A path of improvements: A look back at 2012
Italy and France's came in the 15th century. England's came in the 16th century. America's came in the 19th century. Downtown Las Vegas' renaissance came in 2012.
Last year brought an explosion of economic, cultural and community-oriented growth to the downtown neighborhood.
From the opening of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Mob Museum to the rise of the 18b Arts District and the Tony Hsieh-fueled land grab by the Downtown Project, the downtown Las Vegas landscape looks much different than it did 365 days ago. It is apparent in the sights of people walking their dogs, children in strollers and businessmen stopping in at the neighborhood coffee shop.
MR. SMITH GOES TO VEGAS
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts' 17-story Carillon Tower has cemented itself as a fixture of the Las Vegas skyline.
Since its March 10 opening, the $470 million building has played host to five Broadway productions; six performances from the center's two resident companies, the Nevada Ballet Theatre Company and the Las Vegas Philharmonic; and a slew of musical performances, lecturers and private events.
The Smith Center was funded by a public-private partnership. The city of Las Vegas provided the land, infrastructure and parking for the facility, according to city officials. In addition, the city, Clark County and state Legislature collaborated on a car rental fee that resulted in a bond of just over $100 million, according to city officials.
The private funding campaign was launched by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation with a landmark gift of $50 million in 2005, in honor of its chairman, Fred W. Smith, and his wife, Mary. The Reynolds Foundation contributed an additional $100 million grant, the largest philanthropic donation in state history and, combined with its initial contribution, the sum is the second largest donation to the performing arts in the United States, according to city officials.
The Broadway Las Vegas series continues in 2013 with shows such as "West Side Story," "Shrek the Musical" and "Catch Me If You Can."
For more information visit thesmithcenter.com.
CRIME DOES PAY
The dirty underbelly of Las Vegas history found a permanent place of residence in 2012. The 80-year-old former federal courthouse at 300 Stewart Ave. was revamped and reopened as the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, or the Mob Museum, on Valentine's Day.
The $42 million project ignited some controversy by passing a large portion of the price tag over to taxpayers. The project received $1.9 million in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a $532,043 Save America's Treasures grant and a $250,000 subsidy from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The registered 501(c)(3) has a goal of attracting 300,000 visitors in its first year to pay for the $5 million operating cost.
So far, the museum has hosted lecture series, parties commemorating events such as the Kefauver hearings and the repeal of Prohibition, and movie screenings.
For more information, visit themobmuseum.org.
WHERE THE SIDEWALK BEGINS
The city of Las Vegas has started the first of a three-phase project bringing new sidewalks and pedestrian improvements into older downtown neighborhoods.
Construction began Nov. 12 in the neighborhoods bounded by Carson Avenue, Maryland Parkway, Ninth Street and Charleston Boulevard, with the goal of improving efficiency of pedestrian travel and quality of life for residents. Completion of phase one is expected by March 31, according to city officials.
The city received $2.2 million in community development block grant funding from the federal government.
Phase one has an estimated price tag of $1.8 million, according to city spokesman Jace Radke.
Phases two and three are still in the design process, and costs have yet to be estimated. Phase two is expected to begin by summer and included upgraded sidewalks in neighborhoods bounded by Owens Avenue, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Bonanza Road and Interstate 15.
Phase three is set to consist of neighborhoods bounded by Maryland Parkway, Charleston Boulevard, Bruce Street and Interstate 15.
Work will take place primarily during the day Monday through Friday, although some may occur on weekends, according to the city.
Motorists and residents are cautioned to expect some lane restrictions, gutter reconstruction and pavement patches at some intersections, intermittent on-street parking restrictions and sidewalk pedestrian detours as the project progresses.
For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 702-229-6011.
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT GROUP TARGETS DOWNTOWN
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh and his Downtown Project cohorts spent roughly $45 million in 2012 on 14 downtown Las Vegas properties.
The project, bankrolled by Hsieh and his $350 million investment, looks to revive Las Vegas' urban core through investment in startup businesses, technology, the arts, culture and education.
The group funds businesses such as Eat, a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch from the corner of Seventh Street and Carson Avenue that opened last fall, and projects such as a co-working space and a private school.
For more information, visit downtownproject.com.
First friday celebrates a decade
The monthly art walk through the heart of Las Vegas' 18b Arts District, namely First Friday, celebrated 10 years of revelry last year.
Founder Cindy Funkhouser started the downtown institution in October 2002, attracting around 300 people.
This year also saw the launch of the First Friday Foundation Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization that will operate parallel to First Friday LLC, the private company that took control of the event.
The foundation looks to provide a vehicle to spread the First Friday culture beyond the monthly event. Its goals include providing support for local artists to continue working and living in Las Vegas.
For more information, visit ffflv.org.
Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 702-383-0492.
