Symphony Park Explained

Symphony Park
Settlement Type:District of Las Vegas
Pushpin Map:United States Downtown Las Vegas#Nevada
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Clark County
Subdivision Type3:City
Subdivision Name3:Las Vegas, Nevada
Established Date:2000
Founder:Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency

Symphony Park is a 61acres site located in downtown Las Vegas. Once housing a Union Pacific rail yard, Symphony Park is being master developed for mixed-use by the city of Las Vegas, which is also the landowner. Symphony Park is home to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Discovery Children's Museum.

Overview

Notable features of Symphony Parks include:

Symphony Park's neighbors include the 5100000square feet World Market Center Las Vegas, the 175-store Las Vegas North Premium Outlets and the multistory Clark County Government Center.

Symphony Park is the only project in the state of Nevada to be accepted into a national pilot program for green neighborhood developments. Symphony Park was awarded gold certification under stage 2 of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development. (LEED®-ND)

History

Early timeline

July 19, 2000 City Council authorizes City staff to enter into negotiations with Shopco Advisory Group (representing Lehman Brothers) for the purchase of the 61acres parcel; City willing to exchange 98 acres in the Las Vegas Technology Center plus $2 million.

September 25, 2000 Environmental Risk Management Report completed by Converse Consultants.

October 4, 2000 City Council holds the agreement that allows the City to exchange in the Las Vegas Technology Park plus $2 million for the .

October 18, 2000 City Council approves the agreement between PAMI and the City of Las Vegas for the acquisition of the 61.5acres parcel located at Grand Central Parkway and Bonneville.

September 2001 Risk-Based Evaluation completed – Converse Consultants; after completion of the market analysis, second risk-based evaluation completed to determine extent of future remediation requirements for proposed uses of hospital, residential and retail.

January 2003 City Council approves City Parkway to act as master developer.

2004 The project, frequently referred to as the "61 acres", is officially named Union Park.[1] [2]

January 2005 Mayor announces gift of land on site to Ruvo for Alzheimer's Clinic ($1.4 million or).

March 2005 Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Foundation enters into agreement with Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for $45 million endowment plus $5 million grant.

October 2005 The Related Companies pulls out of a deal to develop office space and residential high-rises in Union Park.[3]

December 2005 City enters into agreement with Performing Arts Center Foundation.

November 2006 City Council approves Design Standards and Master Parcel Plan. August 2007 Only project in Nevada accepted into Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED®-ND) pilot program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.

October 2007 The Smith Center for the Performing Arts receives $100 million challenge grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

November 2007 City Council approves a $1.71 million agreement with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to handle pre-construction services for The Smith Center For The Performing Arts.

July 2008 Awarded Gold certification status under stage 2 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), through their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED®-ND) green building rating system.

Developments

In February 2006, the city entered into an agreement with Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health started construction in 2007, and began seeing patients two years later. Chef Charlie Palmer also planned to open a hotel in Union Park, although the project has been delayed several times.[4] [5]

In May 2009, the city council approved a name change from Union Park to Symphony Park to reflect the significant role that the project would play as a cultural and artistic center.[6] Construction also began on the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in March 2012. The Discovery Children's Museum relocated to Symphony Park one year later.

Otherwise, little development had taken place up to that point, with 90 percent of the property still vacant. The slow rate of development was blamed on the Great Recession.[7] The Parc Haven luxury apartment complex opened in May 2021, with 290 units.[8] Another apartment project began construction in 2023. It includes the five-story Symphony Park II, and the 22-story Symphony Park III, both expected to be finished in 2025.[9]

In January 2024, construction began on a five-story building that will house two Marriott hotel brands, AC Hotels and Element, with a total of 441 rooms.[10] [11] It is scheduled to open in late 2025.[12]

A mixed-use project, known as Origin, will occupy six acres and include a 32-story condo building known as Cello Tower, featuring 240 units. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and conclude two years later.[13] [14] [15]

Proposed downtown Las Vegas arena

In 2012, prior to the construction and opening of T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas officials envisioned a $400 million arena with about 20,000 seats, large enough to house an NBA team, with additional retail throughout. It would have gone on the northeastern edge of Symphony Park, close to the Smith Center for the Performing Arts.[16] The project was envisioned to be a private/public partnership between the city of Las Vegas and the Cordish Cos.[17]

The project later morphed into a soccer stadium to attempt to attract a Major League Soccer franchise.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Squires . Michael . Name proposed for 61 acres . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 6, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041213195933/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/May-06-Thu-2004/news/23821985.html . December 13, 2004.
  2. News: Garza . Xazmin . UNR set to take the lead on academic medical center . Las Vegas Business Press . September 2, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040905163318/http://www.lvbusinesspress.com:80/articles/2004/09/02/news/news04.txt . September 5, 2004.
  3. News: Kulin . Dan . The 61 acres: What now? . October 10, 2021 . Las Vegas Sun . October 16, 2005.
  4. News: Skolnik. Sam. Proceeding with caution: Union Park developers still committed, but delays are possible. October 10, 2021 . Las Vegas Sun. December 13, 2008.
  5. News: Toplikar. Dave. Charlie Palmer committed — but waiting — to build project in Symphony Park. October 10, 2021 . Las Vegas Sun. March 7, 2012.
  6. News: Skolnik . Sam . Union Park's new name music to city officials' ears . March 17, 2022 . Las Vegas Sun . May 20, 2009.
  7. News: Shine. Conor. Movement stalled on development in Symphony Park. October 10, 2021. Las Vegas Sun. September 14, 2014.
  8. News: Luxury apartment complex opens in downtown Las Vegas . October 10, 2021 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 19, 2021.
  9. News: Blennerhassett . Patrick . Symphony Park builds first high-rise apartments . April 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . May 18, 2023.
  10. News: Seeman . Matthew . Groundbreaking celebrates start of building new hotels at Symphony Park . April 8, 2024 . KSNV . January 25, 2024.
  11. News: Hemmersmeier . Sean . Nongaming, nonsmoking hotel project at Symphony Park takes next step . April 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . January 25, 2024.
  12. News: Haas . Greg . Marriott, Westin to share Symphony Park development in downtown Las Vegas . April 8, 2024 . KLAS . November 15, 2023.
  13. News: Blennerhassett . Patrick . 32-story condo tower coming for 'rejuvenated' Symphony Park . April 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . July 25, 2023.
  14. News: Blennerhassett . Patrick . First look: 32-story condo building in downtown to be 379 feet tall . April 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Review-Journal . November 14, 2023.
  15. News: Hall . Debbie . Work starts on Cello Tower high-rise at Symphony Park . April 8, 2024 . Las Vegas Business Press . November 21, 2023.
  16. Web site: At a glance: Downtown arena - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper . Lasvegassun.com . 15 July 2012. 2021-11-23.
  17. Web site: MGM's new arena won't stop Goodman from pursuing facility downtown. May 2014 .
  18. Web site: Las Vegas could get pro soccer team, downtown stadium - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper . Lasvegassun.com . 14 May 2014. 2021-11-23.