Architecture Studies

The Urban Land Institute Las Vegas is sponsoring a forum on September 12 [must register to attend] titled "A Tale of New Cities: A Forum to Discuss Las Vegas and Its Satellite Communities." Session topics include "The Donut: Developing Beyond the Valley," "Gambling in the Desert: Why We're Building Where We're Building," "Public Services & Amenities: Providing a Safe and Friendly Community," "Infrastructure: Challenge in Serving Remote Areas," and "Quality of Life." As I mentioned in my last posting, the ULI report in 1997 noted the long-term issues of land and water availability. Satellite communities are drawing on land outside the valley. The impacts and costs of this new development direction will no doubt be the subject for much discussion during the forum and after.

To register for the forum, go to http://www.uli.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Events_Registration&Template=/Conference/ConferenceDescription.cfm&ConferenceID=1807
An article by Brian Wargo on the Forum appears in the August 18-August 24 edition of In Business Las Vegas http://www.inbusinesslasvegas.com/2006/08/18/realestate.html

The concern with how to make Las Vegas a livable community has been addressed by groups and individuals beyond the valley, as well as within. In 1997 the Urban Land Institute (headquartered in Washington, D.C.) was invited by various Vegas-area governmental bodies to send an advisory panel to Las Vegas to consider the issue. Their report, titled "Livable Las Vegas: Managing Growth in the Las Vegas Valley" is available in the Architecture Studies Library on our reserves shelf (HT168 L35 L355 1997 -- ask at the service desk). One of the findings they reported continues to resonate: Vegas appears to be "...gambling on the availability of adequate land and water to support the Valley's projected development -- a gamble that the panel believes will entail high stakes and high risks." (p. 15).

Several years ago, preparing for its 2020 Master Plan, the City of Las Vegas sponsored a Community Vision Survey via the web. As of today, sample screens from the vision survey are available on the web page of the company which created the survey http://www.lrk.com/surveys/demo/lasvegas/start.html. The survey solicited input on which of several images represents what you would like to see your community look like -- in various settings including downtown, neighborhoods, and commercial corridors. One problem with this survey in my opinion is that the images didn't necessarily reflect a desert climate.

The City's 2020 Master Plan is availabe online at http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/files/MP2020_12092003.pdf
Livability and quality of life are among the terms used to reflect the intent of the City. This "Final Draft" is dated July 14, 2000; it was adopted by the City Council September 6, 2000.

What makes Las Vegas a livable community? or not a livable community? Today in the Architecture Studies Library the Nevada American Society of Landscape Architects [http://host.asla.org/chapters/snasla/information.htm] made Mayor Oscar Goodman an honorary member in recognition of his work in making Las Vegas more livable. They also had a presention on the Las Vegas Springs Preserve which will provide a wealth of information and examples of elements that make a desert city livable -- when it opens in the summer of 2007. For more on the Springs Preserve, see their web site http://www.lvspringspreserve.org/html/
What makes Las Vegas a livable community? Your opinions are welcome!