attraction featuring GM cars and trucks on performance and faux off-road courses, will be shutting down for good on November 18th. The lease on the parking lot behind The Sahara is up and won’t be renewed, which only amps up the rumor mill about what may be happening to that particular hotel.

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Neonopolis: Anatomy of a Disaster
It was supposed to be the savior of Downtown Las Vegas, a glitzy, gaudy $100 million shopping and entertainment center to anchor the Fremont Street Experience and, of course, draw hordes of shoppers and fun seekers to the area.

Of course it never quite worked like that. The place was plagued by problems from the get go, with less than marquee tenants (magnet stores?) and a design that did more to hide what was inside from the crowds on Fremont Street than showcase them. Businesses failed and despite many attempts to revive the mostly moribund building, nothing quite clicked.

Earlier this year the building was sold to a group of investors for roughly a quarter of what it cost to build and they immediately started kicking the few remaining tenants out. Now the building sits completely empty, save for the two anchor establishments: the restaurant and bowling alley Jillian’s and the movie theaters. Owners of the businesses inside say they were given no explanation for the evictions and little notice.

So what is next for Neonopolis? Well, one possibility being floated is a date with a wrecking ball. That’s right, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the owners are considering tearing the place down so they can build a new hotel and casino on the land. No formal decision has been made at this time.

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[ScottG]

ONE MORE!
Las Vegas Sands' Palazzo to Include Luxury Condos
Posted by Hunter on November 6, 2006 | Digg This!

In a bit in the Sunday edition of the Las Vegas Sun, we learn that Las Vegas Sands plans to add a few ultra-luxury condos to their Palazzo project, to appear above the Barney's store that is planned. It's only about 370 units so it's not a huge project.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...v/06/566643285

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by ScottG

ONE MORE!
Las Vegas Sands' Palazzo to Include Luxury Condos
Posted by Hunter on November 6, 2006 | Digg This!

In a bit in the Sunday edition of the Las Vegas Sun, we learn that Las Vegas Sands plans to add a few ultra-luxury condos to their Palazzo project, to appear above the Barney's store that is planned. It's only about 370 units so it's not a huge project.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...v/06/566643285

Will that be a separate tower?

That links not working

Edit: I fixed the link
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...566643285.html

It's a 50 story tower. The county votes on it today.

That will start to look dense in that area if they build it.

[JonVegas]

this is a pretty awesome program. My only problem with it is buildings like the stratosphere suffer from extrusion problems.

[JonVegas]

Apparently the el cortez is under seige by a gigantic mutant fly. I parked there last weekend and totally missed this.

Anyone know what that is?

[Don Pacho]

Originally Posted by JonVegas

this is a pretty awesome program. My only problem with it is buildings like the stratosphere suffer from extrusion problems.

I don't get those details on the buildings. I cannot get those shades on the (wrongly extruded) stratosphere nor the blue of the swimming pool. Am I doing something wrong?

btw, Nice program !

[SpeedyFarrar]

Originally Posted by JonVegas

this is a pretty awesome program. My only problem with it is buildings like the stratosphere suffer from extrusion problems.

They got the Seattle Space Needle right but not the Strat

[mdiederi]

Here's more on the Palazzo condos reviewed by the county yesterday.

http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapp...a/P0194639.htm

849 condos in a 632 foot tall modern style tower with glass curtain-wall and balconies.

....

Also heard a rumor that an investment group has financing in place to resurrect the Ivana project, with a casino addition and a name change, but everything else the same, including the height. We'll see.

[mdiederi]

Well, there was this recent report in Atlantic City.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...&postcount=965

So maybe Wynn will buy the Frontier and then trade it to Trump, circumventing Ruffin.

The monopoly game continues...