Las Vegas City Council OKs downtown sculpture garden

An Arts District property owner got permission Wednesday to take over part of a proposed sculpture garden, so long as the Las Vegas City Council gives its blessing to the final plan.

The council approved vacating Boulder Avenue between First Street and Casino Center Boulevard and allowing it to dead end at Casino Center. Westley Isbutt, who owns the Arts Factory, wants to build an urban lounge and 250,000 square feet of working space for artists on the block.

The sculpture garden is expected to be a pedestrian plaza on Boulder Avenue between Main Street and Casino Center. Jack Solomon, the founder of S2 Arts Group and Isbutt's neighbor, objected to vacating the street because of fears that the sculpture garden would shrink or be canceled.

"To give it to private enterprise ... I am very much against it," he told the council. "It would take things away from the public. It would take things away from the Arts District."

No, it won't, Isbutt retorted.

"We have stated from the beginning that we intend to do the plaza," Isbutt said, noting that he has worked on the sculpture garden and other Arts District projects for years. "Everyone who doubts our intentions should be looked at as newcomers."

He has said several times that his half of the plaza can be built faster as a private development. Solomon said Wednesday that he's trying to start a $5 million fundraising campaign for the sculpture park.

Before the vacation can become official, the council must approve a site plan showing a pedestrian plaza as part of Isbutt's development, and Mayor Oscar Goodman reiterated the long-held expectation of a sculpture garden on Boulder Avenue.

"I think these conditions ... assure that's going to be done," added Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese. "It's about as foolproof as you can get."

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.