LAS VEGAS | Boom Project Rundown! 2.0

[ondarox]

Originally Posted by philip

Here is a video of the restaurant "Switch" at Encore Las Vegas. The restaurant's walls and ceilings changes every 20 minutes. Another first for Las Vegas !

• Video Link

Holy crap- that's awesome! I was wondering when we would hear stories about Switch and when the first YouTube would be revealed. Has anyone ate here yet or actually witnessed the transformation? I'm just baffled at teh engineering of the entire thing- awesome.

[leftopolis]

Anyway, getting back to the topic at hand--here's the crux of Las Vegas problems--it's a one industry town, just as Detroit is. In both cases, the only solution is to:

1) Evolve the one industry to make it competetive to the current times.

The recent boom on the strip has been tranforming it into a place for the moneyed elite vs the place for the masses it once was...meanwhile the economy transformed into a culture that doesn't spend extravagantly. The business model of being forced to pay for cabs to get around, $300 rooms and $100/person dinner tabs--isn't gonna fly in this economy--and Circus-Circus is a little too kid-centric, if that's the only option for a middle-class gaming tourist.

2) Diversify the economy--so that the metro doesn't have to rely on the one industry.

Income down 69 percent at Nevada Casinos

By HOWARD STUTZ
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Profits for Nevada casinos fell 69 percent in the last fiscal year that ended June 30, according to a report today from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Frank Streshley, the agency’s chief research analyst, said the total net income of $721.2 million generated by 266 casinos that grossed $1 million or more in gaming revenues was the lowest total since fiscal 2002, when casinos lost $33.5 million.

The figures from the Gaming Abstract Report take into account the total revenues spent by casino patrons on gaming, rooms, food and beverage and other amenities. Profit or net income is the amount retained after expenses have been paid but prior to deducting federal income taxes or other accounting expenses

...continued @ link above

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by mac78130

From the citycenter's construction webcam, it looks like they are working on the crown of the Cosmopolitan Spa tower (or I am seeing things?). Can our Vegas locals confirm this?

http://www.citycenter.com/vision/vis...struction.aspx

Yes, drove by today, they are installing a steel frame up there, starting on the west end, so it must be topped out and the crown is going up. Also noticed that what looked like a white fence on top of the Mandarin Oriental is getting covered with some siding, thank god.

[Krases]

@leftopolis

I was thinking about that today. A city this big needs to diversify. But how can we diversify? Some ideas:

-Increase the size and funding of UNLV. Make the city attractive to the tech industry and possibly expand the "college town" around UNLV. Becoming a major research center could make us the next silicon valley. The uni is already set up on a plot of land large enough to contain much larger structures and research facilities. This is a bit self centered I guess because I myself am a UNLV student.

-Build more varying attractions. A giant roller coaster park on the scale of six flags near Ivanpah next to the new potential airport could attract new demographics so long as a rapid transit system is provided to and from the strip. The art scene in Vegas is also getting a lot larger and I think that the addition of a major museum and possibly an "artists colony" could mix things up a bit.

-Make the city an energy producer. Build a massive solar collection area near the dry lake beds around Boulder City. Clark County could get federal funding for this and all that new power could be sold to California. The efficiency of solar cells isn't there yet, but in maybe a decade this could be possible. Unfortunately Clark County isn't very good for wind power.

Using spoiler tags on this idea that some of you are morally against. Note that I am not kidding about this.

-This is sin city right? Well lets go the distance. Prostitution hasn't been in the news lately but its still there. Sex is a big part of this town. I say that we legalize it and tax the hell out of it. Prostitutes are often abused by pimps or are dependent upon them for drugs and are usually driven into poverty. A system of STD/drug testing (similar to what is done a few miles away in Pahrump) and possibly a licensing system for brothels to ensure a clean environment to execute the trade. This could end abuses and provide a massive new source of income to the city. It would also kick the Indian casino's and Atlantic city in the balls. I think our image could also improve so long as these brothels are presented as amazing palatial harem buildings as opposed to sleezy dens of sleeziness portrayed in movies. A two part episode of CSI Las Vegas could help present these brothels to the nation in the right way...I cant believe how many people watched that freaking show.

[mac78130]

Originally Posted by mdiederi

Yes, drove by today, they are installing a steel frame up there, starting on the west end, so it must be topped out and the crown is going up. Also noticed that what looked like a white fence on top of the Mandarin Oriental is getting covered with some siding, thank god.

Thanks mdiederi. I guess the spa tower topped out around 53 floors. That means the beach tower should top out soon.

[leftopolis]

Krases said: (edited for brevity)

I was thinking about that today. A city this big needs to diversify. But how can we diversify? Some ideas:

-Increase the size and funding of UNLV...

-Build more varying attractions...

-Make the city an energy producer...

-Legalized Prostitution...

All good ideas worthy of further discussion. I couldn't agree more about the university. Inspiring a silicon desert might be a bit of a tall order...but at the very least, UNLV could aim to be among the top 25 universities(academically speaking) in the US. It being in the desert--an area of focus could be Green-tech: Solar and Wind power research, Desalinization, and even Green Architecture and Transportation

Here's an example of a new attraction in Las Vegas:International Tennis Centre Officially Opens Its Doors and Brings World-Class Tennis Back to Las Vegas...State-of-the-Art $10 Million Facility Accommodates Professionals, Las Vegas Visitors and Residents

Speaking of new attractions, Las Vegas doesn't have one of these yet?:http://www.airshipventures.com/

[Snotick]

For what its worth, I am a lurker, just enjoy reading or seeing pictures from my favorite place. I dont post much, because I dont have much to add to this forum since I live in another state.

I am in Vegas this weekend, staying at my Jockey Club unit. (I know most people want this place blown up, but its as close as I can get to owning something in Las Vegas that my middle income budget will allow)

As I sit here eating my cereal there are workers uncovering giant mechanical equipment (maybe air handling or AC units) Each on is about the size of a full size van. There are big tags on the side stating City Centre and a tag for a company called CWA out of Switzerland.

I could post a picture but I am not really sure how to post pics on a forum.

It should be pretty cool to see them lift these huge pieces of equipment up and over Cosmo. As I dont think they can move them very easily on the ground.

[mdiederi]

We've had plenty of blimps, sometimes more than one at a time during big convention weeks, and including one that used to sell rides. Now the only one is the M Resort blimp that's been cruising around lately with some big light display on it.

......

The catalyst that will start the diversification of the Vegas economy is Union Park downtown, but unless the credit markets thaw out it won't get built any time soon.

[Krases]

http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/...architecture-5

I Love Modern Architecture - Spicing Up Sin City - The Mondri and Elano Hotel: Las Vegas

Although Vegas is known for its surreal architecture and mega-resorts, this hotel brings a fresh new look to a thriving city. As part of an invited competition, JDS/Julien de Smedt Architects has designed this proposal for the Mondri and Elano Hotel in Las Vegas. They wanted to create a genuine experience while extracting the identity of the Mondrian and the Delano Hotels without producing copycat versions. Another goal was to balance the project’s large scale with the need for intimacy on a smaller scale. JDS/Julien de Smedt Architects collaborated with artist Olafur Eliasson on the project. No word yet on what form this collaboration will take.

My thoughts: I am not down with a giant white pointy series of little mountains, but if the entire exterior could change colors vibrantly like the Palms and it was built more towards the downtown area on top of the Circus Circus (while still maintaining good room prices like the CC and not trying too hard to appeal to the upper class).

[mac78130]

Originally Posted by Krases

My thoughts: I am not down with a giant white pointy series of little mountains, but if the entire exterior could change colors vibrantly like the Palms and it was built more towards the downtown area on top of the Circus Circus (while still maintaining good room prices like the CC and not trying too hard to appeal to the upper class).

All I can say is that it's definitely different

[mac78130]

ALL FLICKR PHOTOS BY ssilbermanlaw
CityCenter





Cosmo spa tower working on crown.

[RandalR]

Originally Posted by Krases

My thoughts: I am not down with a giant white pointy series of little mountains, but if the entire exterior could change colors vibrantly like the Palms and it was built more towards the downtown area on top of the Circus Circus (while still maintaining good room prices like the CC and not trying too hard to appeal to the upper class).

Morgans Hotel Group didn't even have the money to start construction on the much smaller Delano and Mondrian hotel buildings that were proposed - that plus mall developer General Growth Properties being a millimeter away from bankruptcy are the main reasons why Echelon was halted. There's no way anything as grandiose as that rendering will be built.

I'm betting Boyd will sell the whole property, anyway. Or just keep a piece of it, build out the under construction tower to a lower height like Harmon, and call it the New Stardust.

[neworleans]

why are they topping off the cosmo? it's shorter then the vdara.

[CHAPINM1]

Originally Posted by neworleans

why are they topping off the cosmo? it's shorter then the vdara.

No it's not, it's just the angle of the photo. Also, Cosmo is just 15 feet taller than Vdara.

[neworleans]

Originally Posted by CHAPINM1

No it's not, it's just the angle of the photo. Also, Cosmo is just 15 feet taller than Vdara.

i don't know, maybe. but it still looks shorter even from the cc webcam. i don't care though, it still looks wonderful to me.

http://www.citycenter.com/vision/vis...struction.aspx

[mac78130]

That crane on top of Vdara, which I'm assuming is for the window washers, bugs the hell out of me

[leftopolis]

Originally Posted by mdiederi

We've had plenty of blimps, sometimes more than one at a time during big convention weeks, and including one that used to sell rides. Now the only one is the M Resort blimp that's been cruising around lately with some big light display on it.

......

The catalyst that will start the diversification of the Vegas economy is Union Park downtown, but unless the credit markets thaw out it won't get built any time soon.

Not to be a stickler, but blimps and airships are not the same thing. Anyway, it was just an idea that has found success in th Bay Area, and could work in Vegas as well. The natural beauty of the desert landscape, Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon and of course The Strip--would all be attractive from a slow moving, quiet aircraft. As a visitor, I would certainly forgo a night of over-priced Strip hotels/meals for a 2 hour ride around the Valley.
From the earlier link I posted:

While externally Zeppelins and blimps look quite alike, and its not uncommon to hear people talking about Zeppelins when they mean blimps - there is, however, a significant difference.
Today’s Zeppelins have a light, rigid metal and carbon fiber framework that is covered with a synthetic canvas hull, inside of which is the lifting gas. This framework allows the engines to be located where they operate most efficiently – on the sides of the hull and at the tail end of the airship, far from the gondola – providing a quiet, vibration-free ride.
A blimp does not have an internal rigid frame. They maintain their shape due to the internal pressure of the lifting gas. Because there is no framework above the gondola, the engines have to be mounted directly to the sides of passenger cabin

I don't disagree about Union Park--but you may be waiting around a decade or more for it to come fully into fruition.

[Krases]

Originally Posted by leftopolis

I don't disagree about Union Park--but you may be waiting around a decade or more for it to come fully into fruition.

Speaking of Union Park, has anyone heard about the world market center? How is it doing financially? Any more phases going to be built or are they holding back for the time being? I know they cut like ten stories off the world jewelry center....at least I think they did.

[CHAPINM1]

Whoever took those shots of Fontainebleau and posted then on January 11th did a magnificent job! The crown appears to now be the area of focus as it continues to rise vertically. Once the Font is done, the skyline will be very unique since it will be gradually getting higher from the south moving northward until eventually topping out at the Stratosphere...

[Jasonhouse]

Originally Posted by Aaron Auxier

This forum has become a complete joke. Perhaps higher sources need to be alerted to the libel being allowed to take place and then we shall see what happens

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