Developer’s sculpture park plan fizzles
The Las Vegas Planning Commission once again tied itself in knots over a proposed downtown sculpture park, ultimately -- and narrowly -- deciding not to let a private developer take over part of the project.
The issue split the commission and also has disclosed a fissure in the usually united Arts District community, which long has sought a sculpture park on what's now Boulder Avenue between Main Street and Casino Center Boulevard.
"Usually you're all in here together, all on the same page," commission member Richard Truesdell noted after Arts District neighbors took opposite sides on the matter. "I'm confused by this."
Arts Factory owner Westley Isbutt wants to build an urban lounge and 250,000 square feet of working space for artists on property he owns at Boulder and Casino Center, and has asked the city to vacate that section of street so he can make it part of this development.
He promised to stick to the sculpture garden plan, though, and even offered to pay for the improvements on that half of the project if boosters can't raise enough money.
"We have every intention of doing this," he said. "We're really trying to do a very civic thing.
"It's in our best interest. The plaza helps the developments."
The commission, however, voted 3-2 against vacating the street and allowing Isbutt to make it a dead end. Their votes are recommendations that the Las Vegas City Council will consider May 7.
Truesdell said he's worried that the project won't be completed, citing the ongoing economic downturn and the difficulty many developers face in finding financing. Not only would there be no construction, but the city would have ceded control over part of what's supposed to be a public plaza, he said.
"The city of Las Vegas will end up stuck in every way, shape and form," he said.
Isbutt also tried to argue that the sculpture park would be built faster his way. Park boosters have a grant that would pay for about half the project.
The original plan was for the city of Las Vegas to pay for it, but funding is no longer available.
