MGM MIRAGE To Build Fire Station, Public Improvements

The Clark County Commission approved an agreement with MGM MIRAGE for Project CityCenter that includes the construction of the first fire station on a resort property and marks the beginning of a new generation of development on the Las Vegas Strip.

As part of the development agreement, MGM MIRAGE will fund an estimated $28 million in public improvements as part of the project, including the cost of building and equipping a fire station on the 76-acre CityCenter site. The 5,700-square-foot station will house a fire engine and a paramedic rescue vehicle. A second MGM MIRAGE-funded paramedic rescue vehicle will be based off site at another nearby fire station. MGM MIRAGE also will provide funding for four years to pay the salaries of three fire inspectors and a fire department plans checker.

The resort company will fund several other public improvements near CityCenter, including traffic signals near Harmon and South Las Vegas Boulevard , two pedestrian bridges, plus $1.8 million toward the construction of the Tropicana Detention Basin for storm water diversion.

The size and scope of CityCenter is beyond anything officials have seen on the Las Vegas Strip to date. This agreement, officials said, paves the way for dealing with the effects associated with a new type of growth that’s coming to the Strip – growth that includes multiple high-rise towers and full-time residential living.

“The goal of a major projects development agreement is to plan ahead for the arrival of a project of regional significance,” said Clark County Manager Thom Reilly. “MGM MIRAGE came to the table as a willing partner in helping to mitigate the effect of their development on our public infrastructure resources. We appreciate the time, effort and level of commitment the company has demonstrated toward the ongoing evolution of our community.”

Generally located on south Las Vegas Boulevard between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, the $7 billion Project CityCenter is expected to occupy in excess of 17 million square feet at full build out, making it the largest Strip property in history and the biggest privately funded project in the United States , according to company officials. Construction is expected to start this month. The total project, expected to be complete in November 2009, will include 7,190 units in multiple hotels and resort structures, a retail center, casino and convention space. The 24-person Fire Department crew stationed at CityCenter will respond to calls on and off the CityCenter property. Clark County has four other fire stations in the area that respond to calls near the Strip.

“CityCenter will be the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip to house a fire station on property,” said Clark County Fire Chief Steve Smith. “It can be a challenge to meet our goal of six-minute response times to any calls we receive, especially on the Strip due to traffic and pedestrian congestion. The contribution of a new fire station from MGM MIRAGE puts us on the Strip and will serve as a critical public asset for the county.”

Development agreements outline the rules and guidelines for proposed projects and address the timing, construction and funding of public infrastructure improvements. Staff from several county agencies participated in discussions with MGM MIRAGE in developing the CityCenter agreement and mitigating effects on traffic, fire response times and other public infrastructure issues. In addition to the Fire Department, other agencies represented included the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Clark County Public Works, Clark County Comprehensive Planning, the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission, Clark County Water Reclamation District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

“This agreement is the result of many hours of cooperative effort on the part of MGM MIRAGE and Clark County ,” said Bobby Baldwin, President and CEO of Mirage Resorts and President of Project CityCenter. “The projects included in this document will serve to benefit both residents and visitors to our community. We look forward to a continued spirit of cooperation with the many different county departments and agencies as we move forward with this unprecedented project.”

Other highlights of the CityCenter development agreement include:

• A $330,000 contribution toward a future Metro substation to serve CityCenter.
  
  

• The provision of more than 12.8 acres of open space for trails, pedestrian plaza areas and general recreation activity.
  
  

• A traffic study to analyze transit options and additional street dedications to accommodate traffic impacts from CityCenter.