The Bourbon Strip
July 12, 2009
In what can only be described as one of the most unexpected moves by Harrah’s in a long time, the company has indicated that they want to build a pedestrian “entertainment district” behind several of their Las Vegas Boulevard properties.
The district will house 20 restaurants and bars, and will run in a curved path between O’Sheas and the Flamingo. The entertainment area will not be on The Strip, rather, it will be located behind the hotels near the Monorail tracks.
Project Link Site
Not only will there be places to eat and drink, but there will also be several “multi-story, tenant-occupied” buildings along this stretch of pedestrian mall.
The mall will be 1/5th of a mile long, and will include a 600′ tall ferris wheel.
The name of this endeavor?
“Project Link”
Now, if all of this sounds familiar, it probably should. Downtown Las Vegas did something similar years ago. They called it “Fremont Street”. I think it may still be around. Granted there is a canopy and it is lacking a giant circular ride, but the concept is not terribly different … a pedestrian mall joining gaming properties interspersed with a restaurant and watering hole here and there.
For all intents and purposes, Harrah’s wants to bring Downtown’s pedestrian friendly concept to The Strip.
Taking into account the “multi-story” buildings, perhaps a more accurate comparison would be a cross between Fremont Street and The District in Henderson.
Personally, I’m not quite sure what to make of this entire plan.
One of the things I like most about Fremont Street is the ability to walk everywhere and the lack of having to dodge automobiles, but I’m not sure how much I would enjoy an all-Harrah’s equivalent.
The nice thing about Downtown’s walkable offering is that you actually have choices in casino patronage, but at Project Link, you will have a choice between Harrah’s, Harrah’s, and Harrah’s. You’ll be able to walk from one 6:5 table to another 6:5 table, and you will essentially be a captive audience. If you don’t think that Harrah’s will exploit this captivity, then you my friend, are nuttier than a squirrel’s turd.
I’m also not 100% sure about the ride either. I’ve never, ever walked down The Strip and heard the following words spoken:
“You know, this place is nice, but what it really needs is a ferris wheel!”
I’m just not sure how much of a demand there is for it.
These misgivings being duly noted, I will admit that I am a bit intrigued. The sidewalks on Las Vegas Boulevard are simply too narrow, and they are made even more slim by the throngs of porn slappers lining the sides.
There is also the safety factor. Our local media loves to bury the stories 6 feet deep, but the fact is that there are a large number of car vs. pedestrian accidents on The Strip each and every year … some ending in death. Every three years or so, a car will even jump a curb and wipe out a dozen pedestrians en-masse. The crosswalks on LVB are abysmal, and jaywalking is the norm. Simply put, The Las Vegas Strip is one of the most pedestrian-unfriendly places on earth. Any project which separates people from cars is one that I would absolutely get behind.
Of course, before Project Link can proceed, it needs to be financed. Harrah’s has not released cost estimates yet, so the actual viability and time table of this project is unknown at this time.
When announcing this project, Harrah’s indicated that they want to create a vibe similar to Beale Street in Memphis or Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but I believe that they are reaching a bit on this one.
I don’t think it is even remotely possible to turn what is essentially a corporate-owned outdoor mall into a bona-fide, inner-city entertainment district … but it’s certainly a noble goal. Lofty, but noble. I’ve been to Bourbon Street, and I doubt that the prude beancounters at Harrah’s could touch the vice of New Orleans.
Anyway, all things considered, I would like to see this happen.
It will leverage existing Monorail stations, and it will be very easily accessible from my own home without an automobile.
I’m not a fan of The District because it is in Henderson, but if something similar is created adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip, I believe that it has a viable shot.
If this were the brainchild of any other company besides Harrah’s, I would be even more excited than I am now, but at this point we have to take what we can get.
Last but not least, while I like the idea, I hope they change the name.
“Project Link” sounds like a transit mall, and it just doesn’t have a great ring to it.
They should name it something cool like “The Rex Experience”.
I’m full of great ideas, and I hereby offer my services to Harrah’s for this endeavor. Were they simply to take my advice without question, this would be the #1 tourist destination in the world.
I guarantee it.
Written by robert m. farrell on July 13, 2009 at 6:54 am
This sounds feasible. It is nice to see a proposed project that can reasonably be accomplished for less than a billion! I suspect that they are aiming at the tourists who are in their twenties to forties, and like to mill around and “see and be seen” without an exorbitant nightclub bill. Add a touch of live music, economical and quick drinks, and it sounds like something that could be very popular. Like you, I hope that it works!
Written by tully on July 13, 2009 at 7:19 am
Is this the area where HET razed those apartment buildings, leaving a huge, trashed out kitty litter box?
If it is, I’m curious as to what sort of tenant occupied housing is proposed. If it’s high end condos for sale, they are crazier than I thought. If it’s average market rate apartment rentals, it could be viable. With the monorail stop, such apartments would be popular with casino employees wanting to eliminate a commute.
Written by ColinFromLasVegas on July 13, 2009 at 11:24 am
This is not a very good idea at all, Rex. For one main reason:
If you look at those plans, this thing is supposed to be built within yards of where the main flash flood collection point channel is that runs excess water from the Strip when it does rain real hard here in the desert. And that channel runs by the law of gravity downwards from Las Vegas Boulevard to under Imperial Palace in their parking garage to continue on down east along that road/alley to a specially built catch basin that runs down alongside Winnick Avenue to Koval through Flamingo, etc., etc., until it keeps going eastward and eventually reaches Lake Mead (or falls short of it).
As it is now, when it rains real hard, the parking garage behind and under Imperial Palace has to be closed. Because the water reaches a torrent up to two or three feet high. Cars can’t drive through there and the security guards block it off. One time, I saw some rocket scientist blonde gal try to drive her little yellow sports car through there after it rained real hard, even with signs posted not to. It got flooded out real quick with water halfway up the door and deluging her motor. And it was stuck there for the whole time it rained. It was so bad, my friends and I laughed and called it the yellow submarine. I know, poor gal, but you gotta laugh at these things.
So, when it rains, I would imagine they would have this new proposed mall/ferris wheel/walking area flooded out like crazy too. Because it looks like those plans will disrupt the flash flood collection point.
Maybe I’m wrong, but it sure looks like it.
Written by robert m. farrell on July 13, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Wow! Your points are well taken. I’m just a tourist, and I had no idea about the flooding and poor drainage. Harrah’s does not have a spotless record on building things strictly to code. Could be a big problem. Thanks for your insight!
Written by Dustin on July 14, 2009 at 6:37 pm
In Arizona we have a law called the Stupid Motorist Law, when you drive into flooded areas you get fined big time! Maybe Las Vegas could come up with their own Stupid Motorist Law
Written by cactusrose on July 15, 2009 at 8:24 am
I doubt they would plan it that poorly and develop a project such as this on a rain drainage/flood zone prone area. But then again Katrina happened.