Sullivan Square breaks ground

Sullivan Square, a new mixed-use community in the southwestern Las Vegas Valley, celebrated its groundbreaking event with an early- morning launch of eight hot-air balloons on July 31. The celebration signaled the beginning of construction, starting with a 20-foot excavation for the underground parking area and installation of utilities.

"When we talk about milestones for construction projects, groundbreakings are the events that truly fuel excitement," said Kenneth Smith, founder, principal and managing partner of Glen, Smith & Glen Development, the developer of the project. "As part of the ceremony, we launched eight hot-air balloons to represent each of the main buildings of Sullivan Square. As invited guests rose into the morning sky, they reached the height of our tallest building and then rose higher for a bird's-eye view of our 16.5 acres."

Steven Parker, senior vice president of the UPA Group, said the excavation and utility work will take between 60 and 90 days to complete, and then they will begin pouring the foundation for the first block of the project. The foundation will take about 30 days to pour and set.

Two tower cranes will be erected for the vertical construction and the concrete super structure will be seen coming out of the ground. This portion of the project is scheduled to take between eight and 10 months.

Parker estimates 25,000 truckloads of concrete will be used for the foundation and super structure, more than 5,000 tons of reinforced steel for the building, 2,000 windows and 15 miles worth of drywall partitions.

A special buyer incentive is available for those who sign a contract, which offers a payment plan that allows buyers to complete their obligation for their down payment in three installments.

For homes less than $500,000, 1 percent is due at signing, with 2 percent due in October 2007 and 2 percent due in February 2008. For homes $500,000 and more, 2 percent is due at signing, with an additional 4 percent due in October 2007 and 4 percent due in February 2008.

Upon completion, Sullivan Square will consist of 1,300 residences. Units in the first phase range from 500 to 2,000 square feet with prices from the low $300,000s to $1.7 million.

Residences available for sale are the traditional brownstones, live/work spaces and units in Madison I, the project's first high-rise condominium tower. The neighborhood will soon offer mid-rise terraced condominiums, Chicago-style lofts and townhomes.

Amenities at Sullivan Square include a 1.5-acre community park, dog park, concierge, workout facility and pool. The market street will be filled with 25 locally owned shops and services, including an independently owned café, restaurant, full-service deli, neighborhood pub, florist, fresh fish monger, wine shop, coffee shop, bakery and butcher.

The Sullivan Square sales center is at 8930 Spanish Ridge Ave. and is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. To visit, take Interstate 215, the Las Vegas Beltway, and exit north on Russell Road to Frontage Road, east on Hacienda and south into The Park at Spanish Ridge.

For further information, call 733-1108 or visit sullivansquare.net.

Glen, Smith & Glen Development is a Las Vegas-based development firm.