LAS VEGAS | Boom Project Rundown! 2.0 - Page 390

Snotick · #**7781** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 5:55 PM**

I must admit. I am not terribly excited about the opening of CC. It's probably because I am a gambler. I look at CC and say, what does it have for me? Buried somewhere on that property is a Casino. I know this project started before the downturn in the economy, but Vegas has changed. Guys like me are still going to Vegas for the Poker, the Sportsbooks, and the Slots. You only need to look around at the number of night clubs and such that have closed. They catered to an over indulgent consumer that is now broke, and trying to make his mortgage payment.
I am reminded of the James Earl Jones line in the Field of Dreams movie. You just need to replace the word baseball with gambling.

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been Gambling. Vegas has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But gambling has marked the time. These Casinos, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again."

Take care of the gamblers and the rest will take care of itself.

ScottG · #**7782** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 6:44 PM**

^^^well said^^^

cbotnyse · #**7783** Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 3:18 AM**

mac78130 · #**7784** Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 3:50 AM**

Nice Photos

cbotnyse · #**7785** Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 1:49 PM**

thanks. here are the rest of my pics from the weekend.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...28#post4606528

I did not make it over to Mandarin to test the dress code. I would have to say CC is neither pedestrian or car friendly! (confusing ramps and such). but once Aria open, that should help. Crystals is cool, but lots of dead space made it feel very empty. Vadara is very conveniently connected to Bellagio.

And what the hell is up with Cosmopolitan??? I cant believe that development didnt sell out and open in lighting speed. Half the place has a freaking perfect view of the Bellagio fountains, and the balconies are enormous. I would stay there everytime. It is the perfect location and size, IMO. what the hell happened there? it really mucks up that entire (very central) location.

ScottG · #**7786** Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 5:59 PM**

[vegas] rex said it best - city center wanted to be 'urban' but forgot was it meant to be 'urban' - DENSITY does not constitute urbanism - pedestrian friendly is the key factor - i.e. street side activity (sidewalk stores, restaurants etc.) city center has neither - the mall out front is suburban - image walking from the strip up to aria...either you walk on the sidewalk along tall towers and concrete walls or you venture thru an nontraditional looking traditional mall.

and of course - upon your arrive you are greeted with yet another casino that while may be eye-candy - offers everything the casino at your own hotel offers........

i must admit - when it comes down to it, city center is just a large version of the same thing -

there is no innovation at all.

being in the architecture industry myself, with the awe of scope aside, i am sadly disappointed

city center is nice - but its effect will be no different than any other property

Snotick · #**7787** Posted **Dec 14, 2009, 9:02 PM**

Maybe things will change when I finally get to see CC finished. But the main difference I see between CC and other properties is the fact that CC's most awe inspiring feature is its shear size. And the best view of it is perhaps from somewhere other than CC. By comparison, Bellagio's fountains are something that everyone sees as they are on Bellagios grounds, or the canals at the Venetian.

solarquestion · #**7788** Posted **Dec 15, 2009, 5:48 AM**

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009...rt-citycenter/

To me, from those photos, Aria is not the same as anything else in Vegas.

justdefended · #**7789** Posted **Dec 15, 2009, 5:43 PM**

Aria is the new flagship property for MGM Mirage so I think we'll see some great service, accommodations, and dining. I'm glad it will be a departure in design and feel from any current property. The point of Vegas is to provide something for everyone and this, along with CityCenter creates another experience for the visitor.

Heading to the grand opening tomorrow.

tumbleweed · #**7790** Posted **Dec 15, 2009, 6:56 PM**

Anyone have any recent pics of Echelon showing these wraps?? I assume the tower cranes are finally gone too?

http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/artic...q_32995083.txt

'Seeing the growing demand for protective wrapping for stalled housing and commercial developments, Harris invested $40,000 to open the Fast Wrap Las Vegas franchise in February. He has already generated revenues of between $130,000 to $140,000, including at least $40,000 to wrap portions of Boyd Gaming Corp.'s stalled Echelon resort earlier this year.

Boyd halted construction of the $4.8 billion project in August 2008. Many lost work and revenue as a result of the decision to mothball Echelon, but it ultimately meant big business for Harris' Fast Wrap.

"If Echelon hadn't shut down, I wouldn't have wrapped it," he said. "The recession has actually helped us."

Fast Wrap didn't cover all of the ill-timed megaresort, but enough to make it worth Harris' time. That, combined with other major projects such as one for energy company Calpine Corp. and for the city of Henderson, has allowed Fast Wrap to add employees at a time when others are laying people off.'

justdefended · #**7791** Posted **Dec 15, 2009, 8:01 PM**

Dark casino? Nah. A full shot of natural light here:

Photo by: Vegas Bill

texas_ag · #**7792** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 4:03 AM**

Thought I'd share a bit of interesting news.

I was aware that Harrah's had been buying out some of Planet Holllywood's debt, but thought nothing was finalized as far as a takeover.

I just got off the phone after contacting PH about problems accessing my online account. The lady helping me said that the IT system was currently down because it was being switched over because of them being taken over by Harrah's.

ScottG · #**7793** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 4:34 AM**

apparently - the saharah has closed two of its three hotel towers (as well as its buffet) for the same reason why binions is closing (did you know?): low business.

seems like golden nuggets new tower and city center is knocking the older hotels into the gutter.

glowrock · #**7794** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 4:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

apparently - the saharah has closed two of its three hotel towers (as well as its buffet) for the same reason why binions is closing (did you know?): low business.

seems like golden nuggets new tower and city center is knocking the older hotels into the gutter.

Still waiting for Circus Circus and the Tropicana to get demolished...

Aaron (Glowrock)

voice of reason · #**7795** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 7:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbotnyse

thanks. here are the rest of my pics from the weekend.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...28#post4606528

And what the hell is up with Cosmopolitan??? I cant believe that development didnt sell out and open in lighting speed. Half the place has a freaking perfect view of the Bellagio fountains, and the balconies are enormous. I would stay there everytime. It is the perfect location and size, IMO. what the hell happened there? it really mucks up that entire (very central) location.

The Cosmopolitan's story is a long and twisted tale. It is probably too complicated.

ondarox · #**7796** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 7:56 AM**

So who's going to be at Aria tomorrow? I know ratevegas is already there, and justdefended is ready to go... I'm arriving at noon tomorrow and will be there through Saturday... would love to meet up for a drink!

Real quick... The whole CityCenter vs 'Wynncore" comparison is pretty moot at this point. I think of Mr. Wynn's masterpiece to be more of a Designed space rather than CityCenter's compound, which is more of an Architechtural marvel. In my opiion two different things. Steve's project is very much about interior intimacy whereas the MGM Mirage project has more exterior appeal and architectual anomolies which make it stand out.

Can't wait to see the interiors... where I could expect to see the typical MGM Mirage Design Group "Generic Modern Contemporary," I can already see there are many WOW points to grab my attention ;P I'm way too excited, but once again, I expect Wynn to dominate in interiors rather than exteriors.

Random blabbing, just thought I'd share. Regardless- I'm excited to see both properties for the first time tomorrow! [ I missed Encore's opening by hours last year...

]

cbotnyse · #**7797** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 3:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by voice of reason

The Cosmopolitan's story is a long and twisted tale. It is probably too complicated.

so was it just horribly managed?? must have been the worst possible timing in real estate history too. But given the perfect location and size, and with such a rock solid selling point of huge balconies overlooking the best view in Vegas, I cant believe this would fail so badly. What an eyesore right in the heart of the strip.

ScottG · #**7798** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 4:50 PM**

i drove down harmon road - wich in now officially open (even the freeway overpass) you just cant turn left on LV BLVD yet,

and it is really dull - everything is above you, all the buildings / porte cocheres are about 50 feet up - there just about 'carved' harmon out of the ground - you see nothing as you drive by -

not the urban neighborhood they were going for - its really no different than the airport tunnel.

as you drive pass cosmo you can spot some rooms in the podium are complete! - i saw some ceiling light coves etc,

also the jagged glass shards that make the front of the podium are being lit white along the black mullions - it really frames the glass and lightens up the facade.

lfc4life · #**7799** Posted **Dec 16, 2009, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottG

apparently - the saharah has closed two of its three hotel towers (as well as its buffet) for the same reason why binions is closing (did you know?): low business.

seems like golden nuggets new tower and city center is knocking the older hotels into the gutter.

people are just migrating to better properties/better locations for the same price they stayed at sahara and binions 3 years ago, rooms at the IP midweek are going for $20 a night these days, flamingo and ballys $40 a night, who is going to stay at stratosphere or riveria or sahara with those rates mid-strip

voice of reason · #**7800** Posted **Dec 17, 2009, 6:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbotnyse

so was it just horribly managed?? must have been the worst possible timing in real estate history too. But given the perfect location and size, and with such a rock solid selling point of huge balconies overlooking the best view in Vegas, I cant believe this would fail so badly. What an eyesore right in the heart of the strip.

The really short version is the East Coast developer went over budget/ lost his construction financing. The world had its financial melt-down where re-financing was unavailable for any project. The largest creditor on the project was Deutsche Bank, one of the worlds largest banks. They got Cosmo back in a foreclosure action. They have had agreements with several big hotel companies to run it, they have fallen thru. Construction goes on at a very slow pace. Lawsuits by the condo buyers have been succesful on the West Tower, refunds are now in the works on those. The sales office is not active and no info is forthcoming. The website is down.