On Jan. 11, 2024, Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman delivered her annual State of the City Address.
In her final State of the City Address, Mayor Goodman looked back on the accomplishments of the last 25 years and looked ahead to the future.
Mayor Goodman focused on changes throughout our community since 1999 and started at Symphony Park. What was an undeveloped railroad brownfield is not the city’s living room offering world-class arts and culture, medical research and residential developments.
A new project in Symphony Park will break ground later this month on a new dual brand AC Marriott/Element by Westin hotel. This will be a great location for those visiting our downtown for conventions at the always-busy World Market Center, and those taking in a show at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition, Southern Land’s new 22-story apartment tower is already rising out of the ground. Between this project and the already existing units that opened at Auric and Parc Haven in 2021, there will be more than 1,150 residential units in this portion of Symphony Park.
In November, the City Council approved the new Cello Tower and Origin Development coming to the north end of Symphony Park. Cello is a 32-story tower, which will be a part ofOrigin, a shopping and dining district with midrise residential units and offices. In all, this development from Redridge Development will bring more than 400 additional residential units online, and be the home of a new downtown grocery store.
The other project that will really compliment the cultural offerings in Symphony Park is the new Art Museum that is planned just east of the Smith Center.
Another special place is just a short walk away from Symphony Park is our government corridor, soon to be home to a beautiful new Civic Plaza. Not only will this project add additional city office space and allow for new retail and restaurant opportunities, it will create a large gathering place for the community to come together and celebrate. The city hopes to open the plaza and phase one of this project by the end of the year.
It is incredible that Las Vegas has gone from sin city to win city with all our championships and major league professional sports franchises. We are exactly a month away from Las Vegas hosting the Super Bowl. As we have seen time and again, there is no place better than Las Vegas to host a major event.
The city is relaunching it’s popular Down for Anything, Downtown Las Vegas campaign for the Super Bowl since the eyes of the world will be upon us. This campaign was launched at the 2023 State of the City to rave reviews. It highlights the opportunity, creativity, access, diversity, fun, and more that are synonymous with downtown. It focuses on the people and places that are making areas like the 18b Las Vegas Arts District, Fremont East Entertainment District, Brewery Row, Symphony Park and the Fremont Street Experience so very popular. I
Other topics highlighted include the Las Vegas Medical District. By 2030, it is estimated that the Las Vegas Medical District will support more than 24,000 jobs and have a $3.6 billion economic impact on our community.
The city also continues to move forward with plans for a new African American Museum and Cultural Center in Ward 5. The city is working with world-renowned museum designers Gallagher & Associates to develop a master plan for the center. These creative minds are the same team behind the International Spy Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, the National World War II Museum and our very own National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, better known as the Mob Museum. Speaking of Museums, Ward 5 is also home to the Neon Museum, Discovery Children’s Museum and the Natural History Museum.
Another cultural institution is the Historic Westside School, which in 2023 celebrated 100 years and is the oldest building that was used as a school in Las Vegas. That campus is now moving into the future with our plans to break ground on a new 10,000-square-foot Workforce Education and Training Center in just a couple months. This new center will focus on entry-level skills training in advanced manufacturing, construction trades, information technologies and healthcare.
Mayor Goodman added that a continued priority is ensuring that Las Vegas is business-friendly and that everyone knows that Las Vegas means business. There are so many new businesses getting started, expanding and coming to our city. Our city has become a technology hub, and a place where tech startups are launching new ideas every day.
The city is continuing to focus on helping those in need in our community. Whether it is children who need access to educational resources, or aiding those who are experiencing homelessness, the city is here to help. Every day city teams are at the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center and out on the streets working toward the goal of helping people to become hired, housed and healthy.
Mayor Goodman emphasized that the city’s top priority remains public safety. Just a few months ago, the city opened the new joint substation with Metro Police, City Marshals and the Fremont Street security team at the crossroads of the Fremont Street Experience and the Fremont East Entertainment District. This new substation, along with enhanced patrols, is adifference-maker in our tourist corridor.
See the opening of this year's speech below.
