Henderson rejects federal land deal for casino project near M Resort
The city of Henderson has rejected a developer’s bid to buy federal land this year that could be used to build a long-planned hotel and casino across from the M Resort.
The city’s denial left the door open for a future sale of the land, but it further delays a resort that’s been envisioned for at least five years.
Last month, two companies asked the city to recommend that a 9-acre site owned by the federal Bureau of Land Management be put up for sale at a fall 2015 auction.
“We are informed by our client that they would like to bid on this parcel as soon as possible,” their lawyer, John Marchiano, wrote in a December letter to city staff.
But the city’s Property Management Committee, made up of the city manager and five other senior officials, would not sign off. City spokesman Bud Cranor said they were concerned both because the proposal came after the deadline for land sale applications and because it lacked detail.
“That’s a real important piece of property for the city,” Cranor said. “It’s kind of the gateway to the city, so they didn’t want to rush into anything. That doesn’t mean it can’t come back before us in the future.”
Because staff had been preparing to bring the land sale before the City Council, it was mistakenly put on the council’s agenda for consideration at Tuesday’s meeting. It was removed without debate.
The land sale was requested by Kapelfre LLC and CKB Management Affiliates LLC, the latter of which is run by developer Raymond Shapiro.
Shapiro could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The companies’ lawyer, Marchiano, said he didn’t have his clients’ permission to comment.
Shapiro’s plans for a casino on the land were reported five years ago by the Las Vegas Sun, which said he owns 16 acres bordering the 9 acres of BLM land.
The city has long envisioned the area around Interstate 15, Las Vegas Boulevard South and St. Rose Parkway as a “casino corridor.” Cranor said more resorts there could be a boost to the city’s image.
“I think at some point in the future that would be ripe for development in that way. But this may be not the time,” Debra March, the city councilwoman for the area, said Tuesday. “It’s just a matter of timing and economy.”
Shapiro could apply for the next BLM auction, which could be in 2016. Cranor said city officials would like more details on the proposed resort before deciding whether it’s appropriate.
It’s common for developers to buy and then build on federal land. The BLM has conducted land sales in the Las Vegas area since 1999, lately once or twice a year. The most recent, in December 2014, netted more than $49 million from the sale of 40 parcels totaling 413.68 acres.
In 2009, M resort founder Anthony Marnell III — who couldn’t be reached Tuesday — told the Sun he thought a casino across from the M would be good for the city.
“While we do enjoy being the only casino within a certain radius,” Marnell told the paper, “over the long term, we’re going to want something that draws more people down here.”
Contact Eric Hartley at ehartley@reviewjournal.com or 702-550-9229. Find him on Twitter: @ethartley.
