Las Vegas is known for the strip. For the entertainment, the gambling, the shows. It's a city that attracts tourists, and tourists see little else beyond the flashy, glittering facade which draws them in. Strange as it may seem, people live there too, and the vast majority of Las Vegas' population doesn't live on the strip. They live in the rest of the city that visitors don't see. But because so much attention is focused on the Las Vegas Strip, as a major source of revenue and employment, it's not far-fetched to say that other parts of the city suffered from neglect.
The Downtown Project is a plan to turn that around. As Kim Schaefer, Communications Director for the Downtown Project tells us, the revitalization project has already transformed downtown Las Vegas with new office and retail space, family-centered activities, as well as various forms of adult entertainment, and shopping.
Downtown Project took off in January of 2012 with a five-year-plan and $350 million fund, which included first, acquiring land and property, followed by a focus on funding in year two. The majority of 2014 saw fruits of the project - lead by Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos and 800 investors and co-owners - as office space became available with special rates and lease conditions for businesses that might be starting up, with a need to move on in a matter of months.
The area also features a container park, home to shopping, dining and a giant tree house where kids can play. It's now a place that attracts families, where people can socialize, in an area that was once sketchy, which people avoided.
The Colorado Business Roundtable sees the Downtown Project as a source of inspiration for revitalization - something we in Denver can consider as light rail stations connect parts of our city and providing new access and development in areas that could thrive.
To learn more about the dramatic changes, listen Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710 – Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.
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