North Las Vegas upbeat about Fifth Street

Can a single street salvage a city that has struggled to shed a decades-old stigma in an endless effort to create a pedestrian-friendly downtown lined with hip boutiques and bars?

North Las Vegas officials have their money -- roughly $54 million thus far -- on the new North Fifth Street.

Granted, the revamped six-lane arterial decorated with landscaping and monuments only stretches between Owens and Carey avenues, which is a mile at best. But this is the start of a much larger project that will ultimately link the newer neighborhoods to the older downtown by extending Fifth Street to the Las Vegas Beltway.

"This is still the beginning of the whole project, which will be seven miles all the way to the 215," said Qiong Liu, director of the city's Public Works Department. "But we have a very good start. We will make the dream come true."

The vision is to develop a major north-south corridor that slices through North Las Vegas rather than circumventing the city like the two major highways surrounding it, and to provide a pleasant and inviting gateway into downtown.

"This will act as a catalyst to a walkable downtown," said Maryann Ustick, the acting city manager. "We hope all the folks who drove around our city on the 15 or the 95 will now drive through our city."

Now, if you are wondering where downtown North Las Vegas might be, it is along Lake Mead Boulevard. City folks are courting different developers to convert the main thoroughfare into a boulevard with quaint storefronts and landscaped walkways.

City officials estimate 100,000 motorists a day will drive along Fifth Street by 2030.

The new roadway also serves as an entryway into North Las Vegas and is only a short jaunt from the revitalized downtown Las Vegas.

Of course there are skeptics. Having lived in the Las Vegas Valley for more than a decade, it seems to me that North Las Vegas always has major revitalization plans on the board. And it also seems that anything shiny and new and inviting is built away from downtown. Far away. Like Aliante far.

Not to be a Negative Nancy, but it is hard to ignore the fact that the corridor between downtown Las Vegas and the entryway to North Las Vegas is the base for social services and Main Street at Owens is typically lined with homeless people camped out on the sidewalk.

Along the revamped Fifth Street, there is no solid wall separating the landscaped pathway with an older neighborhood, so the scenery includes a less-than-inviting view of dogs scampering about and laundry hanging in backyards.

But that doesn't seem to quash developers' enthusiasm.

"This is the gateway to North Las Vegas," said Faramarz Yousefzadeh, who owns roughly 24 acres across Las Vegas Boulevard from Jerry's Nugget where, according to city officials, a big-box store is planned. "This has been one of the most blighted areas. This should bring a new face, so people are not afraid of North Las Vegas. If we can get that going, it will attract retailers and restaurants."

Jerry's Nugget was a primary player in the improvements to Fifth Street, redoing the landscape along the new roadway and giving a face-lift to the 46-year-old property.

Find comfort that the $20 you might have dropped on the Colts on Thursday, only to see them fail to cover the spread by allowing a garbage last-second touchdown, might have gone toward a $1.2 million beautification cause. I know I will.

"This is the cornerstone for private development," said Joseph Stamis, executive manager of the Nugget. "Investors would be crazy to pass up on this investment opportunity in North Las Vegas."

Now the casino owners and city officials will watch the development and hope it will draw more businesses.

Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission, said the trails and the landscaping, like that along Fifth Street, "encourages people to be present," which bodes well for North Las Vegas.

Councilman Robert Eliason joked that he was so excited about the improvements that it became the frequent centerpiece of dinnertime conversation. His children teased him, reminding the councilman that he was fired up about one-fifth of a major project.

And that is true, the city has a long way to go.

City officials are preparing to embark on the next two phases, which will cost a total of $65 million. That will extend Fifth Street across Losee Road and Interstate 15. Work on the first segment across Interstate 15 will begin early next year, and the second step connecting the road to Cheyenne Avenue will start at the beginning of 2012.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an e-mail to roadwarrior@reviewjournal
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