Posted on 09/09/2001 3:25:44 PM PDT by anymouse
Almost 75 residents of one of the city's oldest areas came to the Las Vegas Planning Commission Thursday to protest the Stratosphere's plans for a $20 million thrill ride that a lawyer for the casino said would enhance the neighborhood.
After more than two hours of debate between neighbors and hotel officials, the commission voted 3-2 against the hotel's site approval request for the 740-foot ride.
In the end, it was the project's aesthetic quality, along with the concerns of nearby residents, that prompted Chairman Craig Galati to cast the deciding vote against the project. He said the decision was the most agonizing he's faced in four years on the commission.
"The Stratosphere is an icon, representative of the purity of architecture that this city has not seen before," Galati said.
Adding a thrill ride to the side of the tower would detract from that purity, said Galati and others who voted against it.
But Commissioners Byron Goynes and Stephen Quinn -- who approved of the project -- said projects along that section of Las Vegas Boulevard must be spectacular to compete with Strip properties.
"In order to get people downtown, it's got to be spectacular," Goynes said. "It's got to be better than the volcano; it's got to be better than the pirate show," referring to attractions along the Strip.
Lawyers for the Stratosphere will get another chance to make their case for the project when it goes before the City Council for final approval on Oct. 17.
J.T. Moran III, who represents the Stratosphere, said the project would bring new revenue to the city's redevelopment fund that could lead to new development similar to the Fremont Street Experience and the Neonopolis entertainment center, which were subsidized with redevelopment money.
The Planning Commission's vote overrode a recommendation from the city's planning staff, which last week recommended approval of the project, subject to restrictions on hours of operation and landscape requirements. The land in question -- at 2000 and 2035 Las Vegas Boulevard South -- is zoned for general commercial uses, including amusement rides.
Many of those attending were residents of the Southridge neighborhood, an area of older bungalows and ranches where young couples and professionals have been buying property in recent years.
They said the success of the city's efforts to redevelop downtown depends on encouraging new residents.
"If you want redevelopment downtown, you need us," said John Delikanakis of the Southridge Neighborhood Association, which presented a petition with 300 signatures of residents who opposed the project.
Other protests came from adjoining neighborhoods north of Oakey Boulevard, and from nearby businesses that would be affected by the ride. Yvonne Duplain feared the ride would steer business away from the two nearby motels her family has operated for half a century.
Many opponents said noise from the thrill ride would hurt their property values.
But Moran said the project would improve the neighborhood -- a suggestion that drew laughter from several in the audience.
"We have spent $100 million trying to give quality of life to the neighborhood," Moran said.
As envisioned by the Stratosphere, the J-shaped device would take six to 12 passengers at a time 740 feet up the side of the 1,149-foot tower before launching them across Las Vegas Boulevard at speeds of up to 120 mph.
This bodes ill for bold capitalist ventures everywhere, but also shows why we need to fight liberalism, and such people worried about petty things lacking vision or adventure.
Bugsy must be spinning in his grave.
Las Vegas has aesthetic qualities? Who'd a thunk it! Where, other than this, is there any proof of it? I'd sue on the basis of precedent (or lack thereof)!
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