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URBAN UPDATE
| An Insider Perspective
on Downtown Real Estate |
| by: Downtown Steve |
Downtown Steve here, the newest
contributor to E RealEatateExec's Urban Update column. The
staff has suggested that now would be a good time for you
to get to know me a little better, and for me to share with
you what to expect in future editions of Urban Update.
 I
am originally from just outside of St. Louis, MO, east side.
I was a REALTOR® there for 10 years and arrived in Las
Vegas after a one-year stay in St. George, UT, in 2000.
My history with downtown Las
Vegas started from the moment I moved here. I can still vividly
remember having one week to find a place to rent, and I came
armed with a very limited knowledge of Las Vegas. After two
or three days of unsuccessfully searching valley-wide for
a place, out of desperation, I took a random turn off of Las
Vegas Blvd. and onto Oakey. This random turn took me to a
place unlike anything else I had seen in the Vegas valley.
Homes had character and yards had this crazy stuff called
grass. There were mature trees, and the homes weren't five
different shades of tan—they had personality. There
was architectural diversity.
Though I'm not much of
a gambler, I liked the proximity to the Strip and The Fremont
Street Experience. Gritty around the edges? Sure. But I still
felt there was something about the area. Something good.
So, boom, here I am. New
town, but kind of broke. So broke, in fact, that I felt I
could not afford the luxury of cable television. After about
a year or so and a couple of job changes later, I decided
I could now afford the $9.99 for basic cable. Little did I
know how much that would change my life. I was now able to
channel surf all 10 English-speaking channels that were offered
to me. Increasingly, I found myself landing on KCLV, the channel
that airs the planning commission and city hall meetings,
among other community-oriented programming. At first, the
draw was the pure entertainment value that Mayor Goodman offered.
I had never seen a mayor with such smart wit, passion, and
the kind of off-the-cuff comments that can shake things up
a bit.
It didn't take long to
also realize that downtown Las Vegas was on the move. I could
see that several new projects were getting council approval—projects
right in my backyard. New high-rises, park improvements, Union
Park, Fremont East, Casino improvements, Neonopolis/Fremont
Square, and mass transit plans. Finally, in 2002, getting
back into Real Estate felt like the right thing to do.
The name Downtown Steve
had already been in place, thanks to a friend of mine, and
I was ready to share my passion and knowledge of the downtown
area with anybody who would listen. So here we are today.
I still watch the planning commission and city council meetings.
I now also volunteer for various groups that are making a
positive impact on the urban core of the valley: Contemporary
Arts Center, Atomic Age Alliance, Neon Museum, and First Friday
to name a few.
There are so many different
factions creating a synergy that is moving downtown in a very
positive direction. The improvements in the past five years
have been nothing short of head-spinning. What's coming in
the next five years will be equally amazing. Traditional media
is busy covering more trivial stories; they miss a lot of
the issues that are changing the quality of life in one of
the most famous cities on the planet. Here in Urban Update,
you can expect to find out about the latest issues, the latest
projects, the ups, as well as the occasional setbacks. Being
in downtown on a business level, as a volunteer, a resident,
and on a social basis helps me keep my finger on the pulse
of what's happening in downtown Las Vegas. I am happy to be
your go-to guy for the latest happenings.
Future topics to expect
in upcoming issues include: Union Park updates; mid-century
neighborhoods; a feature on the impact of independent businesses;
Lady Luck renovation updates; The Mob Museum; the mid-century
preservation group, Atomic Age Alliance; discussions with
neighborhood association presidents; mass transit updates;
a little-publicized but massive streetscape improvement on
Las Vegas Blvd.; and the Cultural Corridor. There are so many
different independent groups that are creating a wealth of
synergy: politicians, business groups, artists, social clubs,
volunteer and nonprofit organizations, and new nightclub owners.
I'll keep you up to speed on what's shakin'.
In fact, I'll let you in
on a rare opportunity right now. The Lou Ruvo Brain Institute
is currently under construction in Union Park. This soon-to-be-iconic
building is designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry.
Gehry's buildings have been celebrated across the world for
their flamboyant and over-the-top designs. You can experience
a once-in–a-lifetime chance to tour the building while
it is still under construction. Saturday, November 29 at 4:00
p.m. and Saturday, December 6 at 4:00 p.m. are the days set
for this tour. This 90-minute tour is free but you must RSVP.
To claim your spot call J. C. Cudiamat at (702) 210-2267 or
e-mail her at jccudiamat@yahoo.com.
As readers, if you
have any topic suggestions, just let me know. I am here for
you and appreciate you being here with me. Just send me your
thoughts through the "Comments" area below.
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