THE LAS VEGAS City Council adopted the Historic Properties Preservation Plan Element at its meeting this week. This element, part of the Las Vegas 2020 Master Plan, guides the city's historic preservation efforts with standards, goals, objectives and policies. The city has many buildings, objects, districts and sites that have historic, archaeological, cultural and/or architectural significance. The city has made it a priority to preserve these resources as a "living" part of the community, not just in text and photographs.
The original Historic Preservation Element was adopted as part of the city of Las Vegas' General Plan on April 1, 1992. Since that time, no amendments have been made to it, while many new concepts regarding the broadened role of historic preservation in the city have arisen.
The planning process was guided by a task force that was formed to identify deficiencies in the 1992 plan, establish goals and objectives for the updated plan and address applicable standards. The task force was comprised of two essential groups; a technical advisory committee of historic preservation professionals and affiliations, and a city staff committee representing multiple departments.
The plan now includes:
- How the element is integrated with the city's Las Vegas 2020 Master Plan.
- The city's current inventory of historic buildings, sites and districts with added consideration for historic signs.
- Discussion of new issues in historic preservation, including historic building codes, "smart growth" and sustainability, cultural heritage tourism, and the federal environmental review process.
Las Vegas historic properties enhance the city's character and ambience, creating an authentic experience for both residents and visitors. Rehabilitating and reusing older buildings also advances the city's economic development and conserves natural resources used in new construction. The plan element will be updated every five years.
The historic preservation element provides:
- A brief history of Las Vegas and an overview of significant historic resources.
- An explanation of the historic preservation process.
- An outline of the city's goals, objectives and policies for historic preservation.
- A plan for implementation.
The Historic Preservation Plan Element may be viewed on the city's Web site at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/planning or may be purchased at the Development Services Center located at 731 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
