[JonVegas]

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7174/elcortezhr4.jpg

Apparently the el cortez is under seige by a gigantic mutant fly. I parked there last weekend and totally missed this.

Anyone know what that is?

[williasj]

their roof top sign

[Don Pacho]

this is a pretty awesome program. My only problem with it is buildings like the stratosphere suffer from extrusion problems.

I don't get those details on the buildings. I cannot get those shades on the (wrongly extruded) stratosphere nor the blue of the swimming pool. Am I doing something wrong?

btw, Nice program !

[SpeedyFarrar]

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/9528/stratll7.jpg

this is a pretty awesome program. My only problem with it is buildings like the stratosphere suffer from extrusion problems.

They got the Seattle Space Needle right but not the Strat :shrug:

[mdiederi]

Here's more on the Palazzo condos reviewed by the county yesterday.

http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0194639.htm

849 condos in a 632 foot tall modern style tower with glass curtain-wall and balconies.

....

Also heard a rumor that an investment group has financing in place to resurrect the Ivana project, with a casino addition and a name change, but everything else the same, including the height. We'll see.

[jazfingr]

I dunno, a modern glass tower sticking out from all that filigree laden, Venetian architecture sounds ugly. I think Adelson is trying to cram too much into his modest sized property. What is he smoking?

[lenstern]

Whatever Adelson is smoking, I definitely want some of that stuff for myself. Jeez, the guy currently has a net worth of over $20.5 billion and his wealth just keeps growing expodentially by the day!!

[mdiederi]

He's currently 3rd richest in America.

Palazzo condos ... 849 condos in a 632 foot tall
This Globe St. story says the application was for 849 units, but Sands says it will actually be a maximum of 400 "ultra-luxury" units. So they're probably really big or two-story units.
http://www.globest.com/news/780_780/lasvegas/150558-1.html

[ScottG]

where is this new condo tower going? according to the renderins the model, and construction, palazzo takes up all the land

[ScottG]

oh and ivana/ the summit coming back....hhhmmm

that was my favorite project- pray

[mdiederi]

where is this new condo tower going? according to the renderins the model, and construction, palazzo takes up all the land
Supposed to go on top of Barney's department store, but not sure exactly where that is. The framing out front so far doesn't look strong enough to hold a tower. But, the old Walgreens slice of land wedged between the Palazzo and Venetian is still vacant, so maybe that's it.

[sky-of-webs]

The planning review sheet mentions the walgreens a couple of times, probably there.
I love the height but the placement and style will be a bit odd.

Yes, come on back summit!!! A casino makes it a much more viable project.

[mdiederi]

oh and ivana/ the summit coming back....hhhmmm

that was my favorite project- pray

This is the group that is resurrecting Ivana:

www.thekisachegroup.com

[jazfingr]

The entire footprint of the Summit (Ivana) property is only 87,000 square feet.

After subtracting the driveways, parking garage, any F&B outlets and back of house operations, there's not much room left for a casino. Maybe, with some inventive configurations, they could pull it off.

I suppose, if the parking started on the third floor (which would open up the main two floors for the public areas), it might work.

[renoman09]

Or, maybe if they follow suit with the palazzo and the cosmopolitan and build an underground parking lot they could put a casino there as well. However, i dont see much going on with that property in the near future.

[VegasMatt]

Partner says second tower planned that will top 41-story first structure

By HUBBLE SMITH
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Developers of the 41-story Allure luxury condominium tower plan to build a second, substantially taller tower on the 5-acre site on Sahara Avenue, one block west of the Strip.

It will have a mix of 350 to 400 condo-hotel rooms with multimillion-dollar penthouses on the top floor, a rooftop nightclub, a restaurant and resort-style spa, land partner Andrew Fonfa said Monday at a topping-off ceremony for the $150 million Allure.

"When I bought this property 21 years ago, I truly envisioned a project of this magnitude," he said.

Fonfa said he's talking with architects, general contractors and several financial institutions that are interested in being part of the Allure condo-hotel development team, which is led by Chicago-based Fifield Cos. Bovis Lend Lease is general contractor for the first tower and Union Labor Life Insurance Co. is the primary lender.

Construction schedule and unit pricing for the condo-hotel have not been determined. Estimated construction cost is $300 million to $400 million, Fonfa said.

Steve Fifield remembers being met with skepticism from many people in the real estate community when he announced the Allure project in January 2005.

"Mayor (Oscar) Goodman asked if I'd get it built. We got it built on time and on budget, which you can't say about a lot of other projects," Fifield said. "We've had 30 years of experience in building these properties. We also don't like following the crowd."

He pointed to high-rise development around Allure, such as Turnberry Place, Sky Las Vegas and Trump International, as an indication of what's happening on the north Strip and the movement toward downtown Las Vegas. He also held up a copy of USA Today that said developers are running out of land to build in Las Vegas, a story that has been reported locally for a number of years.

"It's been boom, bust, boom," Fifield said. "In 2005, we were in a boom period with presales. It was too good to be true. Now we're reporting a slowdown in sales and traffic. We all jump on the bandwagon and say it's a bust. Public home builders are unloading land. They've got an unsold inventory of homes. Las Vegas does have an overhang of housing, but that overhang is coming down quickly. There's only 280 (high-rise) units available for sale, so I think we're at the end of the bust."

Research firm Applied Analysis reported 95,647 existing or planned luxury condo units in Las Vegas as of October, including 1,152 existing units on the Strip and 4,795 under construction.

"It's Darwinist times," said Richard Worthington, president of Molasky Group, developer of Park Towers at Hughes Center. "Only the well-positioned, well-located, well-capitalized are going to be successful in the near term."

Fonfa said the local market, along with the success of the 428-unit first phase at Allure, influenced his decision to increase the size and scope of the second phase. Studio units were originally priced from the $200,000s at Allure. Prices now start in the $600,000s.

"The hard thing about condo-hotel is it doesn't pencil out from an investment standpoint," Applied Analysis principal Jeremy Aguero said. "It's problematic from the consumer side. We've heard some buyers grumbling about the money they're getting back (on condo-hotel rentals)."

The Residences at MGM, a joint venture between Florida-based Turnberry Associates and MGM-Mirage, was the first condo-hotel to open on the Strip, followed by the Platinum on Flamingo Road.

The second 40-story tower at The Residences is now complete and the third and final tower has topped off construction, with completion slated for mid-2007. Each tower will be connected to MGM Grand through an enclosed moving walkway, allowing easy access to the hotel's amenities.

Sales have been on the fast track since they began in January 2004, Turnberry sales and marketing director Dan Riordan said. About 90 of the 1,727 units remain for sale, priced from $650,000 to more than $2.5 million. The property has been renamed The Signature at MGM Grand.

[williasj]

It appears that the palnet hollywood towers are a go, I saw excavation work as I was driving on harmon today. Encore at Wynn is also making good progress, you can see the work form the parking garage.

[MsuMix]

Hows CityCenter/Cosmo looking? Need pics:yes:

[mdiederi]

Hows CityCenter/Cosmo looking? Need pics:yes:
These are a couple weeks old, but you get the picture.

CityCenter
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/p.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/s.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/ccb8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/CCwest.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/ccb1.jpg

Cosmopolitan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmo.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmo2.jpg

[LMich]

Can someone tell me (officially if at all possible) the status of these projects:

1. Sandhurst

2. Club Renaissance

[mttbox]

These are a couple weeks old, but you get the picture.

nice picture, does any one has the new Trump picture?

[mdiederi]

does any one has the new Trump picture?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Trumpn.jpg

[mdiederi]

Can someone tell me (officially if at all possible) the status of these projects:

1. Sandhurst

2. Club Renaissance
There's been zero activity on either lot for at least a year. A lot of projects are on hold waiting for construction prices to come back down to earth. Don't have any specifics, but somebody posted a while back that they heard that some other investors were making inquiries for the Club Renaissance land.

[SpeedyFarrar]

Here's some new CityCenter renderings and a picture of the model that's in Bellagio. The CC stuff starts on page 12 of the PDF:
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/10/101502/G2E.pdf

[Patrick]

^ Great Find, cant wait for this project to be completed :D

Holy Crap, Trump Looks Great!

I updated the front page, anything I need to change? I put Club Ren back into the "Going to Happen" section.

[WonderlandPark]

^^^ cool photos, Dubai needs a little competition ;)

[manabouttown]

A developer that I know has been negotiating on the Renaissance lot. The owners are trying to make a killing on the piece and the people I know may not pay what they want. The original development is very dead. It was never a viable project from the start. It was way too big. The midrise is the most suited for this area of the city.They are cheaper to build and people seem to like them better.

[mdiederi]

Dubai needs a little competition ;)
This just in:

1,888 foot supertall proposed for old wet & wild site.
http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0195924.htm

[WonderlandPark]

This just in:

1,888 foot supertall proposed for old wet & wild site.
http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0195924.htm

Item #4-increase height to 1888 ft is denied.

and the FAA will shoot this down.

Even the application itself says so:
"Due to the height of the proposed building, the development will penetrate the 100:1 notification airspace surface and the Part 77 airspace surface. Therefore, final action by the Board of County Commissioners on this land-use application cannot occur until written evidence that the FAA has determined whether the proposed structure constitutes a hazard to air navigation has been received and the Department of Aviation has had an opportunity to review the determination."

[solstadwest]

cosmo looks like its moving along. Does anyone know if they are on time?! Originally they were pouring concrete next month Dec 06.

[mdiederi]

Item #4-increase height to 1888 ft is denied.

and the FAA will shoot this down.

Well, it won't go for approval until next Tuesday, so I'm thinking even though the preliminary review denies the height, the developer, Christopher Milam, is asking for the extreme height in the hope that it will be cut back to a height still taller than the already approved Fontainebleau's height of 735 feet and the cancelled Ivana's 900 feet near there.

The Stratosphere Tower, a block north and over a thousand feet tall, has had two proposals for an 1,800 foot extension to their height, which might still happen sometime in the future if restrictions change.

Since most tourists enter the resort corridor from the south, the new developments on the northern end of the strip need more height so they'll be more visible.

The airport really should get rid of that north/south runway that flies directly over the city. But the development of a new airport south of town keeps hitting snags.

[mdiederi]

cosmo looks like its moving along. Does anyone know if they are on time?! Originally they were pouring concrete next month Dec 06.
I think they are close to the original schedule which said it would take about a year to dig that hole.

[sky-of-webs]

Interesting that a hotel tower on the strip, in a dense hi-rise tower area would be denied a height of only two and a half times that of its nearest neighbors was considered incompatible, when a hospital at twelve times the height of its neighbors in a non hi-rise area is completely acceptable. They should just stick to the FAA as a reason for height denial and not spotlight how inconsistant they are.

(Sorry, the hospital in the N.W. corner of town is in the city limits, and maybe only 9 stories. But Spanish view towers are county and they are eighteen times their neighbors height!)

The FAA will probably give an OK to around 950 tops.
I sure would love to see some renderings of this proposal. And it is really sad that it won't be allowed to be built.:(

[BruceH]

The proposed project for the former Wet & Wild land should not be taller than the adjacent buildings and the Fontainebleau. This area of the North Strip is fast becoming the residential corridor with Sky, Turnberry Place, Palazzo, Allure and Turnberry Towers all being residential condos. Trump so far is the only exception in this area and Fontainebleau will have a limited number of condo-hotel units. As a future Sky resident, I will be loudly protesting the proposed height of this building. I am sure the nearby residents in Turnberry Place and future Turnberry Tower owners will be out in mass against this project in its currently proposed form. They should build it at a lower height on the Harmon Corridor or near City Center where the bulk of condo-hotel units are being concentrated at this time. The good news is the Zoning Commissioners are now requiring adjacent "master plan" property impact studies rather than approving these projects in isolation. That's the right thing to do in this case for sure.

[williasj]

I am confused, are you against the project because of its proposed heighth, or that it is a condo hotel with a casino component? If you are arguing that the North Strip is becoming a residential area I beg to differ. Not only as a future resident of Sky are you planning on living right next door to Circus Circus, the Riveria, Sahara, Wynn, New Frontier, Stratosphere, and the Palazzo (not a condo hotel, but a casino resort), but the strip has always been and should always remain a gmaing resort area with a residential component, not the other way around. If you believed the north strip to be a residential neigborhood you are mistaken. Actually I am kinda on a rant, so what are your concerns about this building, because I personally think it would be great.

[BruceH]

Of course there are casino hotels all over the Strip, that was not my point. Immersed amongst those casino hotels however on the North Strip are many residential towers unlike the Harmon Corridor. Keeping the trend of residential and something not so extreme as 142 stories was also a point. If the developer wants something close to the height of Fontainebleau that's fine but something so outrageous that it's higher than the Stratosphere amongst residential and casino hotels that otherwise are similar in height doesn't make any sense. The Strip is going to change a lot over the next 5 years and the residential component while new is going to create a more balanced view to be taken into consideration by the Planning Commission than in the past. The owners in the residential towers will begin to create voice the Strip is not use to having. This already has already happened with the Fontainbleau project as Turnberry Place owner protests resulted in changes to the project.

[mdiederi]

Be sure and post some pictures of the view from Sky when you get up there.
I'm jealous, I like that building, it's tall. :cheers:

[williasj]

I now see the point that you were making, congrats on you purchase at sky! And i seriously doubt that the planning commission will approve the project at that height. For one 1800', while awesome, is unbelivebly tall for vegas, I figure they will probably get approval in the 850-1200' (very liberal guess). Which would actually be a pretty good adition to the skyline as a counterbalance to the lonely strat.

[mdiederi]

Cosmo... Need pics:yes:
Here's a couple of more up to date pictures of the Cosmopolitan progress that I shot on Saturday.

They've finally started adding concrete in the bottom of that big hole in the back of the lot where the main tower will rise and they've brough in a couple of cranes.
Should start progressing a lot faster now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmow.jpg

It's difficult to get a good shot of the front of the lot, but here you can see a convoy of trucks moving dirt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmoo.jpg

[sky-of-webs]

Of course there are casino hotels all over the Strip, that was not my point. Immersed amongst those casino hotels however on the North Strip are many residential towers unlike the Harmon Corridor. Keeping the trend of residential and something not so extreme as 142 stories was also a point. If the developer wants something close to the height of Fontainebleau that's fine but something so outrageous that it's higher than the Stratosphere amongst residential and casino hotels that otherwise are similar in height doesn't make any sense. The Strip is going to change a lot over the next 5 years and the residential component while new is going to create a more balanced view to be taken into consideration by the Planning Commission than in the past. The owners in the residential towers will begin to create voice the Strip is not use to having. This has already happened with the Fontainbleau project as Turnberry Place owner protests resulted in changes to the project.

I will again say this project will not happen above 900'.
But I find it very disturbing what you just mentioned about residents on The Strip. The Strip has never been a residential corridor and for people to buy on The Strip now and have a say as to what hotel, casino, and condo projects are agreeable is going to be a major negative turn of events.
You have bought a unit on the Strip and now you are playing the NIMBY game. It's okay on Harmon but not by my place.
It is bad enough that all the newcoming residents don't like what vegas is all about and halted neighborhood casino-hotels but now they'll be able to stop them on the Strip as well.!!!
You can't complain about airflights over your house if you buy a new place at the end of a runway that has been there for fifty years, and to complain about a projects on "The Strip in Las Vegas", come on. And if Turnberry residents got The Fontainebleau changed, then the negative effects of residential voice has already begun. GREAT!!!!:hell:

[GeorgeLV]

^^ Agree 100%. If you're on the Strip, there are no promises about future heights and density.

[VegasMatt]

^^^ Ditto - On a street where buildings often don't reach there 50th birthday, I've always questioned the sensibility of allowing permanent residential components to The Strip. I believe this will be the first of many foreseeable problems to adding mass residency to the boulevard. Adding residents to resort properties seems even nuttier to me. I’m not sure why all the new resorts are jumping on the bandwagon before someone has tested the waters with this new residential/resort idea. Has anyone this model elsewhere? I mean for a meaningful amount of time???

I suspect future changes to a residential/resort property would be a legal nightmare.

That being said, I don’t hold anything against anybody buying on a condo the strip –it’s a great idea.
I’d get myself one if I could.

[mdiederi]

I believe this will be the first of many foreseeable problems to adding mass residency to the boulevard. Adding residents to resort properties seems even nuttier to me. I’m not sure why all the new resorts are jumping on the bandwagon before someone has tested the waters with this new residential/resort idea. Has anyone this model elsewhere? I mean for a meaningful amount of time???

I suspect future changes to a residential/resort property would be a legal nightmare.
Locally, the Jockey Club might be a situation that sets a precedent. It's a time share next door to Bellagio. The Cosmopolitan has to build around it because it was a nightmare to try and negotiate a buyout of the 40,000 different owners. If the Jockey Club were just a hotel it would have been leveled years ago. Of course, the residents aren't permanent, but it is worthy to note that the Cosmo will be many times higher than the existing Jockey Club.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/Misc/home.jpg
Robbie Knievel jumping the span between the roofs of the two Jockey Club towers. Photo, John Gurzinski
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1999/Feb-05-Fri-1999/news/10554232.html

[sky-of-webs]

^^^^^ Great points. And, yeah how could we forget the Jockey Club dilema.

[MsuMix]

Here's a couple of more up to date pictures of the Cosmopolitan progress that I shot on Saturday.

They've finally started adding concrete in the bottom of that big hole in the back of the lot where the main tower will rise and they've brough in a couple of cranes.
Should start progressing a lot faster now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmow.jpg

It's difficult to get a good shot of the front of the lot, but here you can see a convoy of trucks moving dirt.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Cosmoo.jpg


Thanks for the pics. I'll be a Project Engineer on Cosmo in January.

[ebatcave]

I'm in a unique situation where I purchased a hotel condo at the Cosmopolitan and I'm also a timeshare owner at the Jockey Club (Bellagio side). My line of thinking is the timeshare value will go up significantly at the Jockey Club (especially for those timeshares that face the Bellagio side) because of the upgrades that are promised with the Jockey Club, such as direct connectivity to the parking lot, casino, tennis courts, etc., upgrading the infrastructure, etc. Since the owners at Cosmo are supposed to be involved with making the exterior of the Jockey Club "more palatable", it would seem that the Jockey Club owners are going to benefit tremendously with the Cosmo connection.

[MsuMix]

Your probably right, however Cosmo is going to literally swallow Jockey Club, so its Bellagio side will be the only side to offer any sort view.

[ScottG]

timeshare does not allow to have a specific unit.

52 owners own each unit- one for each week of the year. when one wants to use their unit they get which ever unit is availble...

[ebatcave]

Actually, Jockey Club owners are assigned an actual unit and an actual week. They can trade it in to the pool if they want, or use the assigned room and week. It's an actual deed of trust.

[LMich]

That's actually the case with MANY timeshares.

[lfc4life]

Vegastodayandtomorrow.com are claiming that Trump is at the 50th floor already and Palazzo at the 35th, is this true??? If that is the case by the time I get back to vegas in late January Trump will be topped out

[philip]

I will again say this project will not happen above 900'.
But I find it very disturbing what you just mentioned about residents on The Strip. The Strip has never been a residential corridor and for people to buy on The Strip now and have a say as to what hotel, casino, and condo projects are agreeable is going to be a major negative turn of events.
You have bought a unit on the Strip and now you are playing the NIMBY game. It's okay on Harmon but not by my place.
It is bad enough that all the newcoming residents don't like what vegas is all about and halted neighborhood casino-hotels but now they'll be able to stop them on the Strip as well.!!!
You can't complain about airflights over your house if you buy a new place at the end of a runway that has been there for fifty years, and to complain about a projects on "The Strip in Las Vegas", come on. And if Turnberry residents got The Fontainebleau changed, then the negative effects of residential voice has already begun. GREAT!!!!:hell:
If it becomes so difficult to build a hotel on the strip because of all the NIMBY, I think corporations will just build casino hotels elsewhere, or maybe creating another strip.

[sky-of-webs]

True but only slightly possible. The newcomers have already put a stop to neighborhood hotel casinos, and the remaining resort zoneable areas are very small. A Strip size project is not very viable as a stand alone property, they need the walk in foot traffic.

[BruceH]

^^^ Ditto - On a street where buildings often don't reach there 50th birthday, I've always questioned the sensibility of allowing permanent residential components to The Strip. I believe this will be the first of many foreseeable problems to adding mass residency to the boulevard. Adding residents to resort properties seems even nuttier to me. I’m not sure why all the new resorts are jumping on the bandwagon before someone has tested the waters with this new residential/resort idea. Has anyone this model elsewhere? I mean for a meaningful amount of time???

I suspect future changes to a residential/resort property would be a legal nightmare.

That being said, I don’t hold anything against anybody buying on a condo the strip –it’s a great idea.
I’d get myself one if I could.

Trump NY has had condo-hotel residents for some time. The casino hotel developers have discovered that having the buyers in effect front a good percentage of the development costs by paying for condo-hotel units is a great deal for them. Vegas has a lot of transient visitors and many of the condo hotel buyers complain to us they cannot find a room in their preferred hotel when they want to come to Vegas. That changes when you own your own room and can rent it when you are not in Vegas or keep it all to yourself. With 24 hour room service and other great amenities, the condo-hotel business is here to stay for a very long time. Likewise for residential condo living on the Strip. Like Ocean Drive or Park Avenue, buyers want to live on the Strip and there's a lot of global money looking for that type of product. Expect to see a lot more high end residential projects in the future. Allure's second tower will now be condo-hotel. Echelon will have them and so will Fontainebleau just to name a few. Conrad will have residential Waldorf-Astoria residences on the top floors and codno-hotel unit on the lower under the Conrad name.

[Patrick]

Searched Flickr:

MGM Residents, a little crunched up
http://static.flickr.com/79/278737390_33c56b2b43.jpg?v=0

Trump Lookin Good
http://static.flickr.com/97/270862488_5edeb0c863.jpg?v=0

Again with Trump
http://static.flickr.com/89/238400981_600b2fc21f.jpg?v=0

Palazzo now Huge!
http://static.flickr.com/91/273633565_fa4bcd9e72.jpg?v=0 http://static.flickr.com/120/297802802_e38060042e.jpg?v=0

Allure & Newport almost topped off
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

Aladdin All white
http://static.flickr.com/113/263098274_b172998a46.jpg?v=0

Turnberry Topped Off
http://static.flickr.com/109/297800507_7c12d2206b.jpg?v=0

Project CC
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

Sky Topped Off
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

Panorama
http://static.flickr.com/114/261311702_4e5f1286f9.jpg?v=0

Bonus Old Shots

Paris 1998
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

Stratosphere 1994?
http://static.flickr.com/37/93231066_2d14b60beb.jpg?v=0

1998-1999
http://www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

[ScottG]

^^^ that strat shot is weird- it looks like the 3 legs are aligned with each other....i wonder if it was taken with a fish lens camera?

turnberry tower 1 looks real different then other towers- the architecture doesnt change at all from bottom to top....i dont think i like that th eelevator shaft is exposed- they should have put long balconies around them - i'm sure the tenants would like that.

Trump seems to be taking a long time........

[The_Analyst]

With 24 hour room service and other great amenities, the condo-hotel business is here to stay for a very long time.

I think condo hotels and regular condos on the Strip are attractive to a lot of people and do help defray the capital cost of building these resorts. However, the Strip has always been a place of dynamic change every decade or so. Step 1) Tear down something old, Step 2) Put up something better, Step 3) Repeat steps 1&2 every few years. Permanent residents will get in the way of that cycle. Is that a good thing or not? Hard to say. If the Jockey Club had had several towers and sprawled over more than just a sliver of Strip frontage, would Cosmopolitan have been possible? If the Boardwalk had been condos instead of a hotel, would City Center be happening? There's still plenty of wide open possibilities, of course, but over time with more permanent residents, the resorts will find fewer opportunities to build bigger and better. I guess we can always look to Laughlin...

[ScottG]

the mindset of out with the old in with the new wont last long. in 30 years WYNN wont be torn down....meaning- the 'older/ rat pack' hotels are being done away with and replaced with modern buildings. these 'modern' hotels wont be replaced. they had to get rid of the older hotels because house small they were. a 1000 room hotel is not taking advantage of the demand in vegas. the palazzo being what 3000 plus rooms wont be torn down because it it taking advantage of the demand. that is why the wave of tearing down hotels wont last.

each hotel that was torn down was replaced by some thing BIGGER- and not just grander.... as far as a demand exceeding the rom to grow, the strip will exceed into fremont and downtown will truly become a city's center. or harmon with grow...density will take place. and vegas will e 'manhattenized.'

there are only a handfull of hotels that would be torn down...and those are the ones that are smaller- therefor not attracting as many visitors......tropicana, saharah, riveria.....while mostly being 100 percent occupied, they can occupy alot more. look at circus circus- one of the most profitable properties. but if they build bigger towers (and keep the child freindly crap) they generate more business.

that is why excalibur would never be torn down. its HUGE and utilizes the property well. it has a maxumun amount of towers on the lot, and it popular.

the riviera- has a huge lot and can become a large hotel, same with saharah- and definilty circus circus....oh an di forget about new fornteir as well.

for example look at whats is proposed for tropicana....9000 rooms?! that insane, it would be the largest hotel in US and the largest in the world i think- if you include the existing towers....

[VegasMatt]

Harrods, the London retail shopping giant, is getting closer to unveiling plans for a long-rumored Las Vegas project.

A model of Harrods Las Vegas already is on display at the London department store, and a rendering can be seen on the architect's Web site at www.william-mitchell.com (click on Harrods).

Rumblings continue that an early 2007 announcement is planned.

Owner Mohamed al-Fayed has confirmed that talks were under way more than a year ago, saying the huge replica will be part of "one of the most important developments there."

In the interview, he revealed it will include "a wonderful hotel and casino and shopping arcade."

That sentence is fueling speculation that the ritziest of all Ritz hotels will be the centerpiece of the project. Al-Fayed owns the Paris Ritz, which was constructed by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the architect of Versailles.

Al-Fayed previously acknowledged that he's had discussions with MGM Mirage about a large project that would tie in London landmarks.

http://www.william-mitchell.com/harrods/jpeg/Las%20Vegas%20-%20Harrods%20-%20Model.jpg

[ScottG]

Wynn Dealers Hold Demonstration

Nov 24, 2006 02:41 PM PST

Build Your Own Newscast

Wynn Dealers Protest Tip Sharing






Also on LasVegasNow.com

Steve Wynn Changes Rules on Casino Tips







Dealers at Wynn Las Vegas staged another protest against the casino's new tip pooling rules.

Dealers have been fighting the tip sharing policy since it was changed in September. On Friday, they held a peaceful demonstration on Las Vegas Boulevard asking other dealers for their support.

Wynn Las Vegas requires dealers to share a portion of their tips with pit bosses to close a pay gap between the two. The dealers argue the policy is unfair and takes away their hard earned tips.

[Daquan13]

Halloween 2006. Last night of business for the Stardust, which will soon be reduced to dust.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Stardust-1.jpg



I didn't know that Stardust was closing.

What a damn shame!! Another victim of the clocking block!

What is being put there in its place?

[mdiederi]

I didn't know that Stardust was closing.

What a damn shame!! Another victim of the clocking block!

What is being put therte in its place?
ECHELON (http://www.echelonresort.com/main.html)

Fact Sheet .pdf (http://www.echelonresort.com/pdf/fact_sheet.pdf)

• $4,000,000,000 construction budget
• 5,300 total hotel rooms in 5 towers
Echelon Resort Tower & Suite Tower
Shangri-La Hotel
Delano Hotel
Mondrian Hotel
• Casino (140,000 sq. ft.)
• Las Vegas Expo Center (1 million sq. ft., 200 meeting rooms)
• Retail Prominade (350,000 sq. ft.)
• 2 theaters (4,000 seats & 1,500 seats)
• 25 restaurants and bars
• 4 spas
• Opening 2010

[JonVegas]

"Wynn Dealers Protest Tip Sharing"

Good for them. The rules are not only bad for the dealers but also for the patrons. If I give someone an extra large tip because they were a very friendly/helpful dealer, why should he/she have to share it with a dealer who just doesn't care.
It removes the incentive to go that extra mile and nullifies the entire concept of giving a gratuity.

[Downtown Joe]

Re: Harrods - any guess on the location?

[lfc4life]

Re: Harrods

There is talk about the MGM owned strip of land just past the Tropicana.

[future29]

that would suck for Harrods. That piece of land is out of the way in my opinion. The hotel would be an afterthought, plus its right next to the runway of McCarren. Who owns the land across the street from City Center on the Strip? I would like to see these run down street shops closed. every time i drive by this section, it seems it is filled with underage teens who are there just loitering. Why cant MGM by this piece of land and put Harrods there? or fit it in somewhere on the circus circus property.

[jazfingr]

The Harrods rendering is on a plot that is shaped exactly like the MGM-owned land across from Luxor. This is the only MGM land on the strip which is large enough for this project. I did a quick photoshop mock-up.

http://static.flickr.com/114/309133776_ff85c2b5f2.jpg?v=0

[ScottG]

thats pretty nice^^^ but the scale looks off- but i'd agree- this project could only go on that land, and thats is a good place to develope.

[GeorgeLV]

It's pretty obvious the Harrod's project design was made for a height-restricted property. I wouldn't be surprised if jazfingr has correctly placed it.

[VegasMatt]

In a use-permit request that went before the Clark County Planning Commission on Nov. 20, Harrah’s announced that “the existing Roman Forum, an enclosed courtyard with a bar/lounge in the center, will be demolished” to be replaced with 37,000-plus square feet of additional casino floor, along with three times that amount of restaurants, retail, convention space and other commercial uses. The casino expansion will be augmented along the Strip with a “pedestrian promenade … featuring 14 small and large decorative fountain [sic] surrounded by landscaping.”

Underneath the promenade, Caesars will excavate a parking garage, with 389 valet-parking spaces. Meanwhile, on the southwest corner of the Caesars site, Harrah’s proposes a 295-foot-tall, 29-story, 1,017-room hotel tower. The as-yet-unnamed high rise will bring Caesars’ room total to 4,388. No timeline for construction was disclosed. Asked to elaborate on the planned expansion, Harrah’s declined comment.:)

[Patrick]

^ Ugh not again. Caesars is using all of its land way too fast. Next thing you know the older towers will be demolished.

[mdiederi]

Plans for a private monorail to run from the MGM to McCarren Airport
(http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0197459.htm)
Anticipated Construction Period: First Quarter, 2008 through First Quarter, 2011

[Don Pacho]

Now it’s my turn to contribute with new images. I was in Vegas over the thanksgiving holidays and I shot lots of pics.
Let’s start:


Trump Las Vegas

From the Stratosphere
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/81/trumplasvegas004sqh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

From the Wynn
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4774/trumplasvegas003szp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


The Signature at MGM Grand

From the Eiffel Tower
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/1600/signatureatmgmgrand011sfn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

From Desert Passage at the Aladin
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5420/signatureatmgmgrand004smb4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Sky Las Vegas

From Las Vegas Hilton
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8376/skylasvegas001sxw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

From Circus Circus
http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3341/skylasvegas005sri0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Everybody is welcome to use my pictures as long as they give me credit: Don Pacho at SSC / SSP / SSL



:)



Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting (http://www.imageshack.us)

[mttbox]

Comparsion: Trump, MGM, SKY, THEhotel.... i really think the TRUMP beats them ALL, Quality, Name, luxurious, Location (so close to the convention center). what is your thoughts?

[Don Pacho]

CityCenter



Just taken over the thanksgiving weekend…

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3306/citycenter001sha3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/7290/citycenter003set8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/3117/citycenter007suz3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/1091/citycenter006sic2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9508/citycenter026ssp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2379/citycenter024sxh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



:)



Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting (http://www.imageshack.us)

[Lecom]

Impressive.

[DracoCaifan]

Thanks for the photos..... I might be there in a couple of weeks!! yay!! I hope I can make it and take lots of pics!!!

[DracoCaifan]

:)

[peltecs]

Very impressive...the buildings and the photos. I Wonder how Wynn Encore is coming along?

http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/newspic/mtt/10971333640s.jpg

This is a model of the (original concept?) Wynn Macau Phase 1 & 2. Found it on Google. The
Macau was not built like this model....But maybe Encore will be built like this model only
3X taller....600+ ft.

IMHO...buying units at MGM would be nice because you get the amenities of the MGM Grand.

[Don Pacho]

Allure Las Vegas

http://img452.imageshack.us/img452/7162/allurelasvegas003spc5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7528/allurelasvegas007sus4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


The Palazzo at the Venetian

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/622/thepalazzoatvenetian002rf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/8701/thepalazzoatvenetian005wa6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Turnberry Towers

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/3483/turnberrytowers002suq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3276/turnberrytowers006sam2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Patrick]

Thanks for the pics!! Trump is looking great! I didnt know the Pallazo is already cladding in the back. Eww, Those Tunberry Elevator Shafts sure are ugly. Allure is starting to look great after all! And Sky looks perfect. Project CC is looking great, so is the sales office.

[mdiederi]

Plans for a private monorail to run from the MGM to McCarren Airport
(http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0197459.htm)
Anticipated Construction Period: First Quarter, 2008 through First Quarter, 2011
MGM must be getting fed up with the mismanagement of the current system and have no confidence that they'll ever be able to expand, so they are going to build it themselves.

[captkaos]

WOW what awesome pics!!!

[lfc4life]

Fantastic photos Don, I can't wait to see Palazzo when fully built, looks awesome

[Vegas Grows Up]

Dons photos are the best I have seen yet.

[Don Pacho]

CityCenter sales office at Bellagio


http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6589/citycenter010sjo7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6400/citycenter012szx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/6518/citycenter013sds0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8286/citycenter014sgy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8610/citycenter015srx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4219/citycenter016sfo7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Don Pacho]

Dons photos are the best I have seen yet.


Thanks !! :tup:

[Daquan13]

Very impressive...the buildings and the photos. Wonder how Wynn Encore is coming along?

http://www.macautourism.gov.mo/newspic/mtt/10971333640s.jpg

This is a model of the (original concept?) Wynn Macau Phase 1 & 2 Found it on Google.



Those towers look like little baby ones. Haha!! Cute and petite!!!

Was the original design of the towers shorter at first?;)

[mdiederi]

Those towers look like little baby ones. Haha!! Cute and petite!!!

Was the original design of the towers shorter at first?;)
That's Wynn Macau, a shorter version of Wynn Las Vegas
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/DSC05447.jpg
-removed-

[LMich]

Typical of Vegas. Let's use the same design again, and again, and again...but, hey, it means not having to pay the architect, twice. lol

[Westsidelife]

I'll be in Vegas later this month. I'm glad to see so much activity beyond The Strip! Though it appears that much of the projects are "centers" and therefore are rather un-pedestrian friendly. They need to encourage people to walk AWAY from The Strip. I've been to Las Vegas a number of times (at least 20) and I can definitely say that I've NEVER walked away from The Strip. I never turned a corner and walked on a side street and to be honest, I don't think anybody else does as well! What efforts are being made to make Las Vegas a more organic environment that flows naturally?

[Westsidelife]

Where's Project City Center located?

[The_Analyst]

I'll be in Vegas later this month. I'm glad to see so much activity beyond The Strip! Though it appears that much of the projects are "centers" and therefore are rather un-pedestrian friendly. They need to encourage people to walk AWAY from The Strip. I've been to Las Vegas a number of times (at least 20) and I can definitely say that I've NEVER walked away from The Strip. I never turned a corner and walked on a side street and to be honest, I don't think anybody else does as well! What efforts are being made to make Las Vegas a more organic environment that flows naturally?

You raise a good question. The Strip itself is generally pedestrian friendly--especially mid-central portion. By pedestrian friendly I mean that the sidewalks are wide and the skybridges enable you to not get run over or have to walk across 8 lanes of traffic. One could also argue that the new casino projects are so large that they are in effect neighborhoods onto themselves and people can walk from dining to hotel room to showroom to nightclub, etc. without a car.

But, ped-friendly streets perpendicular to the Strip is almost non-existent. Of course I-15 is a barrier to the West but development could be friendlier to pedestrians heading East. One of the reasons the monorail seems to be failing is people can't walk a block or two off the Strip. But, I don't think thats because they are unwilling, I think they just arent aware of it or how to get to it.

The Harmon corridor would seem to be ideal for developing an East-West compliment to the Strip in a pedestrian friendly way. I wonder if the county is doing anything to support that. I think Tropicana is too far gone as a virtual surface level freeway but Flamingo East of the Strip could be improved especially if Harrah's eventually takes down Barbary Coast and/or Bally's.

[jazfingr]

Where's Project City Center located?

For the nwebies here in the Vegas Boom page, this map shows all the projects and their locations. The rest of the site is pretty cool too (If I say so myself)

http://www.vegastodayandtomorrow.com/condomap.htm

[jazfingr]

One could also argue that the new casino projects are so large that they are in effect neighborhoods onto themselves and people can walk from dining to hotel room to showroom to nightclub, etc. without a car.

There is no argument here. Caesars Palace alone, would comprise about 25 city blocks in mid town Mattahan. When I did this image to illustrate this point, my jaw dropped. :eek: These mega resorts are indeed neighborhoods.


http://static.flickr.com/113/311690614_07821a11b7_o.jpg

[vegasrain84]

I'll be in Vegas later this month. I'm glad to see so much activity beyond The Strip! Though it appears that much of the projects are "centers" and therefore are rather un-pedestrian friendly. They need to encourage people to walk AWAY from The Strip. I've been to Las Vegas a number of times (at least 20) and I can definitely say that I've NEVER walked away from The Strip. I never turned a corner and walked on a side street and to be honest, I don't think anybody else does as well! What efforts are being made to make Las Vegas a more organic environment that flows naturally?

I have to vent, because I think you hit on something that is lacking in Vegas.. Vegas doesn't have a feng shui, I think its probably because the place was built in the desert in 1911, hardly any living creatures inhabit the area natuarally. And if you stray away from the Strip, well, you either end up across the 15 in a bunch of industrial parks, or you end up in the Ghetto near UNLV and risk getting shot near Paradise Rd. Simply put, there isn't much off the immediate strip, but if you go up to say Summerlin, you can kind of enjoy more ascetic scenery near red rock resort and all the nice homes up there.. On the other side, old Henderson has improved but its not very exciting, Lake Las Vegas is great, Its like a martian landscape meets Italy. Downtown is improving, that is where I have the most hope for a kind of urban real city experience, but its just not there yet.. Fremont St. is great, but not good enough.. Once they finally (if they ever do) get Union Park built, I think downtown will be a great place for the kind of organic flow you might be talking about.. With real residents, mixed with tourists, culture and all the things you would expect from a place that is home to over 1.6 million people.. Vegas has always lacked a real culture, its culture is tourism.. But there is nothing outside the strip. No museums, well except the Liberace museum. And they are trying with the Arts district, if you go on their first fridays which is held.. well the first friday of every month, you can go on an Arts tour through downtown, its fun if you are into Arts street fairs. But I totally agree with you, Vegas needs a feng shui intervention!

[Westsidelife]

One could also argue that the new casino projects are so large that they are in effect neighborhoods onto themselves and people can walk from dining to hotel room to showroom to nightclub, etc. without a car.

You have a great point there. Though I think that there can only be so many of these "centers". But IMO, Las Vegas is an exception because that's what makes the city so unique. I see a lot of that strip mall/office park areas quite a bit away from The Strip. Rather than another "center" they could build several 10 story wall-to-wall apartment buildings though that might not be in accordance with the zoning laws in place. But having several mid-rises would really give more of an urban vibe to the area and would in turn would be more of an organic environment.

And you are quite right about the street perpendicular to The Strip. I think they are un-pedestrian friendly and you would think some of that energy would flow away from The Strip. Hotels and restaurants need to be situated right on the street and they need to be on side streets, allowing pedestrians to turn corners and reach their destination.

I think the southern portion of the strip needs more life. Despite it being on The Strip, it just feels cut off from the action. I also notice the sidewalks to be much more narrow. Though the majority of The Strip doesn't have any retail or restaurants fronting the street, The Strip is still pedestrian friendly because of the wider sidewalks (as you said earlier).

Nevertheless, I'm excited at the fact that Las Vegas is becoming more than just a "get-away town". Actually, it's been departing from that cheap, gambling town atmosphere for quite some time now. Right now, I perceive Vegas to be more of an upscale, young, and hip town with some of the best nightlife and shopping. Now it's becoming more of a place to live and settle down. Though I think to fully shed that "get-away town" feeling, there must be more of a downtown.

[mdiederi]

Rinkai has applied for an extension to develop the Holy Cow site (Summit/Ivana), saying that the factors that cancelled it have been resolved and the project can proceed.


http://www5.lasvegasnevada.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=51&doctype=Agenda
Scroll down to number 77 for a bunch of pdf files, including these Plans (http://www5.lasvegasnevada.gov/sirepub/cache/1/whglysaqstwlae45juzy2j55/13362912012006104140234.PDF) (same original plans)

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6874/image1in5.jpg

[ThreeHundred]

Where's Project City Center located?

In between Monte Carlo and the Belligio. I went to Vegas this past September and it is a huge site. But I was shocked at how HUGE the Palazzo is. I've never seen anything that big in my life.

You said something about how the South Strip is pretty lonely. I think because McCarran International is basically right across the street from Mandalay Bay.

Well..across the street and around the corner.

Word of advice: DON'T TAKE THE DEUCE. It might seem like fun to ride a double decker bus but it took well over an hour to travel from the Hilton to the Tropicana. And they're about a mile and a half apart.

[Westsidelife]

So there will be three Wynn towers? The original and the Macau (1 and 2)?