Tuesday, December 18, 2007

South Strip Transfer Terminal Park and Ride

Courtesy of Regional Transportation Commission

With summer in full swing, many of us are making travel plans. To save time and energy looking for a parking spot at McCarran International Airport consider using transit as an alternative. Park at the South Strip Transfer Terminal park and ride, located at 6675 Gilespie south of Sunset Road, and take route 109 to the airport. You’ll get to the airport in about 10 minutes and the trip will only cost you $1.25 each way. This is probably one of the best-kept secrets in Las Vegas and a great way to bypass the hassle of paying for parking at the airport.

The park and ride lot is home to approximately 100 parking spaces that are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis to transit riders. You can leave your vehicle parked in the lot for up to seven days. If your vehicle needs to be left for longer than seven days contact Security at 676-1849 to make arrangements. Arrangements will be made on a case by case basis.


Remember to use the Transit Trip Planner to find the most convenient transit route to the Transfer Terminal from other locations around the valley. Input your origin, input the airport or any other destination in town, indicate the desired departure or arrival time and the Transit
Trip Planner will provide you with a variety of ways to get there using transit. For more information, visit rtcsnv.com.


Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Retail for Our Neighborhood

Growth and Development of Silverado Ranch Picture is only simulation

In July of 2007 the United States Postal Office split our zip code. The Post Office does this when an area shows great potential for growth. Silverado Ranch is growing before our eyes. In fact, Silverado Ranch (zip codes 89123 and 89183) has more than tripled in the last decade. With the influx of new people to our immediate area we must have commercial development in order to support our way of life. One specific site for this type of growth is the vacant land east of Amigo Avenue and south of our local mine, Cactus Sand and Gravel. This 2.5 +/- acres lot is currently for sale for $2,750,000.


Roberts Hawaii Hotels Inc. purchased this vacant lot for $1,687,950 in July of 2005. According to Al Laird, a planner from Clark County Comprehensive Planning, “The land was re-zoned from R-E (2 homes per acre) to C-1 (local business district) on February 21, 2007.” Local Business District zoning allows for businesses that benefit a community, similar to P&R Retail-Shopping Plaza (Rhino Mart, Lefty’s Pizza, Bahay Kubo Asian Market, Kandy Kastle and others) near the intersection of Pollock Drive at Pyle Avenue. Laird went on the tell me, “Plans approved…by the Clark County Board of Commissioners…allowed for a 1-story, 35 foot high, 16,625 square-foot neighborhood shopping plaza.


On December 5, 2007, I spoke to Michael Sumiyoshi from Realty 7, the brokerage firm hired to sell the land. Sumiyoshi told me, “We have preliminary plans…for a retail strip center.” A few of the businesses that have submitted letters of intent include a liquor store, a nail saloon and an All-State insurance office. Also, IHOP has shown an interest in building a restaurant there.


Silverado Ranch is becoming a bustling suburb where Picture is only simulation
home values have seen some of the highest appreciation since the early part of the century. In 2005, some homes’ sale prices have more than doubled from when they were originally purchased in 2001 through 2003. Of course, our area has also witnessed some of the largest depreciation. For example, one home, that had been purchased from American West Homes on January 30, 2003, sold for $380,000. This magnificent home was then listed on December 12, 2004 for $679,900 and sold on April 1, 2005 for $619,500. On July 26, 2007 this home was listed again as repossessed and sold on September 24, 2007 for $495,000 with $5,000 going back to the buyer as a seller contribution. Silverado Ranch is located in an ideal location in our valley. Therefore, homes will hold their values. I am optimistic that the market will turn around, soon. How long? Only time will tell.