LAS VEGAS | Boom Project Rundown! 2.0 - Page 24

ebatcave · #**461** Posted **Jul 6, 2006, 3:13 PM**

Interesting rumor on the LV Business press:

Harrah's Entertainment might be positioning itself for a property swap with Boyd Gaming Corp. The land desired by Harrah's would be the 4.3 acres located on the NE corner of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard, where the Barbary Coast stands. In exchange, Harrah's would offer up the Rio Suite Hotel & Casino, cash, and a casino to be named later (Westward Ho, anyone?). The acquisition would give Harrah's, owners of Caesars Palace and Bally's Las Vegas, full control of three of the four corners at one of the busiest gaming intersections in the world. Although it takes a few years for trades to be analyzed (see "Billy Ball" by Michael Lewis), Strip Tease likes Boyd as the immediate winner. The Rio site would give it 88 1/2 acres, a lot of it undeveloped, next door to its Gold Coast Hotel & Casino, and The Westward Ho site would give it 14 acres next to the $4 billion Echelon Place that will Boyd is scheduled to build where the Stardust now resides.

ScottG · #**462** Posted **Jul 7, 2006, 11:48 PM**

STUPID MANHATTANIZATION.COM, they made it so you can't select text to copy.

they have a few new articles:

the status and plan for pinnancle:

http://www.manhattanization.com/news...s-unveiled.rub

the planns for the W site:

http://www.manhattanization.com/news...-expansion.rub

GeorgeLV · #**463** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

STUPID MANHATTANIZATION.COM, they made it so you can't select text to copy.

they have a few new articles:

the status and plan for pinnancle:

http://www.manhattanization.com/news...s-unveiled.rub

the planns for the W site:

http://www.manhattanization.com/news...-expansion.rub

You can select text just fine in Firefox, it's just IE that lets sites hijack basic web functionality.

Patrick · #**464** Posted **Jul 8, 2006, 6:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

i drove past the site for planet hollywood towers.....it ain't under construction. the sierra desert has more action than this site. also, they took down the advertising along the fencing around the site...=/

the W sales off ice is HUGE! one block (about). they mean BUSINESS!

Uh-oh dosnt sound good....

ScottG · #**465** Posted **Jul 10, 2006, 3:16 PM**

More Cirque For Vegas
The big budget Broadway hit “Hairspray” only played at Luxor for a couple of months before closing suddenly due to lackluster ticket sales, so the folks at the pyramid are turning to the tried and true for their next permanent production: yet another Cirque du Soleil show.
The news first broke on Steve Freiss’ The Strip podcast (www.thestrippodcast.com) in an interview with an MGM Mirage official. No formal announcement has been made yet, but follow-up articles in the Las Vegas Sun and elsewhere indicate that the show will feature a magic/illusion theme and may star Criss Angel, host of A&E’s “Mindfreak.”

This will bring the total number of Cirque productions to six on The Strip with “Mystere” at Treasure Island, “O” at Bellagio, “KA” at MGM Grand, “Zumanity” at New York-New York, and the new “Love” at The Mirage. A seventh production is already in the works for the new Project CityCenter complex featuring an Elvis theme.

The Luxor show will most likely debut in 2007. In the meantime they will fill the theater with a rotating schedule of headliners including a stint from Liza Minelli.

Big Plans (Again) for Former Water Park Site
The company that owned the land where the Wet ‘n Wild water park was (just south of The Sahara) had big plans for a water themed resort, but those never materialized. Now the land has been sold to yet another company with equally grand plans. A Texas based developer has reportedly struck a deal to acquire the 27-acre parcel of land for a whopping $450 million and wants to put up a $4 billion, 4,500 room resort with a casino, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and much more. Spokespeople for the company say they want to start construction next year and have the thing ready for customers by late 2010 or early 2011 but aren’t talking about any more specifics yet including a theme for the property, if any.

File this one under the “believe it when you see construction cranes on the lot” category, although if a rumored sale of The Sahara goes through to a more high-profile casino developer it could change things dramatically for the northern end of The Strip and add more weight to the proposed neighboring project

Planet Hollywood Makeover Well Underway
They’ve been talking for quite awhile now about the dramatic changes planned as The Aladdin becomes Planet Hollywood but it’s only been recently that any evidence of those changes has been visible to the naked eye. Now you can’t miss it as construction and remodeling has turned the place into a maze of temporary walls and scaffolding.

The front of the joint at the northern end has been completely gutted as workers revise the entrance to both the mall and the casino, while the exterior of the hotel tower is getting a fresh coat of blue paint as we speak.

Inside, a huge chunk of the casino has been walled off as they revamp it to the new, sleeker look and feel, leaving a ring of slot machines and table games around the closed center section. A temporary check-in desk has been opened on the second floor mezzanine level while they remodel the main lobby and is quite a schlep from just about anywhere so you have been warned if you plan on staying here.

The mall itself, currently an Arabian nights themed wonderland, has received only minor modifications but work should start soon on removing the Middle Eastern detail and replacing it with a more modern, high-end shopping district feel.

Revisions to the hotel and casino are expected to be mostly completed by late 2006 but the moral of this story is simple: if you plan on staying a the hotel any time in the next few months expect some inconveniences.

Bellagio Conservatory’s Train Show A Must-See
If you’re heading to Vegas any time in the next couple of months you have to put the Bellagio Conservatory on your list of “must sees.” Their latest installation features a toy train theme with dozens of chugging choo-choos winding their ways through the garden areas past replicas of everything from Mount Rushmore to the Capitol Building to The Bellagio itself (complete with a miniature fountain out front). The whole thing is done from flowers and other natural materials and at the center of the display is a massive Banyan tree with pathways in and around the foliage and under some dancing water geysers (you won’t get wet, I promise). It really is a lovely change of pace from the typical Vegas madness so don’t miss it.

Patrick · #**466** Posted **Jul 10, 2006, 6:57 PM**

^I hate what Planet Hollywood is doing to The Aladdin, the tower looks horrible.

Patrick · #**467** Posted **Jul 10, 2006, 7:26 PM**

UPDATES

Cosmopolitan Current Design Of Course, the first renderings are always better looking....

But still looks great

New Renderings for W Las Vegas

I love this project!

One Queensridge Place

One Las Vegas Underway

More Here:
http://www.one-lasvegas.com/constprogress/photo.pdf

Also new Model Shots of ONE Las Vegas

Downtown Joe · #**468** Posted **Jul 10, 2006, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceH

In case you were not aware, the County planning commission created set back rules for casinos, high rises and other tall structures. Ref chapter 30-56 Site Development Standards. Now let's see if they hold to such rules or allow lots of exemptions. They are in summary format (rules are more complex but here's a high level guideline):

Zero to 200 feet high = 17 foot setback
200 foot high = 80 foot setback
300 foot high = 113 foot setback
400 foot high = 146 foot setback
500 foot high = 180 foot setback

When you look at projects like Maxim and its oddly shaped foot print of land, the set back requirements are going to be very interesting. So far, nothing has been submitted for the Maxim project but they are digging like crazy on the land. Possibly removing all of the previous service station underground tanks etc.

I've been trying to find some information on this, but I can't find anything on the County's website. Any suggestions on where I can find out more?

ScottG · #**469** Posted **Jul 10, 2006, 9:56 PM**

panorma tower three is under construction, there is now drilling cranes doing some work on site.

planet hollywood looks like aladin, they are even keeping the arched windows. the front entrance might save it - it is a complete demolision zone there, with the front of the mall/casino being takin down and some new parts added. The W is real nice- love the silver. i wonder if the design will change now they have twice the site size.

GeorgeLV · #**470** Posted **Jul 11, 2006, 6:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

^I hate what Planet Hollywood is doing to The Aladdin, the tower looks horrible.

I agree, I'd even go so far to say that it's the worst eyesore in Vegas.

It's really sad because the first renderings of the Planet Hollywood makeover looked somewhat decent. The facade was supposed to have been replaced with a nice glass curtain wall. Instead, they cheaped out and put on a paint job that makes it look worse than before. It's even more ugly than the original salmon paint job of the Treasure Island.

Patrick · #**471** Posted **Jul 11, 2006, 7:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeLV

I agree, I'd even go so far to say that it's the worst eyesore in Vegas.

It's really sad because the first renderings of the Planet Hollywood makeover looked somewhat decent. The facade was supposed to have been replaced with a nice glass curtain wall. Instead, they cheaped out and put on a paint job that makes it look worse than before. It's even more ugly than the original salmon paint job of the Treasure Island.

If the Alladin was replaced with the Glass curtian wall it would match the Planet Hollywood Towers, imagine the ultra modern Planet Hollywood Towers next to the painted Aladdin.

That is if the Planet Hollywood Towers is still a go....

I loved the Aladdin the way it was, it was a great looking tower, looked great next to Paris LV, the back was a little strange though. But the Tower had a nice color at night, simular to Paris, which made both casinos stand out at night.

Also the Peach paint on Treasure Island wasnt so bad, the new look is much better, makes it stand out more, along with the sleek new "T.I." Sign.

ScottG · #**472** Posted **Jul 11, 2006, 4:03 PM**

^^^^ you know what that got me thinking. at night planet hollywood MIGHT look nice with BLUE lighting. the strip doesnt have that yet...oh wait... bally's and that actually looks bads..... =/

nevermind.

blue looks great reflected, as metal or glass, blue painted concrete is the worsed! they should have painted it red if they have to paint it. a fire engine red!

with blue accents. thats the planet way. lets see when thye put the globe up top.....

The_Analyst · #**473** Posted **Jul 12, 2006, 4:23 AM**

The Aladdin looks just plain ridiculous--like a cheap attempt to capture attention, which is exactly what it is. Other casinos that went with an eyecatching color went all out (Luxor in black, MGM in green, Wynn in brown) and so maybe an all-blue building would not look bad. But, as it is turning out, just painting a part of the wall leaves it sort of goofy looking. As a coworker says, like putting lipstick on a pig.

That being said, at least it is comically ugly. On the other hand, there's One Las Vegas which is just plain boringly ugly. Anyone here from the East Coast? If those towers were clad in brown brick would that complex not look exactly like the housing projects built in the 50's in New York and Chicago? Plus they are so crammed together on the site that unless your unit faces out, you'll have nothing to look at except your neighbors balcony across the way. I hope the prices are reasonable. I cant imagine paying $600+ per square foot for a condo there. Even the name is boring.

ScottG · #**474** Posted **Jul 12, 2006, 3:14 PM**

^^^ why didnt ONE go with ONE tower or two or three - taller towers- they would fit the same amount of units on the lot and have more acrage for pools landscape etc. and they could probably get more since the views would be better/higher up. and whats in a name? ONE LV there are FIVE towers, whatsa with the ONE?

ScottG · #**475** Posted **Jul 12, 2006, 4:03 PM**

why is sky not facing the strip?

you would think it would be rotated 90 degrees so (like turnberry) it is looking down the strip, the way it was designed makes it face sunrise mountaint and the palms hotel..??

ScottG · #**476** Posted **Jul 12, 2006, 7:39 PM**

while on the topic of strucenizing design:

we all know the palms fantasy tower is ugly, there are close to finishing now---all the glass cladding is done. now remember how there were always some glass missing form the front of the tower. it was assumed it was just not done, well, the parts on the front that was missing glass is actually randomly placed vents....

see the 'holes'

it really makes a distriaction when looking at the tower- its an eyesoar. just makin the thing look all the more UGLIER

LMich · #**477** Posted **Jul 12, 2006, 11:36 PM**

Huh?! I love that design. At the very least it's mediocre modern architecture. I'd hardly call it an eyesore.

ScottG · #**478** Posted **Jul 13, 2006, 3:04 PM**

jazfiger put on Vegastat that tibid i found about the a-symmetrical bellagio, about the ornaments not matching,

also check out the latest guess on the placement for the encore. interesting find about the 'path' created on the parking lot.

jazfingr · #**479** Posted **Jul 13, 2006, 11:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

jazfiger put on Vegastat that tidbit found about the a-symmetrical bellagio, about the ornaments not matching,

also check out the latest guess on the placement for the encore. interesting find about the 'path' created on the parking lot.

Hi Guys, long time no post.

For the newer members who might not know to what Scott is referring, here's a link to VegasTodayAndTomorrow (known around here as Vegastat) and a link to the updates pageto find the items he discussed.

It was funny when I was talking to Steve Wynn during the Groundbreaking ceremony on April 28th. After the ceremony, the reporters attacked him with a barrage of stupid questions. They were from CNN and NBC etc. with video cameras and crews. I couldn't get more than a few pictures.

Then I noticed that Elaine Wynn was getting restless and wanted to get Steve inside the resort for the more formal after-party (to which I was not invited). His personal guard put his hand on Steve's shoulder (signaling him to leave). Steve kept talking, passionately to the reporters about Encore. I worked my way over to Elaine and asked her if Steve was an Aquarius because he was so into every aspect of his projects and loved talking about them. Steve heard me and turned to me with his eyebrow raised as Elaine replied "Yes, very Very Aquarius" Steve asked me how I knew, and I said "cause it takes one to know one".

This broke his dealings with the "real" press (lol) and he began walking with Elaine back to the resort. I walked along and asked him if the rumors about the existing and new tower making an 'S' shape were true. He said, firmly "NO!" as he stopped, turned around and faced the Stardust "the convex side of the curve will face the Stardust". Elaine tugged on his coat sleeve and I had about 15 seconds for one more question. "Have you seen my rendering of Encore?" I asked. He looked at me with that eyebrow raised again and said "rendering?" I told him where to find it as he was engulfed by his entourage.

Anyhow, with that and the strange tire tracks on the site, I came up with my new quick sketchup rendering.

OTHER NOTES:

-Yes, Planet Hollywood is now a pig with too much blue lipstick.

what an eyesore. It was bad enough (architecturally). The only places you see blue on stucco is car washes, bail bonds and pawn shops.

-News Flash...a very reliable source has informed me that 888 is dead. You'll read it in the papers in a day or so. Too bad, I really loved that project

Well, I'm off to put that news on the site.

Bye for now.

Patrick · #**480** Posted **Jul 13, 2006, 11:51 PM**

^ Wow you got to talk to the Steve Wynn lol

And Vegas 888 Dead!?? No!! Why? The Sales office was under construction wasnt it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

while on the topic of strucenizing design:

we all know the palms fantasy tower is ugly, there are close to finishing now---all the glass cladding is done. now remember how there were always some glass missing form the front of the tower. it was assumed it was just not done, well, the parts on the front that was missing glass is actually randomly placed vents....

see the 'holes'

it really makes a distriaction when looking at the tower- its an eyesoar. just makin the thing look all the more UGLIER

The tower isnt so bad, but I agree those vents dont look very nice, the tower is great, its so modern, like a completly separate hotel from the Palms.