Thursday, January 29, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Mayor wants bigger city role
Neonopolis management change suggested
By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE
Frustrated by the ongoing struggles at downtown's Neonopolis mall, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman on Wednesday suggested that a change in management may be in order for the $100 million retail and entertainment complex.
Goodman also commented on the center's recent rejection of a proposed gay nightspot known as Celebrity Las Vegas.
The mayor said he believed the business would have "been a shot in the arm for Neonopolis" and went on to discuss his interest in expanding the city's role in operating the center, or a potential change in the project's private management company.
"That part of Fremont Street needs that kind of energy, and I think (Neonopolis' current tenants) would have benefited from (Celebrity). But unfortunately, at least to this point, the city hasn't done the leasing," Goodman said.
"I've asked our city attorney to tell me what powers, if any, the city has to get involved in the business part of Neonopolis. As a result of the publicity, I'm happy to say this, I've had people call me that wanted to know whether they could take it over."
Goodman wouldn't name those suitors but described them as "private entities." He said he suggested those parties contact the center's owner, Parsippany, N.J.-based Prudential Real Estate Investors, to "see what could be done."
Efforts to reach Neonopolis officials were unsuccessful Wednesday, but Prudential Real Estate Investors spokeswoman Theresa Miller said in November her company had no plans to cancel its open-ended contract with Neonopolis' third-party management company, New York-based real estate advisory firm JSS Advisors.
Goodman said allegations that Neonopolis and Fremont Street Experience leaders discriminated against Celebrity and its gay owner, Ohio businessman Donald Troxel, are "totally unacceptable" if true.
Goodman said he recently spoke with Troxel and remains confident Celebrity Las Vegas soon will locate somewhere downtown.
