[Hans Gruber]

Vegas will never run out of water. They will pay for and/or build a water supply system whatever the cost. I've said for years that Washington state and Oregon should have 2-3 20ft wide water pipes sending excess water from the Columbia river to Nevada, California and Arizona. FDR's New Deal tamed the mightly Columbia and now it's like a 1,000 long lake. Water could also be dirverted from the Cascade mountain ranges as well. I don't know why the federal government has not done this yet.

Vegas is a very valuable asset for the entire country. Piping the water down from the northwest would give the southwest an almost limitless water supply.

[Silas]

If there is no population issue, and it's only a fluctuation due to a few dry years, then why all the costly proposals and political fights for water from other sources?

[MrVegas]

The Sahara is getting ready for a major expansion. The owners want to build a new 520 foot
1,000 room tower, demolish one mid-rise tower, and renovate the other two high-rise towers.

http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0239093.htm

[neworleans]

Vegas will never run out of water. They will pay for and/or build a water supply system whatever the cost. I've said for years that Washington state and Oregon should have 2-3 20ft wide water pipes sending excess water from the Columbia river to Nevada, California and Arizona. I don't know why the federal government has not done this yet.


i think at that point the cost of water would have exceeded the cost of converting salt water to fresh water. in that case we would switch to oceans. But the idea of running a water line all the way to vegas is possible, but seems extreme.

that's great news about the sahara. im glad it's not going anywhere because i love the roller coaster. you can pay $20 and ride that thing all day!!

[mdiederi]

Las Vegas Sands Corporation has been presenting their future expansion plans and vision for Las Vegas.

The vision is of a third resort connected to both the Venetian and Palazzo. It will go on the site of the present Sands Expo center (green area on site map). First they have to build a new Expo center (yellow area on site map) east of the Wynn employee parking garage. I think the new Expo Center is already approved and it will have over 2 million sq. feet of exhibit space. They also have approval for a skywalk for the public to get to the new Expo, but it will have to go over or under the Wynn employee skywalk, so it will be interesting to see how they configure that.

New Resort with possibly 4,000-7,000 more hotel or condo keys.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Palazzo/LVS-III.jpg

New Expo Center
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Palazzo/Expo-II.jpg

Site map
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Palazzo/ExpoSites.jpg

Here's a new render for the LVS's Palazzo condo tower that is under construction now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Palazzo/pcondo.jpg

And it's sky lobby balcony.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Palazzo/pskylobby.jpg

[lfc4life]

If there is no population issue, and it's only a fluctuation due to a few dry years, then why all the costly proposals and political fights for water from other sources?

imo to have a back up plan in case the worst does come. You should always have a back up plan even in good times.

Lots of american cities don't have any plan to deal with future drought e.g. atlanta

[Red UM Rebel]

Las Vegas Sands Corporation has been presenting their future expansion plans and vision for Las Vegas.



So this is already the largest resort in the world, correct? So they would be making it even larger?

[mdiederi]

So this is already the largest resort in the world, correct? So they would be making it even larger?
Yeah, they are thinking of doubling the size, for a total of over 14,000 hotel rooms and condos.

Right now they call it the MEGACENTER, so after the expansion they can come up with an even more clever name like SUPERMEGACENTER.

[Tlwarnke]

Could someone please post a current photo of what is happening in the "pit" at Planet Hollywood Towers? Plus a photo of the progress on tower 1 would be great.

Thank you,

Terry

[Silas]

Vegas TAT/Jazz has two great photos of the CityCenter project.

You can see the P Hollywwod Tower(s) there although from quite a distance. It is a really great perspective that shows the (abbreviated) Harmon Ave. corridor taking shape and of course our favorite CityCenter coming into its own.

[mdiederi]

5 condo towers 490 feet tall on Sahara, west of State st., down to Karen, so a couple towers will overlook the golf course.
http://dsnet.co.clark.nv.us/dsnetapps/agendaweb/Data/P0237236.htm

[mdiederi]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Echelon/Picture-1.jpg
©BYD

[lfc4life]

^^^ the size of that site is immense, 20 acres bigger than city centers 68 acres.

that photo is shot from about a month ago as part of frontier is still standing and yet the main tower of echelon has made great progress and quickly

[Silas]

article in Review-Journal talks about the water issue at Lake Mead.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/15581197.html

Discusses the reason level was so low in 1965 (filling Lake Powell) and also says that getting down to 1050 feet is make/break point for generating electricity. Considers 900 feet as a 'dead zone'.

Is this another scare tactic by media (as in global warming)? Or is it big Vegas money f***ing up the long-term sustainability for the short-term $$ ?

[mdiederi]

article in Review-Journal talks about the water issue at Lake Mead.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/15581197.html

Discusses the reason level was so low in 1965 (filling Lake Powell) and also says that getting down to 1050 feet is make/break point for generating electricity. Considers 900 feet as a 'dead zone'.

Is this another scare tactic by media (as in global warming)? Or is it big Vegas money f***ing up the long-term sustainability for the short-term $$ ?
It's caused by a drought. Not enough snow in the Rockies. The report says that 20 million people depend on Lake Mead water, but there are only 2 million people in Vegas. Don't blame Vegas.

[Patrick]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/Echelon/Picture-1.jpg
©BYD

Holy Shit.

I mean look how small the Strip is, a few years ago these hotels where huge in size, now they are half the heights of the new ones up the strip, Trump, Palazzo, and Wynn. Its just amazing. But is that Echelon? So they didnt change the design? BLAH!

[lfc4life]

Holy Shit.

I mean look how small the Strip is, a few years ago these hotels where huge in size, now they are half the heights of the new ones up the strip, Trump, Palazzo, and Wynn. Its just amazing. But is that Echelon? So they didnt change the design? BLAH!

yep thats echelon, they are still sticking with the same design, the main tower is nice but the rest of the project looks a bit bland at least on the renders

speaking of wynn, palazzo they are doing to the likes of mirage and treasure island what mirage/treasure island did to the likes of the sands and desert inn 15 years ago i.e. making them look very very small in comparision.

[sky-of-webs]

nevada only has a 300 thousand acre foot allowance of water from the colorado river, PERIOD. It doesn't matter how many people live here, thats all we can get.

[ScottG]

here is a good read about curtain wall colors: http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=1912


check out this moulon rouge rendering

http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=1910

[rhassoii]

Does anyone know anything about the crane that just went up in the convention center parking lot that is adjacent to Riviera?

[lfc4life]

the Moulin Rouge rendering looks great but i think there is as much chance of that being built as there was of the gold spike becoming one of the top hotels in las vegas :cool:

[mdiederi]

Does anyone know anything about the crane that just went up in the convention center parking lot that is adjacent to Riviera?
You mean this one? I don't know. Asked that question a while a go and Jazzfinger answered it, but I forgot what it was.

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

[rhassoii]

No it isn't that one, I believe that is for the Marriott Springhill Suites. The one I am referring to just went up 2 days ago and is more towards las vegas blvd than paradise in the parking lot.

[WonderlandPark]

Could someone please post a current photo of what is happening in the "pit" at Planet Hollywood Towers? Plus a photo of the progress on tower 1 would be great.

Thank you,

Terry

Nothing is happening in the pit as of this morning. I walked the full strip, Excalibur to Circus Circus last night and drove around this morning.

I can do a photo update, but I wasn't sure of everything I saw.

Soho is the most wretched building I have seen built in the last decade in the US, seriously. How could they be allowed to build cheap and ugly like that in this day and age. I hated the renderings and hate the final result even more.
/end rant, sorry.

[WonderlandPark]

OK here goes the update

First, the one I don't know, it is behind the Riviera or Fountainbleu

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2266195122_1ca738c3ea.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2266195150_d492d75fea.jpg?v=0

PALAZZO
its a very decent tower, I didn't want to like it, but I did end up thinking it is fine. Materials are top notch, it is huge. Some shops open and some activity in the hotel itself.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2265403993_d18697a99c.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/2265403903_132c5b6a3e.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/2265404533_f21c06902e.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2132/2265404495_3fbd4ecff2.jpg?v=0

Planet Hollywood
as requested, saw no activity in the pit, but I am sure the foundation work is underway for the second tower.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2266194768_3dc95b5acf.jpg?v=0

Fountainbleu
Not the greatest shot, I didn't have the best angles, wow, this is a big sucker.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2265404795_cf82bd78cc.jpg?v=0

Trump
Looks done, but no lights are on in the tower yet. This gold is more vibrant than Mandalay Bay, for sure.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2265403931_691feaae63.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2266194254_078022cd38.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2325/2265404981_d630a10f94.jpg?v=0

World Market
Monster buildings, but they have a Stalinist bunker-like quality without windows.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2266194418_b0afa23212.jpg?v=0

Ruvo Alzerheimer's Building
Much, much smaller than I thought. It is a tiny little thing. But I am sure with Gehry at the helm, it will be interesting.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2266194378_8cfb9ab67a.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2266194324_dbdff16d90.jpg?v=0

Encore
Looking great, cranes still up, but they must be coming down soon. Huge tower.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2265404345_ff5b7aeaee.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2409/2266194292_94e87b3dcf.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2265404441_d4ac7d6244.jpg?v=0

One Las Vegas
Boring stucco towers, but here they are:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2156/2265404695_68650b9482.jpg?v=0

I think these belong with South Station, but they are an ugly baby-vomit color, the tower u/c is behind these towers:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2266194854_a240a8b021.jpg?v=0

Echelon
I wish I had gone up the Stratosphere, but I didn't, so this is all I have. The site is huge, huge:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2265404931_f1cc3b3a56.jpg?v=0

And finally some City Center constructo-porn. The other pics are in the CC thread:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2265404911_7a90ee884d.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2266194708_55093fde89.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2265404869_a01c76a9c8.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2266194212_12d0a19f3f.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2265404029_0b253fecf6.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2169/2266194536_2165e936a3.jpg?v=0

[mdiederi]

Great update. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2266195122_1ca738c3ea.jpg?v=0

On the left edge of this picture you can see the end of a red tower crane. Wonder if that's the one that rhassoii was asking about? I don't know what that is, it's not a Fontainebleau crane. I haven't been down there during the day in a couple weeks.

[Tlwarnke]

Wonderlandpark,

Thanks for the pic of PH. I think the blue glass is going to make it look real nice. Also, it looks like they are on the 32nd floor. Only 18 more to go on that tower.:cheers:
Was just curious on the pit because their webcam shows something is going on but can't make out what exactly.
Terry

[rhassoii]

Great update.
On the left edge of this picture you can see the end of a red tower crane. Wonder if that's the one that rhassoii was asking about? I don't know what that is, it's not a Fontainebleau crane. I haven't been down there during the day in a couple weeks.

Yeah that's the one. There doesn't seem to really be anything around it.

[Silas]

Glass on PH towers look interesting dark blue. But if all one-dimensional, the building may look silly. It will be interesting.

I think that if Harmon, Veer and Mandarin blend in too much with C-Center main building then it may not come off as well as if C-C building is more of a back-drop with more vibrant buildings in the front. Some of the models show this (e.g. Veer is yellow and Harmon bright blue) but will that be thecase? Mandarin and Vdara look almost too much like main C-C building and the effect could be of one giant mono-building.

[Silas]

Veer has the potential to be the signature building in the CC property. I think the look will be great. But I wonder what things will look like from the inside. Would one want to really own a building that is angled like that? What will the perspective be of the occupant inside and will even guests get the feeling that things are safe? I doubt I'll get inside of one. Will be interesting to ever see the perspective from inside once it's done.

[jazfingr]

This is one B E A U T I F U L tower :yes:

It will have 7 floors of underground parking (just like Cosmo)
The top floors of the short tower will have restaurants and a nightclub
The casino will be on the second floor.

I waited for the 20th post on page 189 so this would be on top for a while. :haha:



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2268380460_5d87029d9f_o.jpg

[WonderlandPark]

Looks amazing, but 7 floors of underground parking? :( :( that means a full extra year for construction.

[heyyoucharlie]

WOW...:tup: That looks amazing!!! Sahara and LVBLVD is quickly becoming an AMAZING part of Las Vegas!!!

(Allure II) + (the new bldg that will be going up at the Sahara) + (whatever MGM does with the HUGE S/W corner lot) + (the 2, 1,000 footers for Crown)!!!

If only something could be done with the Holy Cow land!!!

[jazfingr]

Ya...little lot = deep hole = much time... Oh well
At least it's not ugly and it's a resort with a good sized casino. ;)
Let's hope they don't dumb it down in the final version.

[neworleans]

795 feet... i like it!!! :D Every year the buildings get taller and taller. it will be of no doubt that we will soon have a 1000+ foot skyscraper

[rhassoii]

I think the crane that I saw in the convention center lot may be for a construction convention, but I am not certain. Jazfingr I too worry that they will tone down the Allure II, as it looks amazing in its current form. When is someone going to buy the huge gift shop/souvenir store on the corner of sahara and lv blvd?

[jazfingr]

When is someone going to buy the huge gift shop/souvenir store on the corner of sahara and lv blvd?

That Gift Shop is owned by two old sisters who have had numerious offers and refuse to sell. Classic Vegas NIMBYs.

[lfc4life]

beautiful tower, the original plan was to start construction in December 2009, thats obviously been moved now if they are going ahead with the underground parking because i seriously doubt they will meet their expected opening date of September 2011 if they have to dig a big hole for a year.

[lfc4life]

interesting article in the sun with a few quotes from MGM Mirage Chief Financial Officer Dan D’Arrigo who doesn't think anymore than half of the proposed 40,000 hotel rooms in las vegas will be built over the next 5 years

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/16/how-many-new-rooms-lets-just-say-lot/

Before the financial markets sputtered and the economy soured, the folks paid to promote Las Vegas boasted that within a few years, more than 40,000 new hotel rooms would sprout on the horizon.

But a Strip executive doubts even half that many will be built, with the result that tens of thousands of expected new jobs won’t be created

thats a very interesting claim because by my calculations if you include all under construction or just open i.e. Palazzo (3,100), Trump (1,300), City Center (4,500), Fontainebleau (4,000), Cosmo (3,000), Echelon (5,000), Encore (2,100), Caesars (650), South Point (850), M resort/Aliante Station (700) you are hitting just over 25,000 rooms right there

so D'Arrigo is obviously expecting no plaza, no crown, no trop extension, no trump tower 2, no mgm/kerner project across from sahara, no sahara extension, no hard rock expansion, no golden nugget expansion, no marriott on paradise, no allure 2, plus he is also expecting at least one of the current big projects under construction to fail :shrug:

[Hans Gruber]

Hotels in Vegas don't fail. Some do but they live on (Stratosphere, Alladin). Vegas will never be overbuilt by hotel casinos. I've been critical of the overbuilding of luxury condos. However, hotel casinos are immune. It makes no economic or rational sense but Vegas hotels/casinos just work.

[jazfingr]

:previous:
I hate people who write articles without doing their homework :slob:

and, hey, don't forget the timeshares (after all, they are rentable rooms)
Grand Chateau, phase one and two = 700 rooms
Planet Hollywood Tower = 1,250

that takes the count to about 27,000

and I' sure we're missing some more

[mdiederi]

That Allure render is a little different than the one the city posted. What happened to the crown at the top of the first Allure tower?

A lot of the condos at CityCenter will be rented as hotel rooms. Was Signature part of the original 40,000 room count? A lot of their rooms are rented out as hotel rooms.

[mdiederi]

http://www.klas-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7875367
Here's a story from KLAS TV8 about the future of Vegas. They interviewed Jim Murren (MGM/Mirage Pres), Bill Boyd (Boyd Chairman) and Rossi Ralenkotter (LVCVA Pres & CEO). Ralenkotter predicts 225,000 hotel rooms and 75 million visitors by 2033. Boyd and Murren predict a much denser urban landscape from the airport to downtown.

[mdiederi]

If only something could be done with the Holy Cow land!!!
That was sold recently, I think to the same people who own the land that the Palazzo condo tower is on.

[ScottG]

the allure rendering has a 4-27-07 date on the bottom, who knows how much its changed since.....

[ScottG]

heres a couple of interesting finds from vegas4visitors.com

The Mirage Volcano has erupted its last faux-lava flow… for now. The attraction will be getting a multi-million makeover and will reopen in the fall of 2008.

Brother can you spare a billion dollars? That’s how much the projected price tag of the massive CityCenter has ballooned by, now up to an almost head-hurting $8.4 billion. It remains the largest privately financed construction project in history.

Speaking of too much money, the hotel option of the Trump International hotel/condo project is now slated to launch on March 31, 2008. Residents can start moving in at the beginning of March and then can put their units in the rental pool at the end of the month. There is no casino but there will be a restaurant and a spa.

And finally, in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” column comes word that the big dreams for Downtown’s Gold Spike were apparently just that, dreams. The owner of the property who promised to turn the squalid joint into an upscale boutique hotel has sold it to new investors. These new folks say they will still revamp the hotel.

[Silas]

I guess anything could happen in the next 5 years in Vegas. If this were some average Joe making comments about the number of rooms, I wouldn't give it much attention. But the CFO of MGM must at least know more than all of us combined.

I take his comments to cover the total room numbers. So he would be subtracting out Stardust, Frontier, Boardwalk. Probably not counting 'M' or Red Rock off strip.

It sounds like he is saying that not much will go forward that hasn't already started. At least not for a while. I take that to mean MGM's own project and maybe even Plaza (I am still not 100% sure that Ruffin/Trump/Plaza guys don't have some sort of buy-back deal and it was not all to juice sales for Tower II and more importantly cause all Tower I buyers to get off the fence and sign on the dotted line instead of walking away).

Echelon seems to be a 'Yes' but Cosmo -- that could be interesting and I've even imagined them building the 5 story retail center and leaving it 'for now'. That could be a very cool open-air/pool/club scene five floors up. Then if anyone wanted to buy it in the future, all the blue-prints and approvals are already in place.

Who knows? That's what makes it fun.

[lfc4life]

Or the MGM CFO could be playing mind-games with the competition or seriously under-estimating the competition

[mdiederi]

the allure rendering has a 4-27-07 date on the bottom, who knows how much its changed since.....
So maybe the other elevation rendering from the cities pdf might be more up to date with one tower shorter than the other.

I think the crane that I saw in the convention center lot may be for a construction convention, but I am not certain.
I drove by today and yeah, it's for the ConExpo show at the convention center. Every three years they set up a huge crane orgy over there. They were installing some yellow ones today. The show doesn't even open until March 11th. There will be 48 acres of exhibits and 125,000 construction professionals attending the show. Click here for photos from 2005. The last photo shows the lot by the Riv. (http://www.conexpoconagg.com/Media/Gallery/Outdoor.asp)

[rhassoii]

So maybe the other elevation rendering from the cities pdf might be more up to date with one tower shorter than the other.


I drove by today and yeah, it's for the ConExpo show at the convention center. Every three years they set up a huge crane orgy over there. They were installing some yellow ones today. The show doesn't even open until March 11th. There will be 48 acres of exhibits and 125,000 construction professionals attending the show. Click here for photos from 2005. The last photo shows the lot by the Riv. (http://www.conexpoconagg.com/Media/Gallery/Outdoor.asp)

As if Vegas didn't have enough cranes already. Those pictures are intense, they really pack those lots full of equipment.

[mdiederi]

–––––––>
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/VegasPano2.jpg

[Patrick]

Vegas sure has one impressive cityscape. I cant wait to see the North Strip fill in!

[neworleans]

mdiederi, do you have it marked where you took that picture, cause that's a great pic and i would love to see you take it again when all the projects are finished.

[jazfingr]

The rendering of Allure is the latest. The architect in charge of the project contacted me so I could post it on my site. I asked him about the shorter tower. He said the CG model shot's POV is such that it makes the shorter tower appear taller. It is actually the same as the elevation. It was designed a year ago and has been under wraps until now.

The same firm is designing the Moulin Rouge development and I have those renderings and site plans. I will be creating a Moulin Rouge page this weekend with hopes to have it up by Monday morning.

[Silas]

sweet, sweet panorama shot!

Can we call this "THE Pic" - as in "THE Catch"?

[mdiederi]

Thanks for the clarification on the Allure render, jaz.

mdiederi, do you have it marked where you took that picture, cause that's a great pic and i would love to see you take it again when all the projects are finished.
I'm afraid that view from that exact location will be lost once the Hard Rock expansion rises.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713402.html
In this RJ story today about the recession, the Western Division chairman of Perini Building Co., Dick Rizzo, said they have two more huge Strip projects they are preparing to start in the next couple years, and there's no sign that they will be cancelled. He doesn't say which projects they are, but I'm sure the Kerzner project is one of them. I wonder if the other one is Harrods? Haven't heard much about that one lately. In the same article, MGM Mirage President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Murren says that they won't be cutting back development plans on the Strip, and they mention the Kerzner project.

[lfc4life]

i seriously doubt Harrods will happen, probably talking about crown or plaza

[Sperman 508]

i would love to see the harrods project come to life...

mdiederi... can we get a panoramic shot from west to east?

[ScottG]

if you go to http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/mgm-mirage-citycenter/ (the architect ehind the crystals) youll see some renderings and sketch of the city center mall never seen before.....


heres an interesting one from fosters


http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1385/Default.aspx

[mdiederi]

i seriously doubt Harrods will happen, probably talking about crown or plaza
Crown is supposed to be built by SOM, so it's not them. But after a little googleing, maybe you're right about the Plaza. The Plaza will be built by Elad's partner, Nochi Dankner. He owns IDB Group which owns Property & Building Corp., LTD., which built Queensridge using Perini as the general contractor.

[tumbleweed]

Crown is supposed to be built by SOM, so it's not them. But after a little googleing, maybe you're right about the Plaza. The Plaza will be built by Elad's partner, Nochi Dankner. He owns IDB Group which owns Property & Building Corp., LTD., which built Queensridge using Perini as the general contractor.

I do not believe SOM is a General Contractor.... more like the Architect of Record for that project.

[rhassoii]

Article in the RJ about Streamline.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15729822.html

[ScottG]

this just in:

2007 racked up the largest number of visitors in the city’s history, just over 39 million people according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

[mdiederi]

That's an interesting figure when you realize that the Stardust and Frontier rooms were eliminated last year.

[mttbox]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_WYNN_TRUMP_850_539.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/ar120337717931101.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_MEL_TORME_900_675.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/ar12033766683552.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_NORDSTROMS_WYNN_9_675-1.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/ar120337708773475.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/ar120337677521407.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_NORDSTROMS_WYNN_9_675-1.jpg

[designer3d712]

What's across the street from Trump other than a mall? I'm assuming that's a mall when I see Nordstrom in the photo above. I'm just curious, because there is so much glare coming off the glass. It would be a little annoying if I had a business there.

[lfc4life]

What's across the street from Trump other than a mall? I'm assuming that's a mall when I see Nordstrom in the photo above. I'm just curious, because there is so much glare coming off the glass. It would be a little annoying if I had a business there.

its the fashion show mall with its giant ufo at the entrance http://www.arizonasteve.com/photos/vegas0307/vegas16.jpg

the mall takes up the whole area

[mttbox]

What's across the street from Trump other than a mall? I'm assuming that's a mall when I see Nordstrom in the photo above. I'm just curious, because there is so much glare coming off the glass. It would be a little annoying if I had a business there.

yes, the gold glare was from the reflection of trump tower

[Complex01]

Wow thats a lot of gold glare, were are my sun glasses ===>:cool:


Anyhow love the pano at the top, it is really nice, and gives a great since of what has been developed recently. Very Kewl...

:yes:

Post - 1700...

[neworleans]

in your pic i don't see any cranes at the encore. are they down now?

[lfc4life]

there are still 3 cranes up at encore as this shot shows

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_WYNN_TRUMP_850_539.jpg

[lfc4life]

looks like Crown las vegas ain't gonna happen :(

However, the Melbourne, Australia-based company also suggested that a proposed $5 billion hotel-casino project slated for the former Wet 'n Wild site may be in jeopardy because of the tightening credit markets. The company and its partners are reviewing their options for the project.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15833892.html

[neworleans]

there are still 3 cranes up at encore as this shot shows

that's funny, cause in the other pics you can't see the cranes at encore

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/UP_NORDSTROMS_WYNN_9_675-1.jpg

[WonderlandPark]

^^^ Its called photoshop.

[rhassoii]

Stratosphere sale completed.

A company controlled by billionaire investor Carl Icahn said Thursday it completed the sale of four southern Nevada casinos to an affiliate of the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) for $1.2 billion.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200802211740DOWJONESDJONLINE001127_FORTUNE5.htm


Article about CityCenter and MGM.

The company said its overall quarterly revenues increased 5.6 percent to $1.9 billion, from $1.8 billion a year ago. MGM Mirage said its revenues for all of 2007 were almost $7.7 billion, compared with $7.2 billion in 2006.

D'Arrigo said MGM Mirage is moving ahead with development plans for a $4 billion to $5 billion resort project on the northern end of the Strip, a joint venture between MGM Mirage, Kerzner Holdings International and Dubai World. "We still have 160 acres of developable land in Las Vegas, so we have plenty of opportunity to expand," D'Arrigo said.

Through the fourth quarter, CityCenter had sold 1,336 units of the 2,647 available residences, totaling more than $1.67 billion in sales.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15870352.html

[ScottG]

the bellagio sign along the freeway directly behind citycenter is being dismantled....no sign of the one behind the bellagio parking garage going anywhere...

(i tried to snap a picture with my phone - but las vegas freeway prevented me - im not suicidal)

[rhassoii]

the bellagio sign along the freeway directly behind citycenter is being dismantled....no sign of the one behind the bellagio parking garage going anywhere...

(i tried to snap a picture with my phone - but las vegas freeway prevented me - im not suicidal)

Yeah I saw that yesterday too, about time they bring it down with CityCenter rising behind it.

[Sperman 508]

do you guys think the Kerzner project will be an Atlantis resort, like in the Bahamas and Dubai?

[Silas]

I don't remember the details but I remember reading how MGM-Mirage locked in a lot of their costs for construction and labor, so that made PCC possible.

Echelon has most likely done the same. But for the new projects not yet underway, how much have costs gone up? Including financing costs?

Would a PCC planned today still costs near the $8.4 billion? Or would it be much higher? And if so, would it still make sense to build?

[Muskavon]

I don't remember the details but I remember reading how MGM-Mirage locked in a lot of their costs for construction and labor, so that made PCC possible.

I remember watching a "Build it Bigger' type show on the Science Channel where (I think) they were constructing the Palazzo building. It was mentioned they locked in their steel price on the (not-so-much) gamble that prices would rise (like no kidding).

[mdiederi]

COSMO SAVED!

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/gaming/2008/feb/22/cosmo-dodges-foreclosure-hyatt-manage-hotel/

Eichner is out.
Global hedge fund, Marathon Asset Management, takes over.
Hyatt will manage the hotel and convention facilities.

[Patrick]

^Yayz.

I cant wait to see the final result.

[Taurus702B]

Stratosphere sale completed.



http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200802211740DOWJONESDJONLINE001127_FORTUNE5.htm


Article about CityCenter and MGM.







http://www.lvrj.com/business/15870352.html

The new owners of the Stratosphere may remove the rides atop of the tower. There are also rumors that they are going to turn the tower into some sort of club. I hope the part for the rides are just a rumor.

[cosmo2k8]

Woooooohooooo!

Many thanks to Marathon Asset & Hyatt Corp!

And thank you Mr. Eichner for your vision in Las Vegas.

:tup:

Cheers! :cheers:

[fishordie]

With all the mega resorts/hotels being built I am hoping the Cosmo becomes a model for future endeavors. Personally, I do not like giant resorts in Vegas or anywhere else. Atlantis, in the Bahama's for me was not fun as to get anywhere took preplanning to allow for time to go from point A to point B. The same applies to staying at "The Hotel" in Vegas as getting anywhere within the Mandalay complex requires a long foot march. Ditto in regards to Belagio and Venetian. My concern with the MGM City Center is to get from the street to the main lobby will take a 5 to 10 minute walk. To go from one end to the other could take easily 1/2 an hour. Planning for dinner, on property would be better if a golf cart were involved.

In the Cosmo model to get from the street to the main entrance takes about 20 seconds. To travel the entire length of the property perhaps 10 minutes at most. To go from your room to any in house eatery perhaps 5 minutes and to go from the main tower to the casino is just the push of a button from your floor. I find this model of "Ease of Access" while being possibly termed a mega resort with all the amenities associated with their larger cousins totally desirable and preferable. Hey if you like room service by Wolgang Puck this is going to be the shiznatz.

From my investigations it looks like the walk from Cosmo to the central hub of City Center may be closer than the walk from Vdara to the hub. Getting to P.H. across the strip is
just one walkway away. Walking from Vdara to the strip is just going to be painful. This central locational theme combined with true ease and speed of access of amenities of not just the resort but access to the strip as well is a huge plus for this investor/visitor. As a note, I am in L.V. all the time as my live in Girlfriend's family lives there and we generally stay with them at least once a month and only visit the strip to check out all the construction. Besides, the Offstrip Jazz clubs, shopping and eateries are off the hook.

One question I have about Vdara. It appears the pool area is located to the west of the building. Does that mean this area will not get sun until noon?? Just curious if anyone knows. Another question I have is to where the monorail, running to and from all the MGM properties, will be boarded from at City Center and will the access from Cosmo be close.

Please don't get me wrong, I am in Awe every month I see Perini's progress at MGM City Center. The layout and visuals are breathtaking and the renderings of the final resort is amazing yet my question is only will it be user friendly and if not whose model should be used in future endeavors, not just in Vegas but world wide, to give owners, visitors and tenants the most value, pleasure and relaxation. Perhaps I am wrong and the WOW factor is more important than the ease of use for the patrons.

[philip]

Pool area is to the south of the Vdara building. Given the opening to the east and south, you should get sun after 9AM.

Monorail station is approx. between Veer, Main casino hotel, and the mall. Access is not close to the Cosmo.

[philip]

.............and if not whose model should be used in future endeavors, not just in Vegas but world wide, to give owners, visitors and tenants the most value, pleasure and relaxation. Perhaps I am wrong and the WOW factor is more important than the ease of use for the patrons.

Not everyone likes to live right above the casino floor or the mall. Hence, the residential buildings at CityCenter are seperated but adjacent to the commercial areas.

[fishordie]

Hi Phillip,

Thank you for the replies however in that area does not the strip run North and South. The models I have seen as well as the overview on the C.C. website show at least one pool by the casino directly west and the Vdara pool at best West South West. AM I interpreting these models and overviews incorrectly??

Additionally, would I be incorrect in assuming the pools shown on the C.C. web site also showing the pool for the
Cosmo (On the south side of Cosmo) running east and west with the Cosmo facility directly to the North of the Pools??

I seem to be missing something here somewhere.

Thank you for your help in understanding.

[mdiederi]

Yeah, directly west of Vdara is an existing parking garage.

[fishordie]

Okay,

I finally got a view of the Vdara pool and you are correct. It looks like a beautiful pool located to the south of the complex.
thank you.

As far as living above a casino I will be curious to see how many owner occupied, resident status folks will be at Mandarin or Harmon and how many will be on long term leases. I think the minimum lease allowed is 9 months and for them I can understand not wanting to enter and exit through a casino. I have the same question for Veer as I assume that is where many of the middle and higher rollers who are renting a few days or a week at a time will be staying. In Vegas I would assume the majority of non residents would prefer ease of access to the strip, casino and pools. Again, I am asking as I am curious what would be the best model for future projects in Vegas which I assume will mostly be non full time residential and catering to the gambler or tourist/visitor whom I would think would like easy and quick access to the action both in house and the strip. This is the one and only Vegas after all and the 39 million visitors of last year were there for only a few specific purposes. Once those priorities are established would it not make sense to build facilities that will cater to those more specific needs??
My understanding was City Center was designed as a single community within a much larger community wherein the resident or visitor did not have to leave the premises for any reason as it would be fully self contained. Again I ask is this an appropriate model for future projects especially knowing the North strip has been Identified as possibly the next high end location for building mega resorts.

To put it simply, Should more resorts be built around an ease of use and Access model on a smaller footprint building up instead of out Vs. a giant acreage Park or self contained city like environment where walking is just a fact of life?? After all, for most of these visitors isnt it really all about instant and short term gratification??

[neworleans]

if people have a hard time walking from one side of a casino to the other, than maybe it's a good thing that they have to walk.
For someone like me, who's not even that active, it sure doesn't seem to be very hard.
complaining about running, i can see, but complaining about walking, man a person must have to be really lazy!!! (unless he's injured or disabled)
as far as the time issue, "Our reservations are in 10mins, lets get going." well, that solves the time issue.

Plus, i think las vegas is meant for walking. like walking up and down the strip.

[neworleans]

also, if you have a hard time walking around in a large casino because you're overweight, than you should be thankful that you have to walk. Those overweight people that at least try and workout, they probably don't mind the walk. it's those overweight people that refuse to get off their butts that are the ones who complain about walking.

Do you think that these casino owners are going to just design their resorts for people who complain about walking... shoot no!!!

I love these massive projects and to me, the bigger the better!

[philip]

fishordie,

I can understand what you are asking. However, there is no such thing as "The Best Model in Las Vegas." Las Vegas thrives because of its diverse offering of entertainment and hospitality options. Business models not only change from one decade to the next (casinos-only in the 1950's, hotel casino in the 1970's, Resort in the 1990's, to Condo-hotel-casino in the 2000's) due to changes in consumer preference, Business models are also different at each casino in the same decade (Palms attracts the "cool" people, Venetian attracts conventioneers, etc.) The diverse offering of options are the reason why Las Vegas attracts almost everyone in the world, and as long as there are people who like certain style of casinos/hotel/theme park/golf/convention.........., we will continue to see new business models emerge while older ones go away.

So there is really no such thing as "The Best Model" in Las Vegas. If you like to live close to the casino and the strip, then stay at Cosmopolitan. If you want exclusivity and peace of mind while still get access to the casino, then stay at Vdara or Trump. No one model is necessarily better than the others, it's just a matter of consumer preference.

[fishordie]

Yo Phillip,

Maybe I am just hard headed, In fact that is probably the case, but I am not seeing a real variety based model any more. Theme places seem to be on the way out and modern high rises seem to be on the drawing boards. I'm thinking more Manhattan skyline than Disneyland. The question for me is does the non transient theme and requirements of New York apply to Vegas which is highly transient or are we preparing the strip for more of a residential feel. We know the family is no longer being catered to in Vegas rather the Baby boomer's and probably even more important is the kids of baby boomer's both domestic and foreign. These kids don't walk anywhere. They get their exercise in high end gyms which are now in the resorts. When I say kids I am referring to the 25 to 45 age bracket whose folks gave them maybe a bit too much money to play with or they hit it big on some investment or business play. Look who frequents the hot clubs, hot bars, hot hotels. Look who bought into Palms, Hard Rock (Condo Hotel sale prior to Morton selling the project) Look at the age group who bought into Cosmo, Trump and City Center.
Look who is hanging around the pools or eateries and you are seeing less and less old and more and more of the age group I noted above. More jeans and tee shirts at dinner than suits and ties. Those kids don't walk, they leave that for the tourists who may not stay at the swankier joints.

The price tags are now in the multi billion dollar price range even for building on 9 acres. The need for return on investment demands a high attention to demographics and their needs. Is variety going to remain the watchword in Vegas or is this anomaly we call Las Vegas growing up to be a Manhattan Skyline where every square foot of Strip dirt is worth a fortune and therefore the structures will be dedicated to a particular demographic and the tourists will stay in the older or less grandiose places. There may even be a market for all the foreclosures of units which will be piling up just off strip but that is another matter all together. The Strip is its own world. Investors will be getting savvier and visitors will have more to choose from thus giving them more expectations in regards to services and conveniences from the hotels and casino/hotels.

[mdiederi]

Harmon Avenue
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/HarmonWay.jpg

[sky-of-webs]

Could someone get a picture of the mall at City Center from Harmon ave and the Planet Hollywood-Paris parking garage entrances intersection. The iron work looks like a building collapse. Pretty cool, and it will be hidden when the cladding goes on.

[mdiederi]

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

[case_architect]

here's a few shots i grabbed this weekend

vdara
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/188/vdarajt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

citycenter
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/3429/citycenterlw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

closeup of citycenter facade
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/681/cccloseupwg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

red rock jr. moving along
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/292/aliantevq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

southpoint topped off
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2591/southpointrx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

panorama 3 rising above its brothers
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2269/panoramanm0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MrVegas]

The twin-tower Pinnacle Las Vegas project has been canceled. :(

http://lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2008/03/03/news/iq_19987602.txt

[philip]

Vdara is SO HOT !!!

[designer3d712]

:previous: Agreed!! I love Vegas Architecture.

[ScottG]

there is a large porte cochere steel frame BEHIND encore....its on the side of desert desert inn road.

also -is anyone curious to find out how fountainbleau will do its first couple of years? i mean it will be a greeat competitive property BUT it is far from 'action' right now the busy part of the strip ends at wynn / fashion show mall.... then there is a long gap of echelon construction and cheap souvenier shops, then riviera (the rive HA!) and circus circus then this new mandalay bay-esque resort.....then the vacant wet n wild and saharah and stratosphere - not exactly busy foot traffic.

i read in an article about the saharah renovation (which was recently county approved) that they will be going after the palms / hard rock kind of crowd.....


it definitly seems as if the north strip is turning into the 'new' strip BUT it will take time.....(maybe eventually heading into down down.....eventually)



I HATE THAT PINNACLE IS GONE - IT WAS A LONG SHOT BUT I LOVED THE RED GLASS AND TWIN TOWERS! :( <----SAD FACE

[lfc4life]

yeah i think fontainebleau will struggle big time for at least the first year (until echelon opens)

that part of the strip is completely devoid of foot-traffic and i spend alot of time on foot up there when in vegas (but then again so is the far south i suppose :) )

personally i think the success of fontainebleau will ultimately be determined by both crown and the Kerzner/mgm project on the old el rancho lot. If both are built the north strip will be THE place, if neither are built fontainebleau will sit like a white elephant amid graffiti, broken bottles, porn flyers and other assorted trash :(

[neworleans]

Circus Circus was really packed with people last time i was there, and that's right across from Fontainebleau. Plus, the stratosphere is not close to anything and it does just fine. Yes, the stratosphere has it's tower, but Fontainebleau will have it's height from the hotel.

[Complex01]

It is all coming together so well. I likes it a lot...

:wizard:

[justdefended]

Vdara is SO HOT !!!

I agree. If a building could bring sexy back, it just did.

[lfc4life]

Circus Circus was really packed with people last time i was there, and that's right across from Fontainebleau. Plus, the stratosphere is not close to anything and it does just fine. Yes, the stratosphere has it's tower, but Fontainebleau will have it's height from the hotel.

CC and fontainebleau will expect to attract a different type of clientele, i can't imagine CC regulars paying Wynn type prices for food, drink and accommodation or participating in high limit games; not with Riveria and Sahara also across the road.

Not sure what would attract high-rollers to Fontainebleau when you have Bellagio, Wynn and Venetian in much better locations

i smell another Aladdin actually, i seriously hope i am wrong on this because fontainebleau is my favourite project going up in vegas atm but its a five star resort in a 2 star part of town; an area that many who come to vegas probably have never ventured near.

[lvnewb]

Just wondering if you guys had heard anything about Sullivan Square? They had their big groundbreaking last year, and dug a nice hole, but since then the only activity I've seen there has been the dirt pile slowly disappearing. I figured they would've had the foundation and the cranes up by now.

[Patrick]

^I've been wondering about Sullivan Square too!

VDARA is a hella hot tower.

[future29]

what about east village? any news on that?

[Patrick]

Shots from the Vegas Skyline thread.

Harmon Corridor

CityCenter making a huge impact.

http://i27.tinypic.com/igbzww.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22441884@N04/2198794135/

Cosmopolitan on the rise, check it out! Whats taking Project CityCenter's "The Harmon" so long?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2294525727_cc5839b357_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21304031@N07/

VEER Towers also taking very long!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2267625527_89e80018bf_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacamera/

Looks good!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/2205028280_94923509ec_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinko/

The Harmon seems like a simple tower, dont see why its taking so long.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2298358027_b105fe1e8a_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36063535@N00/

Whats that huge concrete block? Ohh I remember when this was just a landing pad, parking lots, and some old shops!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/2220195995_971e10d9d9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennis_knake/

This is why I dont like the VEER Towers, while new and exciting, the location sucks, the view of the main Hotel Casino Towers looks great, but the VEER Towers will just be stuck in the middle.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2108/2300396204_446e581c10_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23437487@N00/

Encore at the Wynn Las Vegas

Wynn, amazingly with two towers, I still cant belive it.

http://i29.tinypic.com/1zp5ibn.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddpn/2170355014/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2291678240_47897a51bc_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhedberg/

Palms Place

What a sexy skyline! The West Strip certianly has a nice cluster. :yes: Palm Place is HUGE.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/2235145800_8be8059754_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cornstalker/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2002/2292358399_eb8c078da2_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23437487@N00/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2234198697_f5389c472b_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lpilewski/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2236980466_99593b9d4b_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lpilewski/

Trump Las Vegas

Defanatly marks its presence on the Strip, and dwarfs all the older 90's hotels!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2259105948_e700f7e976_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronharrison/

Palazzo

Turned out really nice, not a huge fan of the tower but still looks great.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2302833859_87ae1be9da_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richard_q/

North Strip

Huge towers!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2293651873_562be62695_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/larryfinn/

World Market Center, huge! Size of the Plaza Hotel.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2292972538_f5a5089061_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/agmason/

Harmon Corridor

Planet Hollywood is HUGE, I dont know, a little too huge for my taste. I guess we'll wait and see.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2131/2287939019_e8e5ec99b5_b.jpg

[Silas]

Hmmmmm....

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder for sure. I love the overall CityCenter look but IMO Vdara is hardly the shining star. It's OK but pretty bland. Then again, I never really got the whole Britney Spears thing. So maybe I'm just not getting it.

I look forward to Mandarin Oriental, Harmon and especially Veer and I think these will step it up more along the lines of Angelina Jolie, shall we say?

[Silas]

Hey GREAT NEW PHOTOS OF VEGAS.

Thanks so much guys for all these awesome, high quality, artistic photos. I really love seeing them and getting my Vegas fix from back home, stuck in the daily grind.

VEGAS LOOKING GOOD!

[cosmo2k8]

Beautiful shots Patrick!

That shot at dusk from the Palazzo is simply amazing!

Thanks!

:cheers:

[Silas]

It says "NO PARKING on ramp or you will be WED". I knew Vegas weddings were quick and unusual but that one at CityCenter takes the cake. :cheers: :D

[ScottG]

the shot of the cosmo is great. what a mesh of construction....


cosmo actually wraps around jocky club on ALL 4 SIDES. you can see the west end reaching around the front of jockey club, also cosmo deos block about the fisrt 2 columns of windows on the bellagio second tower....

[mdiederi]

cosmo actually wraps around jocky club on ALL 4 SIDES.
Not the north side.

[mdiederi]

is anyone curious to find out how fountainbleau will do its first couple of years?
I think it will be successful. By then the recession should be over. Glenn Schaefer knows how to do build it right and they'll have a ton of foot traffic from the convention center, and they will be their own destination because of the large number of rooms and large in-house convention facilities, and some "must see" attractions they are promising, and also because of the large number of high rise condos next door which represents a new type of local market.

[Patrick]

It says "NO PARKING on ramp or you will be WED". I knew Vegas weddings were quick and unusual but that one at CityCenter takes the cake. :cheers: :D

Thats halarious! But if you look closer, a truck is blocking the first half, I'm sure it says TOWED.

[Patrick]

Some sexy shots of CityCenter from its official website.

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07053.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07037.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/9390.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07001.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07014.jpg

[ScottG]

Not the north side.

yes huh! :)

if you look at that picture (or go there) youll see that the west tower has its first column of windows blocked by whatever that slim portion of the podium is for cosmo.

[WanderingQueen]

yes huh! :)

if you look at that picture (or go there) youll see that the west tower has its first column of windows blocked by whatever that slim portion of the podium is for cosmo.

That's shocking to see. I'm amazed that Cosmo has been permitted to so totally engulf Jockey Club.

[ScottG]

^^^^ the top level of jocky club extends beyond the lowers - along this level is the closest cosmo comes to jocky club....less than 5 feet!

[Patrick]

Never before seen? Project CityCenter Renders:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/cc1-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/cc2-1.jpg

[mdiederi]

Saw those last year.

Here's a New York Times article today about the fine art that will be displayed at CityCenter
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/arts/design/08publ.html?_r=1&ref=arts&oref=slogin
or here http://www.stevefriess.com/archive/nytimes/citycenterart.htm

[DFW LUV]

Never before seen? Project CityCenter Renders:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/cc1-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/citycenter/cc2-1.jpg


WOW!

Looks like in Las Vegas the architecture will soon become an attraction.

[laro3]

needs more tree's

[BrianFey]

What is the story on Trump #2, is that project still a go, or is it on hold due to the slowing market?

[mttbox]

What is the story on Trump #2, is that project still a go, or is it on hold due to the slowing market?

it is not on hold, it is still in "process", I'm pretty sure it will take a little while due to the change of the market, the sale office still there to take deposit, but there are still small amount of unit that is avliable in tower 1 and there will be some more unit will fall out of escrow in next few month, the owners are just start to closing their unit this month, i personally think it looks better with just 1 tower.

[Wrightguy0]

Vegas's skyline looks like it means serious buisness, I'm lovin' the citycenter renders

[ScottG]

ever been to the hooters hotel?

apparently no one has either!

the new owners are going to RENOVATE and DETHEME the palce as a 'hip' modern boutique hotel... (as early as this summer)

seems like hooters became a c*ck fest.... guys would go there, but the only girls would be the ones working there.

[MrVegas]

Caesars Palace Expansion
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2012/caesars030908ek2.jpg


Glass is now being installed on the west side of the Cosmopolitan
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5779/cosmo030808cy5.jpg


Encore is getting its signature lettering installed
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/6928/encore030908ez4.jpg


Planet Hollywood Towers
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/9391/planet030908ae9.jpg

[jazfingr]

:previous:

Sweet photos, thanks for the updates

[StatenIslander237]

Glass is now being installed on the west side of the Cosmopolitan
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5779/cosmo030808cy5.jpg


Encore is getting its signature lettering installed
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/6928/encore030908ez4.jpg


WOW! TWO HUGE MILESTONES!

Jeez, I remember when they installed the lettering on Wynn. Seems like so long ago now...

[asylum23]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not, but Panorama Tower 4 is cancelled.

[ColoPrecaster]

Here is a few shots m wife took for me while she was out in LV this weekend.


http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/2619/picture004fj2.jpg

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8240/picture009rk9.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4456/picture010zq8.jpg

[Silas]

Are we sure that is not the Nike 'Swoosh' on the tower? Maybe that is the final sign ?:cheers:

[Silas]

I think PH Tower(s) is going to look good. The dark blue glass will probably be a nice contrast to all the light/white/beige buildings of PH, Paris, Signature and especially Marriott Chateau. Hopefully they'll break up the pattern in some way. Let's see.

Any knowledge whether they will build one tower or two?

[gelu1123]

We know some of the giant Ferris wheel that was to be built in Las Vegas?

[Tlwarnke]

Silas,
Here is a link to the Westgate Resorts site that has photos the PH Towers rendering. The final will not be so art-deco though. As you can see there will be two towers with a center part joining them.
http://westgateresorts.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=photos.show_photo&resortID=WESTGATE_PLANET_HOLLYWOOD&fileHandle=wgph_01

[Silas]

Thanks T -

I have seen that proposed design. With the real estate/ time share market in transition, I wonder if they will follow through with the second tower. Time will tell .....

[lfc4life]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not, but Panorama Tower 4 is cancelled.

source??

[Patrick]

This picture is positively amazing! All the different styles of Architecture. The Cosmopolitan + Jockey Club + Bellagio clash looks so intresting, it looks as if its construction going on at a hilly european town. I cant wait to see Cosmo finally done! I've been waiting for this project!


http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8240/picture009rk9.jpg

Really? Lack of sales maybe?

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not, but Panorama Tower 4 is cancelled.

[Lecom]

That dense area with all the massive and, more importantly, classy and assuming buildings will truly live up to its title of the City Center. While I'm not too excited about individual building designs there (yet I'm happy that they're not cheesy prefab crap), they will surely make one hell of a presense.

[neworleans]

i'm not sure what we're going to celebrate first...the completion of the Harmon or the year 3000!!! j/k

[Patrick]

^Yes, its taking awfully long for such a simple building.

[fishordie]

Some sexy shots of CityCenter from its official website.

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07053.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07037.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/9390.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07001.jpg

http://www.citycenter.com/luxury_las_vegas_condos/images/construction/07014.jpg

Now I am curious,

Will the North bound views from Mandarin, Veer and Harmon be negatively impacted not only be each other but by the Cosmo as well?? Will Veer be almost land locked located between all the other structures as well as the two walls that face each other?? I am trying to figure out how this will play out as far as the architecture blending in with the practical usage of the facilities especially in regards to the views. I will be back in Vegas Thursday to see if I can see for myself and talk with the folks at City Center and Cosmo.

[kenratboy]

Seeing these new megaprojects (CityCenter) next to what used to be 'mega' (Bellago, Circus, etc.) - I can't help but wondering what things will be like in 10, 20 years.

At a certain point, they will be limited by humans, in terms of the physical size of a facility, how far one can be expected to move to get from the parking garage to their room, shopping, food, etc.

As it is, it can be quite an ordeal for some visitors to get around with the size and complexity of these facilities - imagine CityCenter, but 2, 3, 4X as large.

[Complex01]

Those are some impressive pics. I like they very much so. Very kewl...

:yes:

[neworleans]

if u look closely at the harmon, there are no columns rising off the top floor. does anybody know if they've decided to stop work on it?

here is a pic from vegastodayandtomorrow.com
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2017/2333444831_76412576db_o.jpg

[Vtown420]

I think if you look closer, you’ll see the rebar for the columns is there. Besides, why would they stop construction on it? I’m sure there is a reason it and Veer are taking so long.

I must say, City Center is looking better than I ever expected. It’s going to be awesome! I can’t wait to get home and take some pics!

[jazfingr]

They are building the pool and lounge deck at The Harmon. This requires a bit of time, engineering and heavy equipement.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/2332982715_c63b53a352_o.jpg

[jazfingr]

Hey, neworleans, I've sent you a Private Message about hot-linking photos. Please fix it.

[ScottG]

^^^ ah yes - the VTAT hotlink. i wonder how many people you had to 'correct' ...your website is popular with the images!

[justdefended]

Deutsche Bank AG said it will begin foreclosure proceedings on the Cosmopolitan after Eichner was unable to strike a deal with Marathon and Hyatt. At this point the project is still up in the air although Eichner says construction is still proceeding on the $3.9B project.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120554452781938671.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Silas]

Interesting about Cosmo.

Fish or Die, you asked a question about the views. The question seemed silly to me because we have photos which show us exactly what the views will look like, so we don't need to speculate on views.

However, if Cosmo were not built, then the views would improve signifcantly for Vdara, Harmon, Veer, the main CC building and also Bellagio second tower.

In looking over that photo, it's clear that the entire MGM CityCenter project would be better off if Cosmo were not around. Views would be better, less competeition, more parking better 'flow'.

I believe that MGM must be considering buying out the Cosmo project and simply topping it off where it is. The extensive on-strip parking would be itself a destination for people - and they would no doubt walk to CityCenter mall or Bellagio. The existing structure is for the planned cosmo mall, I believe. The back tower, up to 10 stories or so, could be luxury suites, or offices maybe.

I encourage MGM to buy the place and top it off where it is. Let's see what happens.

[fishordie]

Yo Silas,

I spent yesterday chatting with folks associated with both the MGM and Cosmo. It appears Cosmo is already around 20 floors up out of a total of 52 or 53 (There are no floors in the 40's). They are going full blast and it appears they are going even faster after the notice of default occurred. MGM too is going full blast with some of the facilities going up at a rate of one floor per every 3 - 5 days. No one seemed to believe MGM was going to purchase Cosmo.

City center is mind boggling at the size and numbers of structures. It truly will be a city within a city and is more reminiscent of New York Living than West Coast living.

The reason I brought up the view thing is that IS important to this west coaster and I appear to not be the only one as the pricing structures go up depending on the quality of the views. If this building trend continues you will be grateful to have a razor thin view of almost anything and to me that would be a shame. I know the market will dictate the reality of this occurance but I am concerned.

One of my favorite reasons I stay or have purchased along the strip is the fantasy associated with the long and wonderful views of the strip, North or South, Mountains or the city in general. It is wonderful and romantic, sexy and enticing and to me makes Vegas such an amazing place.

My concern is more about Vegas High rises eliminating these glorious panoramas as we build higher and closer together more in keeping with New York or the main cities in Asia or Europe. I cant even imagine what it must be like for the folks staying at the Jockey club on the South Side. UGHHHH. I can only hope that is not a harbinger of the future fate of Vegas.

My question and focus still remain as the question regarding the impact of high rises on one of the great assets of Las Vegas which are they never ending views of
lights at night. Will these go the way of the dinosaur and do we as observers of this phenomenon have a responsibility to make this concern known.

At 20 or 30 million an acre my concerns may have zero impact but I feel they are still legitimate concerns regarding the impacts of building or overbuilding these incredible High Rises. I happen to love Vegas but I am concerned and I may be naive but I believe the developers need to keep the impact of their designs with some of this in mind.

[Silas]

Thanks FOD for that info.

I agree, the views are important from a purchase or even hotel perspective. No doubt CC will be looking at itself or Cosmo a lot.

Ironically, the great views of CC will be from Polo Towers or Tower 1 of Signature across the strip. Those will probably have the best views of the New Vegas. CC itself will often have very limited views. Vdara's best views will be of Bellagio pools in the back, I would think - but a lot of freeway also.

It will be very interesting to see where Cosmo goes from here. It is truly unchartered territory in the creidit markets (Bear Stearns anyone?). Maybe I'm way off base but I really like the idea of leaving the front tower at five stories (or whatever) with the open air pool/club deck. that would be slick.

[gmcclenon]

Let's hope Las Vegas does not end up with it's own version of Thailand's SV Garden. Financial crisis gripped the country in the middle of a massive skyscraper construction boom in the 90's and left, to this day, scores of high-rises unfinished around Bangkok.

Ok, not likely to happen in Las Vegas but quite interesting after what happened on Friday with Bear Sterns....

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=2990280

[Hans Gruber]

I consider City Center to be just one project and not 3 or 4 in one. I know there's several different companies mostly bankrolled by MGM. Needless to say, everything in City Center will either be a smashing succcess or a massive timeshare property if the economy continues to tank. City Center will be home to quite a few high priced hooker pads. I'm going to guess 5% of all condo sales in the entire City Center complex will be home to high class bordellos.

I have a great deal of faith in the new upcoming Hotel Casinos under construction and those in the permit stages. I look forward to a Vegas strip that goes all the way to the Stratosphere in 10-15 years from now.

[asylum23]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not, but Panorama Tower 4 is cancelled.


The source is their offices. We called specifically about that tower and they said it was cancelled, but they still own the land and may do something else there.

[jazfingr]

I just got off the phone with my executive contact at Panorama. Tower 4 is on hold for now, NOT cancelled. They are going to play it by ear during the current credit crisis. There is no news on Tower 4, it may (or not) get built...time will tell.

[DowntownGymRat]

I can't remember, but is it official that Circus Circus is coming down? If so, what's the projected demolision date?

[lfc4life]

I can't remember, but is it official that Circus Circus is coming down? If so, what's the projected demolision date?

Circus Circus is staying where it is according to a quote from the MGM CEO last year. A major renovation of the hotel is very likely though

[Silas]

.... the rumor/news hits the presses just as the ink dries on the Trump contracts.

I am shocked! ;)

[RandalR]

I expect that Plaza, Crown, and anything else that hasn't yet started construction will be canceled or postponed. The credit markets are brutal right now, and may remain so for some time. Nobody can borrow the billions needed to get these projects going - credit just isn't available.

And personally, I thought Plaza's design looked ridiculous - a Batman-like throwback to the themes popular two decades ago. Slim glass towers would blend in better with Trump, Echelon, and Wynn. Maybe the site will get sold again and the new owners will come up with something more attractive.

[VegasBound]

...Views...

The degradation of views and expanding footprints are accelerating because the county commission is constantly handing out out setback variances like candy. It is a racket I tell ya!

[Silas]

It seems that Fountain Blue (when will they change the name ?) is past the point of no return. I suspect that they will convert the entire project to a hotel-only building. Or more likely, they will have about 10% of the units as condos. Let's face it - condos aren't selling. Notice that they have not yet opened the sales office? Will they even go down that road?

What about Echelon (also in need of a name change)? That particular project seems to be at an awkward time. Is it too late to postpone? Does it make sense to go forward? They are not hampered by condo sales so it seems like they will move forward. But who really knows what their finances are like? Find a a partner to bail them out (like Packard at F-Blue and Dubai at CityCenter) may no longer be an option. Cash is truly King right now.

[JDRCRASH]

Find a a partner to bail them out (like Packard at F-Blue and Dubai at CityCenter) may no longer be an option. Cash is truly King right now.

Your right. Look at L.A.'s Grand Avenue Project; less than 2 months ago it would have been considered to be dying, but Dubai's Royal family owned fund Isithmar has mad an investment in the project, and now it could break ground in May.

[mttbox]

Financing imperils projects

Credit crunch could bring halt to Cosmopolitan, Plaza resorts

By ARNOLD M. KNIGHTLY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Two multibillion-dollar Strip developments less than two miles apart could become victims of the tightening credit markets and rising construction costs.

Wall Street investment house Deutsche Bank last week notified developers of the Cosmopolitan that it will begin foreclosure proceedings on the mixed-use development being built in the shadow of MGM Mirage's massive CityCenter complex.

A little north on the Strip, a potential $6 billion development modeled after the Plaza in New York City that was to be built on the site of the imploded New Frontier may be put on hold because of the current subprime crisis.

"It's extremely difficult to borrow capital in the current market," Wachovia Capital Markets bond analyst Dennis Farrell Jr. said Monday. "This is not only happening in Las Vegas but across the country."

The Cosmopolitan foreclosure comes about three weeks after an announcement that a deal had been reached to keep the Strip project from entering foreclosure. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, however, that New York-based developer Bruce Eichner was unable to complete the tentative deal to save the project.

The Review-Journal reported last month that a deal was being completed between Global Hyatt Corp. and New York-based Marathon Asset Management to recapitalize the condominium-hotel project.

The two groups had agreed to contribute cash in exchange for large equity stakes in the Cosmopolitan. But the deal could not be completed by a deadline Thursday. Deutsche Bank, the lead lender on a $760 million loan, notified Eichner, Hyatt and Marathon that it was beginning foreclosure proceedings on the project.

Analysts said they believe the move by Deutsche Bank could help push the bank's continuing negotiations with Hyatt and Marathon to a faster resolution.

Eichner and Cosmopolitan Chief Operating Officer Scott Butera did not return phone calls Monday. Hyatt representatives also did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Increased construction costs for the Cosmopolitan helped drive the budget from its original $2 billion price in early 2006 to a current estimate of $3.9 billion.

Prospective lenders said in January that Eichner needed to increase his equity to at least 10 percent because of the rising costs before they would provide new funding.

Eichner contributed the 8.5-acre site, which was purchased for $90 million in 2004, and $50 million from a subsidiary of Global Hyatt.

Eichner told the Wall Street Journal last week that 83 percent of the project's condominium units have been sold, with buyers putting down 20 percent nonrefundable deposits on sales totaling $1.35 billion.

Perini Building Corp., the Cosmopolitan's general contractor, said Monday it will continue construction on the project. Perini, which has been involved with the Cosmopolitan from the beginning, signed a month-to-month agreement with Deutsche Bank on Jan. 18. The Cosmopolitan had been expected to be completed in late 2009.

While financing for the Cosmopolitan project is in limbo, the developers of the Plaza have decided to shelve their project until the credit markets loosen.

The Israeli investors who own on the 34.5-acre New Frontier site told Israel's most widely distributed newspaper, Yediot Ahronot, the project's sponsors do not plan to seek financing until the current subprime crisis ends.

Plaza Las Vegas Chief Operating Officer Daniel Wade declined to comment on Monday, saying any statements will come through the project's public relations firm.

However, Elad Group President Miki Naftali said late Monday in an e-mail the "there is no credibility to the rumor" and that "the project is forging ahead."

The Plaza is being developed by Elad IDB Las Vegas, a joint venture between New York-based Elad Group and Property & Building Corp., a subsidiary of Israeli-based IDB Holdings Corp.

Details of how the development group planned to finance the project have never been made public. The group paid approximately $35 million per acre, which set a record for Strip land.

Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Bill Lerner said the project's financing was questionable even before the lending markets tightened.

"The ability to sell expensive residential units probably would have given it a chance," Lerner said. "That's probably not on the table right now. The cost of development, not just the financing cost but the construction cost, has materially inflated."

Analysts said that if banks are lending money at all, it is at a rate three to four percentage points higher than last year.

The Plaza plans called for seven towers as high as 671 feet containing 4,100 hotel rooms and 2,600 condominium units. It was to be anchored by the Strip's largest casino at 175,900 square feet. It was scheduled to open in 2012.

The project received approval from Clark County planning officials in December. Plans for the project are scheduled to go before the Clark County Commission on Wednesday.

The postponement of the Plaza takes 6,700 rooms out a projected growth pipeline of nearly 45,000 rooms that were to be coming online by 2012.

With suspended or canceled projects, including a new resort with 9,000 rooms on the Tropicana site, the 3,000-room W Las Vegas on Harmon Avenue and the 1,400-room Southern Highland Resort, the local room growth rate has significantly decreased during the past eight months.

"It's like the perfect storm of negative factors that are going to continue to impact the pipeline here," Lerner said.

[lfc4life]

how will the credit crunch affect other huge american projects like the Chicago Spire and Freedom tower, are they too now in danger seeing as neither have got off the ground???

[Dale]

how will the credit crunch affect other huge american projects like the Chicago Spire and Freedom tower, are they too now in danger seeing as neither have got off the ground???

I doubt very much that either will be cancelled or even delayed.

[lfc4life]

I doubt very much that either will be cancelled or even delayed.

why would they be immune though especially the spire given the fact its nothing but a giant condo in reality been built in a city where condo sales are nothing short of awful.

[Crazy Ivan]

why would they be immune though especially the spire given the fact its nothing but a giant condo in reality been built in a city where condo sales are nothing short of awful.

First, ultra luxury clients aren't being hit as hard by the slowdown. When your net worth is <$1-2 million and your assets depreciate by half, consideration of whether to buy a unit at the spire is significantly impacted. If you have tens of millions or billions, it hardly makes a difference.

Second, while the credit crisis is global, the deprepeciation of the dollar is uniquely American. The spire is being developed by a European firm and marketed primarily to foreign buyers. To them, the units look like a bargain.

[Patrick]

Newport Lofts, Juhl, and Streamline all looking good in the Downtown skyline!
http://i27.tinypic.com/2zr154m.jpg

[Dale]

why would they be immune though especially the spire given the fact its nothing but a giant condo in reality been built in a city where condo sales are nothing short of awful.

And aside from what Crazy Ivan said, you shouldn't assume that cities are going to go belly-up in general.

[mttbox]

Visited Trump LV today, the hotel is beautiful! When Trump say that he is going to built a most luxurious hotel in Vegas I thought it was just a typical Trump talk, but when I walk in today it was a “wow”, no, let me do it again, WOW!!!!, and they are not even done yet. The service from the staff was totally high-level and WAY better than other hotel it is comparable to mandarin oriental and 4 season (I’ve stay at both hotel before); no question it will get the 5 star rating. took some picture from my cell phone, it does not come out good at all, couldn't take pic for other other part of the lobby because it is still in work, you have to see it in person. the style and feeling are totally different from the 5 start hotel on the strip. it is so classic and high end.

view from 46th fl north.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00035.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00034.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00033.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00050.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00049.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00048.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00047.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00046.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00045.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00044.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00043.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00042.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00051.jpg

[mttbox]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00124.jpg

the touch of the wood in trump lobby is not same as the others, it feels like the wood trim in a expansive car, you can see the wood trim on the picture below

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00122.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00118.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00115.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00114.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00112.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00111.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00110.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00108.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00107.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00106.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s233/mttbox/trump/DSC00105.jpg

[JDRCRASH]

There are so many empty lots that still need to get filled up; but I think you guys are getting there pretty quick.

[mdiederi]

Good report mttbox! Excellent views of the Echelon and Fontainebleau projects from there.

[SLC Projects]

It's just unreal just how fast and how much Vegas is building all at once.

[Patrick]

So Trump LV is open?

[mttbox]

So Trump LV is open?

no, the opening day set to be 31st of march. still allot of decoration need to be done. but i think they do allow people to walk in and look around.

[jazfingr]

So Trump LV is open?

No, it officially opens on March 31st

[mdiederi]

Posted this already in the crane thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=147213), but figured I'd post it here too. Crane convention in town.

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

[cosmo2k8]

Looks like Related is back in town:

Related Joins Bidding On Ailing Vegas Project
By Alex Frangos and Tamara Audi

A team that includes New York developer Related Companies is making a bid to take over the unfinished and financially ailing Cosmopolitan Resort Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, according to people familiar with the matter.

Related, led by real-estate tycoon Stephen Ross, has teamed with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s W Hotel group and an unidentified casino operator to try to take over the $3.9 billion hotel-condominium and casino project. The project's lender, Deutsche Bank AG, started foreclosure proceedings this month against the developer, Ian Bruce Eichner, on a $760 million loan.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120613069739055703.html?mod=fpa_whatsnews

Cheers!

[Red UM Rebel]

So Cosmo Vegas might become W Vegas?

[mdiederi]

I think "W" would probably have better brand identity with the public than "Cosmopolitan". And the location is a hell of a lot better than the old W site.

[pablosan]

Trump LV is looking pretty good.

[future29]

Looks like Related is back in town:

Related Joins Bidding On Ailing Vegas Project
By Alex Frangos and Tamara Audi

A team that includes New York developer Related Companies is making a bid to take over the unfinished and financially ailing Cosmopolitan Resort Casino on the Las Vegas Strip, according to people familiar with the matter.

Related, led by real-estate tycoon Stephen Ross, has teamed with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s W Hotel group and an unidentified casino operator to try to take over the $3.9 billion hotel-condominium and casino project. The project's lender, Deutsche Bank AG, started foreclosure proceedings this month against the developer, Ian Bruce Eichner, on a $760 million loan.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120613069739055703.html?mod=fpa_whatsnews

Cheers!

wow great news. i wonder if they can change some plans of the towers midway through construction? Im hoping that the glass style that was on the W renderings can be applied to the cosmo towers. it will kick project up a notch.

[neworleans]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2352926103_0994c06075_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2352926793_26e732f25a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2352927481_3f5daa65ed_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2352928189_b23e676811_b.jpg

parking garage for World Market Center
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2312/2353760150_3fe0e687e5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/2353018865_6f1564ef14_b.jpg

new parking garage at the hilton grand vacations (man that's big)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/2353019507_2e8de48340_b.jpg

[cosmo2k8]

Thanks for the update neworleans!

[neworleans]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2354112268_77ccb0c89f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2353281119_86ac6ac61d_b.jpg

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[MrVegas]

The Encore logo at night
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6703/encore032208aj8.jpg

[DracoCaifan]

Thanks for the updates......those shots from the stratosphere are fantastic!!

[ScottG]

encore's lighting is much brighter than wynn's. ha



has anyone noticed what is missing in citycenter?

in all the renderings there are never been any signage....nothing on the tops of the buildings or a main pilon sign.....i wonder


i think the hotels would look ugly if they splash some lettering along the tops.
everyone has grown used to the renderings without signage.

---

im sure if W takes over cosmo and changes the name. there wont be any changes to the design. alot of people have bought units there and they cant really change much (i dont think)---i mean the people bought a certain design.

[neworleans]

in the model at the ballagio, there's no signs, not even for the freeway.

I was looking at the citycenter from the monte carlo and it looked like a garage parking lot was going up directly behind and attached to the mandarin oriental... is that what that's supposed to be? i wish i had gotten a picture

[designer3d712]

http://www.spine3d.com/

Click on renderings then City Center and watch the animation. Not sure how old this is, but It shows an illuminated Vdara sign. It's probably just for building recognition.

[nsxdrift_89]

Also, in that animation, one can see "THE HARMON" signage on the north and south sides of The Harmon.

[cosmo2k8]

Cosmopolitan developer expects investors to emerge
Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:59pm EDT

LOS ANGELES, March 24 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), the senior lender to the partially built Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, has commenced foreclosure proceedings, but the project's developer said he believes the project can be recapitalized.

"We view this action as a means for Deutsche Bank to expand their ability to engage a greater number of serious potential investors in The Cosmopolitan," Ian Bruce Eichner, chief executive of property developer 3700 Associates LLC, said in a statement on Monday.

The Cosmopolitan is located on the Las Vegas Strip between MGM Mirage's_(MGM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Bellagio Resort and its $8 billion CityCenter project, which is slated to open in 2010.

Eichner said Deutsche Bank began foreclosure proceedings in order to protect its interest in the project, which he said is expected to completed on time in 2009.

"We remain optimistic there will be a successful resolution to the situation," Eichner said.

Deutsche Bank in mid-January delivered a notice of default on a $760 million construction loan for the condominium-hotel project, which has seen costs climb while the U.S. credit markets have collapsed.

General contractor Perini Building Co., a unit of Perini Corp (PCR.N: Quote, Profile, Research), reached an agreement in January under which the bank has continued to fund construction work.

Eichner said there are no plans to alter that agreement.

Deutsche Bank declined to comment on the status of talks with potential investors, including Global Hyatt Corp. and Marathon Asset Management, which have also loaned money to the project.

A spokesman for Marathon said on Monday that talks with Deutsche Bank are continuing. Hyatt officials did not return calls.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that New York property developer Related Companies has teamed with hotel operator Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc's (HOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) W Hotel group and an unidentified casino operator to try to take over the $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan project.

Related Companies declined to comment on the report. W Hotels spokeswoman Jenni Benzaquen said, "We don't have anything going on in Las Vegas right now." (Reporting by Deena Beasley, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)


http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2434563020080324?rpc=44

:tup:

[ScottG]

i don tget why city center is flashing cosmo much much in that rendering...youd think - at the end - when there is a night time fly over, it would have been done on the other side looking north so that cosmo wouldnt block city center.....maybe tho they wanted to show all/most of the mgmmirage properties this way...

[Complex01]

Great pics. You really take it all in. Very Kewl...

:yes:

[rhassoii]

The put up the Encore lettering on the other side of the building yesterday. It's interesting how there is enough space for them to put up the lettering without interfering with the crane that runs right through that area.

[Silas]

Will this happen? Who knows? Location is awesome but the final line of the article may say it all -- necessary debt or equity to finance this project. Could be trouble.

http://www.globest.com/news/1121_1121/lasvegas/169334-1.html

[DMaldon762]

Anybody have any pics of this place other that the website pics? Seems to have opened without any fanfare.

[neworleans]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2361863971_fa34f25e6e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2361864797_d2cc885456_b.jpg

Taken from the Orleans
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2362697176_ccbdee3d19_b.jpg

Picture taken from the palms
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2361863151_d732c00b71_b.jpg

[RandalR]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Crown Las Vegas is officially canceled:

Sayonara Crown Las Vegas Tower (http://www.vegastripping.com/news/news.php?news_id=1972)

[Silas]

Good find Randal.

Not surprised at all about Crown. That had 'boom time' written all over it. Now the boom is over, for now at least.

The real question with Packer is the FountainBlueo. It looks like that has 'passed the point of no return' meaning it makes sense to see it all the way through rather than stop. But if that was not true for Cosmo, then ??

I am intrigued by the 'Luxury Elvis' resort. WTHeck? Luxury Elvis. I like luxury and I like Elvis but the two do not seem to work together. Nevertheless, that location is excellent.

[RandalR]

The real question with Packer is the FountainBlueo. It looks like that has 'passed the point of no return' meaning it makes sense to see it all the way through rather than stop. But if that was not true for Cosmo, then ??


Fontainebleau will get done - Turnberry never starts a project it has any doubts about being able to finish. And it had multiple investors committed long before the credit crisis hit. Echelon might be a bit more worrisome, since Boyd has never taken on such a huge project - I'm not sure how their financing looks at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if they at least held up part of the project (Delano and Mondrian?) until a future Phase II.

The Elvis theme is a dumb trial balloon - there's no way they build anything other than an ultra-luxury resort on that corner. Maybe it will have an Elvis Lounge, or something... ;)

[DMaldon762]

Thanks for the pics of Palms Place. :)

[neworleans]

i don't know much about the market or credit crisis, so currect me if i'm wrong, but i know that both the fontainebleau and echelon are casinos, and every casino on the strip is packed with people every day. I tried to get a room at the monte carlo last week but there were no more rooms available.
So i don't see why those two casinos would be in any type of worry.
And even if there is a credit crisis, that doesn't mean there's going to be one at the end of the year, or in two years, or whenever they both open.

[neworleans]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/2365438804_94039dcaa7_b.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2364604549_a10997cc6a_b.jpg

[RandalR]

So i don't see why those two casinos would be in any type of worry.
And even if there is a credit crisis, that doesn't mean there's going to be one at the end of the year, or in two years, or whenever they both open.

They have to borrow billions of dollars up front to get these things built. Fontainebleau has and Echelon probably has, but Crown had not gotten that far yet - and after a second look at the economics and the impossibility of borrowing enough money to get the project underway, they made a decision to cancel the project and forfeit the millions they had already paid as a down-payment on the land.

Unfortunately, this probably means the Crown site will remain a vacant lot for the next couple of years, at least.

[TheOldMan]

They have to borrow billions of dollars up front to get these things built. Fontainebleau has and Echelon probably has, but Crown had not gotten that far yet - and after a second look at the economics and the impossibility of borrowing enough money to get the project underway, they made a decision to cancel the project and forfeit the millions they had already paid as a down-payment on the land.

Unfortunately, this probably means the Crown site will remain a vacant lot for the next couple of years, at least.


Crown is completely Dead ? how do you know for sure? Thats a shame. two 1000' towers would have made one hell of an impact on the skyline. please advise...

[jazfingr]

Crown is completely Dead ? how do you know for sure? Thats a shame. two 1000' towers would have made one hell of an impact on the skyline. please advise...



Here

http://business.smh.com.au/packer-dealt-a-dead-hand-in-vegas/20080326-21lo.html

[TheOldMan]

thanks Jazfingr. what a shame....but we do have city center, fountainbleu, echelon, cosmo, etc..so there is still much to watch and follow...

[ScottG]

Fontainebleau will get done - Turnberry never starts a project it has any doubts about being able to finish. And it had multiple investors committed long before the credit crisis hit. Echelon might be a bit more worrisome, since Boyd has never taken on such a huge project - I'm not sure how their financing looks at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if they at least held up part of the project (Delano and Mondrian?) until a future Phase II.

The Elvis theme is a dumb trial balloon - there's no way they build anything other than an ultra-luxury resort on that corner. Maybe it will have an Elvis Lounge, or something... ;)


i dont get the pessimism...there's never been a project that stopped mid-way thru construction.....projects either get built or never breaks ground. how can you 'worry' about FB or echelon, they are under construction already. its nonsense to think they would just stop with half the thing done. this isnt asia!

[ScottG]

am i the only one annoyed at how FB tower is irregularly shaped?

it seems it is facing the wrong way (palazza, mirage, TI 'hug' the front - FB is weirdly rotated on the site) sure it is to capitolize on view just like wynn and echelon, but even the ends of the towers are not symmetrical, one is pointed, one is flat...the two 'legs' are not even at the same angle....my firm is doing FB and every time i see that in plans i wonder why?!

[Complex01]

The fontainebleau is really coming along...

I likes it...

:cool:

[mdiederi]

Part of the reason for Fontainebleau's angled wings is to maintain views for Turnberry residents...or, at least for the residents higher than the parking/convention center.

[Silas]

F-Blue is an interesting design. Time will tell how it will look. For now, it doesn't seem to 'work' for me. By angling the entire focus away from the strip, it is kind of acknowledging that 'the action is not here, it is further south, towards Wynn'. That can't be too welcoming for guests. Kind of band Feng Shui (or however that is spelled). Then again, maybe nobody will care about that.

It is going to very interesting to see how the project progresses. As stated, these will be condo-hotels. But let's get real, nobody is buying now. Will Turnberry build and wait/hope that market changes? Or will they shift gears and develop as a straight hotel? What specifics are in the contract allowing Packer to pull his money if he wants to?

To say that 'everything that is started gets finished' has been true but that does not at all guarantee anything right now. Exhibit A is Cosmopolitan. And while F-Blue seems likely to be built out, I would not put Echelon in the same category - it is hardly 'half-built'.

Ironically, both the Stardust and New Frontier are gone - with no certainty that they will be replaced (although Echelon seems likely but none of us know the true financing).

It's all about the existing contracts and who has the right to pull their money out - if they have any desire to do so.


I am rarely in Vegas so I can only give my unsolicited analysis. But I would like to thank those again for the great photos. All/any updates are appreciated. Thank you!

[mdiederi]

Morgans Hotel Group says they are going to fund their project at Echelon with cash, not credit.
We plan to fund these commitments through a combination of our cash balance at December 31, which was 123 million, and our estimated 2008 free-cash flow in the range of 30 million. Our issuance of convertible notes and our secondary offering in 2007 has put us in a strong financial position where we are not forecasting the need to borrow or to sell assets to execute our existing projects. - Richard Szymanski, Chief Financial Officer, Morgans Hotel Group Co., Q4 2007 Earnings Call, March 12, 2008 5:00 pm ET

One project that got started and never finished was Spanish View Towers, but that didn't have a casino.

One reason that Fontainebleau, Echelon and Encore all face south is because probably 90% of all gaming tourists enter the resort corridor from the south.

[Silas]

without getting into the financials too much

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=BYD&annual

I question the above statement from Boyd. The $200 million cash and $20 miilion/year cash flow doesn't cover the $4 billion project.

They already carry over $2 billion in debt.

I hope Echelon succeeds because it would be a nice addition. But where they claim they will have billions in cash with no debt -- I am not getting that at all.

[ScottG]

i read that plaza is still going forward - they released an article abut th rumor that they want to wait out the financial crisis..but no! they say there will be no delay in the development of the frontier site....

also citycenter is being attacked for its 'green' certificate by anti-smokers who dissapprove of the casino allowing smoking.


get this:

the entertainment level in luxor with be completely redone in april - the king tut museum and imax theatre gone, replaced with a showroom for bodies-the exhibition and titanic artifact exhibition currently at tropicana.....the runners of the exhibits struck a 10 year deal with luxor (10 years?!) thats not all-----there will be a titanic lounge..replicating the bow of the ship...looks like stupect's dream of a titanic on the strip comes true!

so the de-theming of luxor includeds adding a titanic themed lounge...because that makes sense

[Hans Gruber]

In Washington State we have a no indoor smoking policy and a 25ft rule for smoking from an entry way to a building. I know anything goes in Vegas but I really think they should consider restricting smoking to certain areas of casinos. Certain outright bans would be nice but it's sin city and that's asking a lot. Life indoors is really much better without smoke.

i read that plaza is still going forward - they released an article abut th rumor that they want to wait out the financial crisis..but no! they say there will be no delay in the development of the frontier site....

also citycenter is being attacked for its 'green' certificate by anti-smokers who dissapprove of the casino allowing smoking.


get this:

the entertainment level in luxor with be completely redone in april - the king tut museum and imax theatre gone, replaced with a showroom for bodies-the exhibition and titanic artifact exhibition currently at tropicana.....the runners of the exhibits struck a 10 year deal with luxor (10 years?!) thats not all-----there will be a titanic lounge..replicating the bow of the ship...looks like stupect's dream of a titanic on the strip comes true!

so the de-theming of luxor includeds adding a titanic themed lounge...because that makes sense

[jazfingr]

:previous:

The air handler in CityCenter will be so efficient, it will not be a smoky place.

[nsxdrift_89]

Yes, but one has to realize that, according to the Business Press article that started all of this, MGM isn't including the main hotel in their LEED certification. They know that there is no way a casino can be LEED certified, but Vdara, Harmon, Veer, and the Mandarin all can.

[tumbleweed]

without getting into the financials too much

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=BYD&annual

I question the above statement from Boyd. The $200 million cash and $20 miilion/year cash flow doesn't cover the $4 billion project.

They already carry over $2 billion in debt.

I hope Echelon succeeds because it would be a nice addition. But where they claim they will have billions in cash with no debt -- I am not getting that at all.

Pay attention, Boyd didnt say that, Morgans did. Morgans is only financing the Delano and Mondrian hotels in the joint venture with Boyd.Once a project has started foundations, i dont see why anyone would think it could still tank. A project doesnt start unless there is pretty solid financing.. even with the issues at Cosmo.. i am sure construction would not stop for even a day.. and i doubt there would be any major design changes if the ownership does change hands. To say they would stop or just top it of where it is, is ridiculous. Like someone said earlier, this isnt Asia, or better yet, this isnt North Korea.

[Silas]

Good point Tumble. You're right, that was not Boyd that said that. Well, I hope Echelon is built completely out, it looks like a good project. I don't think there is a high probability of lenders pulling the plug on projects in progress. But to think that it's not possible is probably not realistic either.

We must remember that the guys doing these projects are always putting their best foot forward, of course. How many Trump buyers decided to sign on the dotter line in February thinking that Plaza was a sure thing? I dare say I was the only person who even questioned that project, or the viability of Cosmo.

Consider that Morgans also talked big about expanding Hard Rock which has not happened. Isn't this the same company who had the CEO in trouble because the young lady was found dead in his bed from a drug overdose? There is a lot of stuff going on and really nothing is a sure thing. It's good to be somewhat skeptical.

[Silas]

I love Vegas but let's be real about the smoking. Ventilation in the casinos does not cut it compared to non-smoking.

I personally choose the MGM Signature for this reason alone. I am into Vegas but not into smoking. The Signature is not only non smoking but because of the balconies, one is able to fully open the sliding doors and let in fresh air. Man, what a luxury that is in Vegas, especially for an extended trip.

To me there is no such thing as a luxury environment without fresh air.

[JDRCRASH]

I heard on the News last night about some 3.5 Billion Dollar Hotel in honor of Elvis Presley. Does anybody have any updates or info on this project?

[WonderlandPark]

Going where Harley is, but, 0f course, depends on debt financing.

2300 or so rooms, convention space, ect.

LAS VEGAS — The company that owns the licensing rights to the name and image of Elvis Presley is continuing with plans to build a casino devoted to the King on the Las Vegas Strip, according to a Securities and Exchange Commisson filing.

New York-based FX Real Estate and Entertainment said the project, planned for an 18-acre site across from the CityCenter development, hinges on whether the company can raise capital through debt and equity financing.

The development has a $3.1 billion price tag, not including land costs, financing and additional pre-opening costs, the filing said.

FX declined to comment Wednesday beyond the filing.

It told the SEC that it hoped to aim at the "upper strata of the luxury market," and that design plans were in flux "in relation to the demands of the Las Vegas market."

The project is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of 2009 with a completion date of late 2012, the filing said.

[futuresooner]

I heard on the News last night about some 3.5 Billion Dollar Hotel in honor of Elvis Presley. Does anybody have any updates or info on this project?

Are you actually serious?! :uhh: :ahhh:

[jazfingr]

:previous:

Since they are going for a 5-star rating, I think we can eliminate a cheesy themed hotel. The Elvis "theme" will probably be similar to the way Elton John is treated at Caesars. There will be an Elvis show with a store and restaurant near the theater.

[tumbleweed]

....Consider that Morgans also talked big about expanding Hard Rock which has not happened. Isn't this the same company who had the CEO in trouble because the young lady was found dead in his bed from a drug overdose? There is a lot of stuff going on and really nothing is a sure thing. It's good to be somewhat skeptical.

are we sure Hard Rock hasnt started work? i was by there a few weeks ago and they were putting up a lot of construction fence around front and a lot of the pool deck area was tore up.

[neworleans]

while i was at the Palazzo i couldn't help but realize that it is the simplest casino i've ever been in. there is a very large walkway, with plenty of room to walk, that goes from the entrance on the strip and straight to the center of the hotel. From there you can go pretty much anywhere.

[mdiederi]

I'm still not crazy about the architectural style of the Palazzo, but I found that I really liked the fact that it was very easy to go from the underground parking to the casino or to the mall very fast and conveniently without having to walk a mile like so many other megaresorts. I like the compactness and Cosmo will be similar.

[mdiederi]

There will be an Elvis show with a store and restaurant near the theater.

CityCenter will have an Elvis show directly across the street from there. They're going to make each other look very unoriginal by having the same show themes. Well, actually, even just one Elvis show would be unoriginal, but two across the street from each other? :koko: :yuck:

[mdiederi]

are we sure Hard Rock hasnt started work? i was by there a few weeks ago and they were putting up a lot of construction fence around front and a lot of the pool deck area was tore up.

They tore down all the apartments and cleared the lot. I lived in those apartments for 6 months when I first moved down here 14 years ago. Kind of a strange feeling to know a place where I lived is now torn down. :sly:

[StatenIslander237]

That's what's cool about the "new" Vegas. Resorts are now being built more compact, fitting more onto a smaller footprint, with respect to Las Vegas being seen as an actual city that's becoming denser by the day.

[vegasrain84]

Hello Board, It's been a long while since I have posted..

I don't know if any of you looked at the Vegas Diagram, but I added a few new buildings that were missing from the diagram and fixed some outdated ones as well.

I added in the World Jewelery Center using the new rendering. I added Fountainbleau. I updated the Harmon and Veer towers. I added Palms Place using the latest renderings. I also added Planet Hollywood Towers, although I am not sure I like the new renderings of it with the Blue Glass. Oh well..

If there are any other buildings that need updated or added let me know..

[Patrick]

I'm glad your back to drawing Vegasrain84! Great job on the drawings, but could you please fix Planet Hollywood Towers, the second tower seems shorter than the first, in real life they will be identical and the same height, you know what I mean?

[ThreeHundred]

^ Speaking of updates, the first page is about a year and a half overdue for an update.

[vegasrain84]

I'm glad your back to drawing Vegasrain84! Great job on the drawings, but could you please fix Planet Hollywood Towers, the second tower seems shorter than the first, in real life they will be identical and the same height, you know what I mean?

I did that on purpose. I know they are the same height, but I was trying to show a bit of depth, which I know is a no-no for diagrams, but if it really bothers you, I can fix it. Hope I didn't step on your toes with some of the ones I updated that you have drawn like Palms Place. I also noticed that World Market Center 2 and 3 need diagrams..

Anyway, it's great to be back.. I hope we don't have to put Cosmo in the cancelled column. That would be a real shame!

[Patrick]

I did that on purpose. I know they are the same height, but I was trying to show a bit of depth, which I know is a no-no for diagrams, but if it really bothers you, I can fix it. Hope I didn't step on your toes with some of the ones I updated that you have drawn like Palms Place. I also noticed that World Market Center 2 and 3 need diagrams..

Anyway, it's great to be back.. I hope we don't have to put Cosmo in the cancelled column. That would be a real shame!

Yeah, please fix it, as on the Approval Commitee, I'd have to delete the drawing cause its showing persepctive.

Oh and no problem about the Palms Place and Planet Hollywood Drawings, I'm glad, they are way better and much more realalistic, please continue on making these amazing drawings for Vegas!

I was going to draw the World Market Center but I've virtually lost all intrest in Las Vegas development, and now that I'm in drawing again I'm focusing on skyscrapers elsewere in the USA and entire cities that need to be drawn. Could you draw up the 3 phases of the WMC please?

[Patrick]

^ Speaking of updates, the first page is about a year and a half overdue for an update.

Yeah can someone please please please create a post giving a rundown on the current Las Vegas projects, PM it to me, and I'll update the first page giving credit to whoever did so. I'm just too behind to catch up on all the new development lately. Maybe Jazfingr can do it?

[ScottG]

PH towers will be taller than city center?! wow i never realized that.....

about a year ago i remember asking for some blue architecture....the strip is a rainbow of colors---lacking blue and red...then cosmo was done....panorama, fountaine bleau, world jewelery, citycenter. etc etc etc.

ENOUGH WITH THE BLUE NOW!

i loved pinnacle fore its use of red.....this is a desert and earth colors looks great here...i.e. wynn....kinda.

i was heart broken when ivana was cancled....i LOVED THE SILVER.

city center is a mirrorred blue...it remindsme of reflective car glass.- i want silver.....stirling - stainless silver on a building..and bring some red back to the drawing boards!


im really interested in white glass....is that possible? i think that would be the cream of the crop...highly classy...no light reflectivily...like a pearly...mmmm

ph towers is a dark blue - much like fountaine bleau... i think they look plasticy. you have to be very careful with blue...its is not a natural color (other than the sky) - no food is blue for a reason..its not too inviting it its not used properly....look at the initial PH paint job :/

[neworleans]

it's a good thing everyones opinions don't decide what they look like, because when they build gold... everyone complains. when they build blue... everyone complains... if they built red... everyone would complain.

[Tlwarnke]

I guess plums, blueberries, raspberries, etc aren't foods.:rolleyes:

[ScottG]

^^^they arent blue either..

all im saying is of course gold looks great in the sun...blue looks great in the sky...but if a dozen of the next buildings all rely on this asthetic then it become over-used