Fontainebleau construction rumors premature

Rumors of construction possibly restarting at Fontainebleau Las Vegas seem to be premature.

The buzz began Tuesday after some local media outlets began reporting that approximately $1.2 billion in construction permits were pulled for the dormant project.

However, a representative for Clark County said the permit pulls were actually six-month renewals for 47 permits covering different areas of the project.

Without the renewals, the project’s owners would have to reapply for new permits, an expensive and time-consuming proposition, before the project could restart.

Steve Ross, secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council, said Friday none of the alliance’s unions have been contacted about the project restarting.

The council represents 17 labor unions that saw 3,000 of its members laid off in late April 2009 when the project was shut down. The previous owners filed for bankruptcy June 9, 2009.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn acquired the unfinished 3,889-room hotel-casino in February with a $150 million bid in bankruptcy court.

Contact reporter Arnold M. Knightly at aknightly@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.