Pearlie Stevens has been in Las Vegas for almost a year, living in what she called a slum a few blocks east of the Stratosphere.
So the 53-year-old casino cashier is understandably pleased when she surveys her new home downtown in the City Center Apartments.
"Oh my goodness. It's heaven. And I haven't even seen the common area," she said Tuesday. "I saw them bring in the big screens."
The big screens she saw are just one of numerous amenities in the $23.3 million, 300-unit building that takes up the better part of a downtown city block. It's funded in part by the city, in part by the federal government, and mostly by the developer, Reno-based SDA Inc. Mayor Oscar Goodman and other city officials were expected to attend the grand opening of the building today.
The project represents a step towards the goal of redeveloping downtown to include a mix of residential, retail and businesses, so people live where they work, shop and play, city officials said. The City Center apartment building even includes 2,100 square feet of retail space fronting Bridger Avenue.
The city's $6.5 million, and the $485,000 investment from the federal government through the City of Las Vegas Home program, ensures that the rents stay moderate and available to people who make less than $23,760 a year, or couples who make $27,120. Rents are $515 for a studio to $720 for a two-bedroom, and all utilities are paid, including cable television and high-speed Internet access.
"When people think of affordable housing they won't think of what they'll see at City Center," said Elaine Sanchez, senior public information director for the city of Las Vegas.
Some of the apartments have balconies. The three-story parking garage is next to the main building, along with a small swimming pool. A fitness room is just off the lobby, and each floor has a garbage chute room and, as noted by Stevens, a lounge with a big screen television.
Ray Orchard, who is the apartment general manager, was working with his staff Tuesday to put together the finishing touches. Some crews were finishing off the carpet, while other attended to such details as furnishing.
Orchard said the certificate of occupancy, which allows people to move in, was granted last week. Twelve of the apartments are already rented out, and many more have people people inquiring about them, managers said.
Banners on the building invite people to call 366-7600 for rental information.
The City Center groundbreaking was in April 2002, two years after completion of the last previous residential project. According to a news release from the city, the last apartment complex to open downtown was the 300-unit Campaige Place on Stewart Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets.
Construction has yet to begin on two other projects, the nearly 300-unit Kirby Lofts and the 51-unit L'Octaine even though previous projections had been that they would have been completed by now.
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