Downtown visionary
When Oscar Goodman left the mayor's office because of term limits, the city of Las Vegas desperately needed a new champion for downtown revitalization. Zappos chief Tony Hsieh has filled that role and then some.
On Thursday, the Review-Journal's Benjamin Spillman reported that Mr. Hsieh has new deals in place for more than $45 million in downtown property. He's nearly done buying real estate for his ambitious Downtown Project, a $350 million campaign that entails attracting high-skill businesses, nurturing entrepreneurship and improving the area's quality-of-life amenities, from parks to nightlife. His land buys will accelerate the process.
Every city in America pushing for downtown investment should be so fortunate to have someone as motivated, capable and wealthy as Mr. Hsieh to make things happen. Mr. Goodman deserves much credit for envisioning these possibilities and building momentum. But city government could not pull off what Mr. Hsieh is doing today. It's groundbreaking.
The lone shortcoming of Mr. Hsieh's campaign? By now he should have some high-profile help. He needs other private-sector partners in his work. Who'll step forward to join him?
