Entries from September 16, 2007 - September 22, 2007
Should Downtown Las Vegas look like South Beach, Miami
I was reading this article in the Las Vegas Sun-click here-and got to thinking about the whole revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas.
Yes, Downtown is being revitalized and that is a good thing. But should we alter the face of Downtown Las Vegas so that it looks and feels like South Beach, Miami? Instead of building faux Art Deco homages to South Beach, should we not be trying to revitalize some of the Post War and very Western architecture that exists on Fremont Street and in the neighborhood. Do we need to look like South Beach to succeed. Why can't we celebrate the history and the architecture of Fremont Steet without destroying the original buildings to put up faux Art Deco ones?
Mary Margaret Stratton of the Atomic Age Alliance brought up a good point last Friday about the motor court motels on East Fremont Street. They are one of the largest collections of 1940s and 1950s Roadside Attractions still standing.
Word comes from Tamares, the people who bought the Plaza, the Las Vegas Club and the Ambassador East Motel at Seventh and Fremont, that they plan to tear this wonderful, weeping mortar (squish brick) two story motel complex down and put up a 500 unit boutique hotel.
Which begs the question from us, should Downtown Las Vegas being trying to compete with the Strip crowd or should Downtown Las Vegas be pursuing a different clientele. Will they be successful pulling people from the Strip to stay downtown? Will remaking Fremont Street into the Strip or South Beach pull that 21-35 year old demographic that the Strip does? Is that who Downtown should be marketing to?
Let us know what you think! We are curious how people feel about this revitalization of Fremont Street and is it going in the right direction.
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What's going on with the Golden Nugget?
We went on an Architecture Tour given by our good friend, Mary Margaret Stratton and the Atomic Age Alliance last Friday. The double decker bus was filled with folks who love mid-century architecture and signage. One of the stops was downtown Fremont Street where we took a short walking tour. Imagine our surprise when we noticed construction at the Golden Nugget.
After much asking around, we have decided to offer a free Classic Las Vegas tee-shirt to the first reader who can acurately tell us why the western bullnose of the Golden Nugget is down and there is a fence around the western corner.
Thanks to Allen Sandquist (RoadsidePictures) for letting us use this picture.
LasVegasLynn
Rich Taylor is absolutely correct!
Here is more info regarding the Golden Nugget's renovation:
The Golden Nugget is undergoing a $100 million (yes, you read that right) upgrade. Probably the biggest upgrade to the property since Steve Wynn upgraded it in 1984.
The new owners, Landry Restaurants, have spent $70 million on upgrading the casino, a convention area and an ultra-lounge that will look out over Fremont Street.
Next year, the will spend $150 million on an additional 500 room tower.
When the smoke clears, Landry Restaurants will have spent more money upgrading the Golden Nugget than they did on buying not only it but its sister property in beautiful Laughlin. In addition, the opening of the tower, planned for already over-booked 2009) will mark the largest upgrade in Fremont Street's history in 20 years. Other Fremont Street gaming halls are hoping to benefit from the Golden Nugget's expansion.
Landry Restaurants, according to Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor, sets themselves apart from many of the other Fremont Street operators, largely due to their investment in the hotel. At a time when other properties are complaining about the lack of customers and their lack of gaming revenue, Landry Restaurants is spending money to bring customers downtown.
Landry's Restaurant, which has chains including the Rainforest Cafe, in about 30 states is run by Tilman Fertitta. He is a cousin of Stations Casino's owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III.
In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, since buying the property, Landry Restaurants has also renovated the entire casino, added several restaurants, moved the buffet and renovated the pool by adding a water slide that goes through a shark tank.
For more info read here
Yeah or Nay? Electronic Marquee in front of the old Las Vegas High School
It's more bad news from the Downtown Neighborhood (that is on the National Historical Register). Seems the Las Vegas Academy (the former Las Vegas High School that was built in 1931 and for almost thirty years was the only High School in town), wants to put one of those electronic marquees on the front lawn of the school at the corner of Bridger.
The magnet school, which allows students to major in performance arts, want to have an electronic marquee to advertise their upcoming productions and shows.
The Historic Preservation Commission does not believe that the front lawn and the corner of 7th and Bridger is the best place for the sign. They believe the sign will interfere with the exterior look of the campus. (See photo below to see if you agree or disagree).
Thanks to the Las Vegas Review Journal for allowing us to use this photo.
The sign was reviewed by City Planning staff. The preliminary design called for a 12-foot-high electronic marquee. It was proposed by the school at an August 13th meeting. The City Planning Staff recommended its denial to the Preservation Commission.
The Commission after reviewing the situation tabled the issue at a subsequent meeting, encouraging school staff and Nevada Sign to alter the design to better suit the character of the neighborhood.
This is the neighborhood where the homes date back to the 1920s and the 1930s. Many of the pioneering families who helped build Las Vegas from a tent city to a small, thriving community lived in these homes. Though the Neighborhood is on the National Registry, it is not protected by local preservation laws and in the past two years, many of the homes have been torn down for McOffices and McMansions.
The initial request was recommended for denial because the sign was deemed to be incompatible with the historic architecture of the school.
Planners said its size would have a negative impact on the school's facade and the contemporary technology was not appropriate within the context of the Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District.
School principal Stephen Clark said whether commissioners like the sign is irrelevant. "The code says 'compatibility' and the sign we proposed we feel is quite compatible," he said.
The code to which Clark refers is the Las Vegas Municipal Code, which states that applications for alteration of historic sites can be denied if the proposed work is not compatible with the distinctive character of the overall property.
Compatibility is defined as "a pleasing visual relationship between elements of a property, building or structure."
Nevada Sign, the company commissioned by the school for the project, redesigned the template after planners said it needed to blend with the neighborhood more. Features were added to simulate the building's front entrance. A plaque was also added informing onlookers of the building's historic significance.
The school plans to take the issue to the Las Vegas City Council if the commission rejects the proposal at its next meeting. Despite commission requests to do so, Clark doesn't plan to alter the design again or change the sign's intended location.
The school wants to put the sign where White said is the best view of the Las Vegas High School Historic District's Spanish Art Deco facade.
Constructed in 1931, the building represents the growth and development of Las Vegas during the Hoover Dam construction. Before it was Las Vegas Academy, it was Las Vegas High School. The building was given historic designation in 2002.
What do you think? Let us know!! Post your comments here!LasVegasLynn
The City Council voted to approve the electronic sign for the lawn of The Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts aka the original Las Vegas High School.
As soon as the sign is installed we will send RoadsidePictures down to take a pic.
OJ Simpson Arrested
In another bizarre twist to the OJ Simpson story, the news from Metro is that OJ Simpson has been arrested in connection with the robbery of sports memorabilia at the Palace Station on Thursday. He is being charged with one count of robbery with a deadly weapon. Simpson is still waiting for his attorney to arrive in Las Vegas. He was arrested by Metro at the Palms Hotel.
"He's under arrest and he's on his way to the office," said Lt. Clint Nichols of the robbery unit. Investigators will question Simpson before any more charges are added, Nichols said.
The other man who is charged in the case has been identified as Walter Alexander. Alexander, 47, is charged with robbery with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and burglary with use of deadly weapon.
On Thursday evening, Metro Police responded to a robbery call at the Palace Station (Sahara Avenue and Rancho Road). The alleged victim identified OJ Simpson as one of the men involved in the armed robbery of sports memorabilia from the victim.
Simpson claims that he was only there to retrieve items that had been stolen from him, including a picture of The Juice and G-Man and Head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. Simpson claims the Auction House in charge of the Sports Memorabilia Show contacted him regarding the items.
Simpson was in town for a wedding and was seen with his daughter Arnel at various high end restaurants earlier on Thursday. The Auction House arranged a meeting between Simpson and ther owner of the memorabilia.
What happened at that meeting is still under investigation. Bruce Fromong, one of the memorabilia sellers, claims to be a former business associate of Simpson's and says he came by the memorabilia legally. He says that the Auction House head, Tom Ricchio, set up the meeting.
Ricchio claims that there was no break-in and that no one used deadly force.
Fromong claims that while OJ did not brandish the gun himself, more than one of his cohorts did have a gun and that they threatened to use force to take the items. Fromong claims that besides the disputed items, Simpson and his co-horts took items that were designed, produced and the property of Fromong.
Simpson is being quoted in various newspapers and reports as saying "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas except when it happens to me."
Stay tuned for updates as this bizarre case continues.
LasVegasLynn
From the Las Vegas Review Journal:
OJ Simpson spent about six hours talking with detectives before they walked him to a vehicle waiting to take him to the Clark County Detention Center.
At approximately 5:15. he arrived at the County Jail in an unmarked police vehicle with tinted windows. Following procedure, he was frisked, fingerprinted, photographed and assigned inmate No. 2648927.
Simpson was booked on charges including burglary with a firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, and two counts each of robbery with a deadly weapon and assault with a deadly weapon. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 106 years.
He was being held without bail in a jail isolation cell until his first court hearing Thursday.
Police said Simpson directed the Thursday evening raid on the hotel room where sports memorabilia dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong were robbed at gunpoint. Simpson did not use a gun himself, police said.
The men rushed into the room when one said that he was a cop and that the two dealers would be "dead if they were in L.A.," Dillon said.
The men also patted the victims down looking for weapons. Police do not think any of the men involved are or were police officers, "but they gave that impression," Dillon said.
Fromong, who lives in North Las Vegas, said he had more than $75,000 in memorabilia taken by the robbers, including six or seven footballs and three plaques related to Simpson, with items signed by Joe Montana and baseball greats Duke Snyder and Pete Rose.
Simpson told The Associated Press that he went to the room and took the memorabilia because it had been stolen from him. He denied any guns were involved.
Both collectors had a history with Simpson. Fromong was once a business partner who helped sell merchandise for Simpson, and Beardsley is a longtime collector who owns the suit Simpson wore for the verdict at his murder trial.
Detectives slowed their investigation after learning of the connections, but an anonymous phone call put the investigation at full speed.
The tipster told investigators that Walter Alexander, a 47-year-old from Mesa, Ariz., was involved in the robbery and at McCarran International Airport waiting for a flight Saturday night.
Alexander never made that flight. Police found him and brought him in for questioning. Detectives soon learned details of what happened inside the room.
Dillon said Alexander brandished a gun during the robbery.
Alexander gave police a statement, but only after his lawyer, Robert Rentzer, negotiated an "non-use proffer" that prevents authorities from using any of the statement against Alexander, the Los Angeles lawyer said.
Rentzer said he negotiated his client's release on his own recognizance.
Alexander has not agreed to cooperate with authorities in the future, although that could be a possibility, Rentzer said.
Alexander was scheduled to meet Rentzer today in Los Angeles to discuss the case and legal strategy.
"I told prosecutors we're not going to agree to a plea bargain at this point," Rentzer said. "I may not plea bargain at all if I feel he has a strong case."
Alexander faces robbery, assault, conspiracy and burglary charges.
District Attorney David Roger, who said he is personally handling the Simpson case, said he agreed to the release "for strategic reasons."
With information from Alexander, detectives drew up three search warrants and served them late into Saturday night.
The searches uncovered two guns that detectives think were used in the robbery, Lt. Clint Nichols said. Investigators also recovered items taken during the robbery, including memorabilia signed by Simpson, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana's cleats and clothes worn by the suspects, Nichols said.
Police were searching Sunday night for the other four men alleged to have been involved.
Dillon named three of them Sunday: Clarence Stewart, 53, of Las Vegas, Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, and Thomas Scotto of Miami. Simpson was in Las Vegas for Scotto's wedding, Dillon said. Except for one minor matter, the suspects have avoided trouble with the law, Dillon said.
LasVegasLynn
Well, the area around the Regional Justice Center looks like downtown Los Angeles from the mid-1990s. Satellite news trucks everywhere, reporters bustling around trying to get more information, on-air talent doing stand-ups and the downtown business places that serve breakfast and lunch are having a major pay-day.
That said, OJ Simpson will be arraigned tomorrow morning at 8:00 am. KLAS-Channel 8 and the other channels will have live coverage from the Court House.
Was he framed or did he do it?
Stay tuned......
LasVegasLynn
OJ Simpson appeared before Judge Joe Bonaventure, Jr this morning on armed robbery charges. His attorneys and District Attorney David Roger worked out a deal where OJ surrendered his passport and was given bail. The bail was set at $125,000. Simpson is free to travel within the country but is not allowed to leave the United States. Bonaventure also forbid Simpson from talking to any of the potential witnesses or co-defendants in the case.
Simpson did not enter a plea.
Afterwards, Simpson and his attorney, Yale Galanter, got into a sedan and headed away from the Courthouse. Reminiscent of his slow Bronco chase of 1994, television helicopter crews followed Simpson's car back to the Palms Hotel. Galanter said that Simpson will be returning to his home in Florida as soon as flight arrangements can be made.
Simpson's next court date is set for Monday, Oct. 29th. A side note, according to CNN, Galanter told the Judge that he is currently involved in a case that is expected to take three months to wrap up and the soonest he will be filing motions on Simpson's behalf will after the first of the year.
In other Simpson case news, Alfred Breadsley, a key witness in the case, was arrested by the Fugitive Task Force this morning at the Luxor Hotel. The charge: Parole Violation. He was taken into custody and is currently in lock-up at the County Jail, pending extradition to California.
LasVegasLynn
It is safe to stay at the Palace Station again.
OJ Simpson left Las Vegas (and you thought we would do a sleazy Leaving Las Vegas joke. Hah!) for Florida late this afternoon. He was accompanied by his blonde, Nicole Brown-Simpson looking girlfriend and entourage. (What? You thought OJ traveled alone?).
CNN was reporting that the next court date is Monday, Oct. 29th while KLAS-Channel 8 (our fave) is reporting a court date of Monday, Oct. 22nd. Our money is on Channel-8.
And yes, there were two guys dressed as cavemen in front of the Court House (possibly promoting Geico or the new ABC series????), a couple selling free Orange Juice while yelling "Free OJ" and a couple from Florida hawking newly made tee shirts with a picture of Simpson behind Prison Bars with the cut line "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Jail". Don't tell the LVCVA or R&R Partners.
In the meantime, I am looking forward to three of the best local columnists: John L Smith, Jane Ann Morrison and George Knapp weighing in on the OJ phenom in Las Vegas.
Stay tuned.... When they do, we will provide links.
