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📣 COMMUNITY INVITATION — MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON REDEVELOPMENT
From the Commercial Center Business Association & Historic Society
📣 COMMUNITY ALERT — NEW ORLEANS SQUARE & COMMERCIAL CENTER REDEVELOPMENT MEETING
Tomorrow, the future of New Orleans Square and Commercial Center will once again be discussed before the Clark County Redevelopment Agency, and we invite all Commercial Center business owners, property owners, residents, supporters of small business, preservation advocates, and those who care about Las Vegas history to attend and make their voices heard.
⚠️ KEY AGENDA ITEMS:
• Item #5 — Rehabilitation or Demolition of 900 Liberace Ave (New Orleans Square)
• Item #6 — Proposed Improvements & Public Purpose/Impact Analysis for 953 E Sahara Ave (Commercial Center Parking Lot)
🕙 Clark County Redevelopment Agency Meeting
📅 Wednesday, May 20, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Clark County Government Center
500 S. Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, Nevada
➡️ Please arrive early if you wish to speak during public comment.
As President of the Commercial Center Business Association & Historic Society, I want to publicly express my support for rehabilitation, preservation, and thoughtful revitalization that honors the history, architecture, culture, and spirit of Commercial Center while still embracing growth and modernization.
I believe we can clearly see the viability of Commercial Center simply by looking around at the surrounding properties that continue to operate successfully with vibrant tenants, restaurants, retail shops, art studios, offices, services, entertainment, and community organizations.
Just across from the County-owned New Orleans Square buildings, Building H remains nearly 100% occupied today under the ownership of Village Square Commercial Center and the Heers and Norcott families of American Pacific Properties.That alone demonstrates the continued viability of New Orleans Square and Commercial Center as active and functioning commercial properties.
This cannot be diminished.
Only a few years ago, the New Orleans Square complex itself was also nearly 100% occupied and flourishing under the ownership of the late Ron McMenemy, who made substantial improvements to the property and brought in an incredible variety of retail businesses, art studios, restaurants, offices, and services. This was not long ago. It demonstrated clearly that New Orleans Square was viable then — and remains viable now.
It is truly sad that Mr. McMenemy passed away and was unable to continue his dream and vision for the property and for his family legacy in Historic Las Vegas. He deeply cared about preserving something special tied to the original vision of the Carriage Trade Center and New Orleans Square established by the Heers and Norcott families of American Pacific Properties. He would have never let his buildings be torn down or go vacant.
We do not believe the era of New Orleans Square or Commercial Center is over.
Modernization has already happened naturally over the decades through the beautiful influx of businesses, cultures, art, food, entertainment, retail, and creativity that continue to evolve throughout Commercial Center nearly 65 years later. If cities across America adopted the mentality of simply demolishing older buildings to build new ones, we would lose an immeasurable amount of history, architecture, culture, and identity.
Redevelopment absolutely has its place.
But balance is necessary between preservation and progress.
What is new should complement what already exists — especially in historic districts with deep cultural identity and significance.
Commercial Center has already lost three historic buildings, and yet today there is still no concrete long-term plan for the vacant dirt lots that remain.
The Vegas Village property has sat largely vacant for nearly 20 years despite ownership by a billionaire developer. We would have much rather seen those buildings rehabilitated and serving the community during these past years.
Vision, stewardship, ownership, and long-term commitment matter.
New Orleans Square itself remains a beautiful example of themed revival architecture inspired by New Orleans — with balconies, courtyards, colorful details, walkways, and a character unlike anything else in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas has always celebrated visionary and themed architecture:
a giant guitar on Las Vegas Boulevard, the Sphere rising behind the Venetian and Palazzo, and countless other bold and imaginative structures that define our city’s originality. New Orleans Square belongs within that tradition.
Thomas and Mack did not create Commercial Center to simply be torn down piece by piece. They envisioned a new downtown Las Vegas — the real city center and heartbeat of Las Vegas. Commercial Center was that in 1963, and in many ways, it still remains that today. I am proud to operate a business in a place that is not only somewhere to shop or visit, but something to experience.
Likewise, the former Ice Palace/Event Center property has already proven itself for generations as a gathering place for concerts, skating, sporting events, wrestling, boxing, raves, and entertainment. Its value and viability have already been proven.
The revival of Commercial Center has happened repeatedly because of the heart, courage, and determination of small business owners willing to invest, create, risk, and believe in the neighborhood. Long-time businesses such as Vegas Village, the Cue Club, John Fish Jewelers, Komol Restaurant, A Harmony Nail Spa, and many others — alongside newer businesses that joined over the past decade — demonstrate that Commercial Center continues to evolve while maintaining its historic spirit.
There is no greater guarantee of success opening a business in Summerlin or Green Valley than there is at Commercial Center. Success comes from serving the surrounding community — and Commercial Center remains uniquely positioned only minutes from the Las Vegas Strip while surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods and local communities.
It was heartbreaking to lose Vegas Village and more recently the Commercial Arts Buildings, which were once full and viable under good ownership.
That is all this neighborhood has ever truly needed:
good ownership,
good stewardship,
and people who care about the community.
Since 2023:
• More than $1 million has reportedly been spent on security efforts in the area
• Approximately $450,000 was allocated toward a public festival initiative
• Nearly $1 million has been directed toward infrastructure and improvement efforts benefiting portions of Commercial Center
At the same time, the Clark County Redevelopment Agency is projected to receive more than $22 million in redevelopment tax increment revenue for Fiscal Year 2027.
Yet publicly, nothing comparable has been offered to New Orleans Square tenants for:
• relocation assistance
• moving costs
• business stabilization
• nonprofit transition support
• or tenant protections if displacement occurs
That disparity raises serious concerns about fairness and equity in the redevelopment process. At the same time, no matter what decision is ultimately made regarding New Orleans Square, we strongly believe the current tenants deserve fair and equitable treatment. It has been proposed that even under rehabilitation scenarios, tenants may need to vacate for potentially up to two years. For most small businesses and nonprofits, a two-year relocation would effectively become a permanent move.
The burden of:
• moving,
• securing new locations,
• rebuilding tenant improvements,
• relocating staff,
• rebuilding customer bases,
• and potentially moving back again
would be overwhelming financially and emotionally.
If relocation becomes necessary, assistance must be provided.
There should be:
✔️ Relocation assistance
✔️ Adequate notice
✔️ Business transition support
✔️ Nonprofit stabilization assistance
✔️ Protection for long-standing community-serving organizations
These businesses and organizations should not be left to carry the burden of redevelopment alone after helping sustain this neighborhood for so many years.
Redevelopment should not only focus on buildings and land. It must also focus on people.
This is a critical moment for our neighborhood, our small businesses, our historic structures, and the future identity of Commercial Center.
We invite you once again to attend tomorrow’s meeting and make your voice heard.
Clark County Redevelopment Agency Meeting
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
10:00 AM
Clark County Government Center
500 S. Grand Central Parkway
Las Vegas, Nevada
A Brief History
Clark County officially designated the Historic Commercial Center District as a redevelopment area on December 16, 2003, through Ordinance No. 3005.
At that time, the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved a Redevelopment Plan for three noncontiguous project areas, with “Area 1” defined as the Historic Commercial Center at Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue.
More than two decades later, redevelopment decisions continue to shape the district — and the lives of the people who live and work here.
Current Developments
At the last town hall, Commissioner Tick Segerblom stated that his initial proposal to allocate $15 million to rehabilitate New Orleans Square was turned down by the other commissioners. The decision now before the Agency is whether demolition is the appropriate path forward.
The Commissioner also shared that Insomniac Entertainment has purchased the former Ice Palace building, approximately 60,000 square feet adjacent to New Orleans Square. Renovation plans are reportedly underway to bring events of up to 5,000 attendees, possibly twice per week, with discussions about using portions of surrounding parking areas for outdoor events or expansion.
This represents a potentially major increase in traffic, parking demand, noise levels, and infrastructure impact — and it is important that residents and business owners share their perspectives.
Lessons from Past Redevelopment
Many in the community are concerned about tearing down additional buildings without a fully funded and guaranteed redevelopment plan in place. We have seen what can happen when demolition occurs without secured follow-through:
• The Vegas Village lot on the east side of Commercial Center, demolished in 2007, was proposed for high-rise condominiums by Billionaire Developer Sean Posner of the Posner Group — and remains a vacant dirt lot nearly two decades later.
• The former Wet ’n Wild 27-acre site, south of the Sahara, was proposed in 2006 for the $5 billion “Crown Las Vegas” skyscraper resort by Christopher Milam. Later proposals such as the “Silver State Arena” also failed to materialize.
• The Key Largo Casino site, closed in 2005 and demolished in 2013 with condominiums planned — never developed.
• The Paradise Bay Club Apartments, closed in 2007, were intended to be redeveloped as part of the Hard Rock expansion, which never materialized.
• The Atrium Hotel site, closed in 2008. Redevelopment plans announced in 2019 have yet to move forward, leaving the property vacant for years.
Repeated false starts have left vacant land, stalled projects, and prolonged uncertainty — contributing to instability rather than revitalization.
The Reality Today
Buildings D The Commercial Arts Building one of the oldest buildings Built by Developer Leo Frey and F building the property shoppes at Commercial Center are now gone — with no foreseeable fully funded plan for what comes next, only concepts. Three historic buildings have already been lost. Over a hundred businesses have been displaced or closed since redevelopment activity began, creating business panic and damaging the area’s reputation.
Commercial Center will never be the same.
The original long-term concept years ago was to purchase all the property and tear everything down to create a new town center experience.
But the central question remains:
What is truly best for the neighborhood and the nearby residents?
Vacant dirt lots do not help businesses. Prolonged uncertainty does not help residents. Blight does not strengthen District E.
If support, oversight, and stabilization had been provided earlier, we would likely still have over 100 open businesses today — and the Vegas Village building might still be in productive use.
The Commissioner has encouraged as many people as possible to come out and share their thoughts about redevelopment and the future of New Orleans Square.
This is your opportunity.
Please attend the meeting and speak about how redevelopment has impacted you, your business, your family, and your hopes for the future.
➡️ Arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign up for public comment.
This decision will shape Commercial Center — and District E — for decades.
The Historic Commercial Center District and the Commercial Center Business Association & Historic Society thank you for your continued support of neighborhood preservation, cleaning, and small business advocacy.
If you would like to contribute to ongoing preservation and stabilization efforts, donations may be made at:
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=8c0dd0eb-91fc-4bc6-a8e4-fc7c3e67660c
Together, our voices matter.
Sincerely,
Paula Josephine Sadler
President
Commercial Center Business Association & Historic Society
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