Petition filed with county wants to stop Riviera demolition

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s legal team is keeping an eye on an initiative petition drive filed with the Clark County registrar of voters attempting to block demolition of the shuttered Riviera hotel-casino.

“At this time, we have not decided on a path to take regarding the petition,” a spokesman for the authority said Friday. “We are still reviewing options with outside counsel, but we will take all actions necessary and are in the process of conducting the due diligence regarding the petition.”

The LVCVA’s legal counsel, Luke Puschnig, told the authority’s board of directors last week of the petition, filed by Henderson resident Kelden Engel, a student at Nevada State College.

Engel’s initiative petition seeks approval of an ordinance that would “legally prevent the demolition of any structures that are currently or have ever been situated on land denoted by Clark County Assessor’s Parcel Number 162-09-703-001.”

That legal description is the land that houses the Riviera, acquired by the LVCVA more than a year ago for a Las Vegas Convention Center expansion project.

The authority acquired the 60-year-old, 23-story property in February 2015 for $191 million, which included $8.5 million in related acquisition costs.

Since buying the property, the authority’s owner representative, Cordell Corp., has conducted a detailed investigation of hazardous materials on the site and how to remove them before imploding the two Riviera towers.

The Cordell investigation determined that there is asbestos within the stucco finish of the Monte Carlo tower. As a result, workers with W.A. Richardson Builders LLC, the company that won the Riviera demolition contract with its $42 million bid, will have to wrap the building in plastic and chisel away the finish and haul the debris away to prevent asbestos particles from becoming airborne during a planned implosion.

Two implosion events are planned in June and August.

But those could be stalled through legal maneuvering related to the petition drive if it picks up steam.

Clark County Registrar Joe Gloria said he issued notice of an intent to circulate a petition last week.

An initiative petition requires signatures from 15 percent of the number of people who voted in the 2014 general election. Gloria said for the petition to be qualify for the November ballot, about 51,000 signatures would be required. Engel said he is in the early stages of gathering support and petitions would have to be submitted by July 1.

Gloria said legal experts also are checking whether the petition would have legal standing since the building is owned by the LVCVA and not the county.

Engel appeared before the LVCVA board in August, pleading for members to preserve at least one of the Riviera towers.

In the August meeting, Engel said he was taking a stance for historical preservation in a city that has seen more than a dozen implosions to make way for new development.

The LVCVA can’t afford much delay.

Under Cordell’s timetable, the demolition and debris removal would be completed by Dec. 31 and the property would be turned over to the authority by Jan. 31.

The authority must have the property available prior to the opening of ConExpo-Con/Ag, the giant construction industry show scheduled March 7-11.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Find him on Twitter: @RickVelotta