News Details (Posted: May 20, 2005):

"Saving Downtown" Commentary by noted architect Dr. Rober Fielden

Full Description:

Saving Downtown Dr. Robert A. Fielden, A. D., NCARB, FAIA

I recently reviewed a map of downtown identifying new hi-rise condominium towers approved by the city council for future construction. Some of these projects are underway; some are still in planning, design and financing, while others are pipe-dreams or promotions to artificially escalate the value of already overpriced property. If these projects come on line, will they save downtown? Absolutely not! Why? Downtown needs housing for people living there year-around; people who work downtown; people with median family incomes under $60,000 a year; not just more out-of-towners using condominium ownership as speculative investments. What does downtown need? First, the city needs a plan – a long-range plan to stick to; good downtown’s aren’t built overnight, or with one project. One might respond, doesn’t the city already have a plan for downtown, I’m always reading about developers getting variances? The answer to that is yes; and, yes - and that’s the problem. If it were a good plan, why not stick with it. It seems to me that the goal of political leadership is to insure that developers are building the kinds of projects we want them to, to meet the community’s needs, rather than just building to create more taxes. When Jane and I moved here, downtown was all of those things that cities today clamor for. Downtown was livable, which is also synonymous with walkable. People lived downtown then and walked to where they needed to be. People walking downtown is an indication that the area is safe, it’s secure, it’s comforting, welcoming, convenient, efficient and financially successful. If you lived downtown in Las Vegas then, there were convenient grocery stores, pharmacies, dry-cleaners, laundries, retail shops and boutiques galore; there were barbers and beauty shops, doctors and dentists, movie theatres, department stores, taverns and restaurants; and, there were people on the streets – even at night. Kids were everywhere, which is another sign that downtown works and is successful. It was easy to walk to city hall, to the library to the park – and to school and church. Everything was convenient. Later, in 1996 and 97, the planning department for the City of Las Vegas conducted a survey to determine what was lacking downtown. Here’s the list: specialty stores, an ice cream shop and bakery; a mailbox and copy center; a travel agent, a newsstand and bookstore; a florist, a drycleaners, restaurants and cafes; coffee shops, delis and other fast food businesses; open-space and a park; entertainment, a museum, an art gallery and child-care centers – all of the things that were downtown back in 1964. How many of those amenities are downtown today? In the recent Harwood Report, a year-long study on Public Capital in Las Vegas, the report states that the community has few social gatherings that are citizen-oriented rather than visitor oriented. Consequently, there is a lack of civic involvement. Harwood also found there’s no strong sense of community amongst residents because there’s very few places where the community can come together to meet one another. Civic life is one of the principal purposes for downtown, and there needs to be space there for community-wide events. We should be able to gather as a community and respectfully learn from one another. With 84 languages being spoken today in Southern Nevada, we have a great foundation for a unique American culture, and downtown is where it all should be coming together. If we want to save downtown, let’s save it for the people who live here. I’m Dr. Robert Fielden; let’s bring our troops home safely, soon. RAF © 2005