Hallucinations are not considered a symptom of fibromyalgia but I sure thought I was seeing things yesterday when noon-hour TV newscasts led with Union Village. Somebody obviously thinks it’s still 2007, as they’re proposing a $1.5 billion, 171-acre hospital-cum-retirement-community complex for Henderson. It doesn’t include a casino (yet) but there will be condos, an “all-suite hotel” outdoor cafés, a cineplex, restaurants, two museums, a merry-go-round … and a Ferris wheel. (Has Gary Loveman been told about this?) Developer Juliet Cos. was even able to enlist Gov. Brian Sandoval to pimp this vaporware. City officials are understandably desperate for job creation but, as TV reports pointed out, the question of how all this will be financed was simply begged. Channeling Fox Mulder, Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen declared, “I do believe the funding is out there. I just believe America is looking for something to invest in,” although that “something” probably ought to be Wynn Resorts stock.
Forgive my skepticism but projects like this were a dime a dozen during the 2005-07 bubble years. And, watching Union Village‘s video pitch, it looked exactly like umpteen other Vegas-area “new urbanism” projects that are either scrapped, incomplete, insolvent or simply dying a slow death — like Lake Las Vegas or The District, which sits ghost town-like at the doorstep of bustling Green Valley Ranch casino. Five bucks says this never gets off the drawing board.
It seems to me all the ridiculous aspects (hospital, ferris wheel, etc) is to make this more distinct from Town Square, which is successful and would eat this thing’s lunch if it got off the ground. But I don’t think the developer would build anything grander than what we already have over there even if the money came in the mail.
What’s weird about these projects is they’re always landing in Henderson. Henderson generally has much more of a community feel already thanks to efforts like the pavillion park/concert stage and the multi-gen complex.
The City of Las Vegas has been so singularly focused on reviving downtown that it can’t even bother to open a new public pool even though they’re in the middle of a drought and discouraging backyard pools would be a huge step toward changing our water use. As far as the city is concerned, you might as well rip out your backyard for your own personal oasis.
Oscar has been an amazing ambassador to the rest of the country, but at home his touch upon the city can be determined soley by how close you are to Symphony Park. I’m not surprised the city wants more of the man, but I’m a little startled that they might want more of the policies without the actual man.