City staff: developer chosen for Arts District artist-housing site; negotiations ongoing

City economic-development staff on Thursday told the Las Vegas Arts Commission that the city has selected a developer for a planned affordable housing development aimed at artists in the Arts District and is now negotiating terms.

Alex Rosser, with the City of Las Vegas Department of Economic and Urban Development, said the city purchased "a little over an acre off of Las Vegas Boulevard" and issued a request for proposals that attracted 12 developers. Rosser said the city narrowed proposals to five semifinalists, interviewed the top teams, reduced the field to two finalists and selected a final developer within the last two weeks, but that negotiations remain ongoing and staff cannot yet share the developer’s identity or full proposal.

The RFP the city issued included minimum design criteria: at least three stories, a minimum of roughly 100 residential units, enclosed parking and a ground-floor commercial or gallery component of at least 2,500 square feet intended for artist-related businesses. Rosser said some proposals offered artist-focused amenities such as spaces for woodworking, metalwork or glass blowing and that the review process included representatives from community development, planning and zoning, economic development, neighborhood services and parks, recreation and cultural affairs.

Commissioners pressed staff on affordability and the importance of studio and work-live space for artists. "One concern that I have is affordability," said Commissioner Portnoy, who suggested designing units with large combined living-and-work areas so artists can create in their homes. Vice Chair Terry Chi recommended early community outreach and town-hall meetings so people who would live in the building can shape floor plans and operational rules to avoid placing noisy or hazardous studio uses in residential units.

Rosser said the city is open to partnership with the Arts Commission during developer selection and community outreach. Commissioners offered to help with outreach and advocacy in their wards and noted the importance of preserving the Arts District’s cultural identity as tourism and new development increase.

Next steps: staff said negotiations with the selected developer are ongoing and promised to present the developer and project specifics to the Arts Commission for public review and questions once negotiations permit. No formal votes were taken on the project at the meeting.