COLUMN: `Northtown' ready for smart new image

There have been some changes in North Las Vegas. As Mayor Mike Montandon told the crowd last Tuesday at the Economic Outlook 2001, "They're not calling us Northtown, any more."

A couple hundred people gathered at Texas Station to learn about the northern section of the valley, especially about the yet-to-be-named project that will be built on land recently auctioned off by the Bureau of Land Management.

The first section of the future master-planned community is bordered roughly by Grand Teton Drive to the north, Centennial Parkway to the south, Decatur Boulevard to the west and Clayton Street to the east.

John Kilduff, president of American Nevada Corp., unveiled plans for the community that ANC will co-develop with Del Webb Corp.

Webb, of course, will be handling the age-restricted portion of the master plan, which is a large plot on the northern side of Interstate 215.

In fact, I-215 runs through the master plan, which gives it accessibility to all sections of the Las Vegas Valley. The preliminary look to the community places commercial and other nonresidential uses, such as a fire station and school, along the beltway. This planning cuts down on noise and congestion for residents, while still offering them proximity to the beltway.

Kilduff illustrated the areas where ANC is hoping two elementary schools and a middle school will be built. He said while the layout is preliminary, he's hoping that discussions with the Clark County School District will turn out in favor of the plan.

Major parks are projected in conjunction with the schools, which will be laid out along planned linear parks and trails. Kilduff said these layouts are designed so schoolchildren can walk from their homes without having to cross any major streets. In fact, tunnels are being contemplated to avoid any major streets that might be along the way.

Land planners are aware of the necessities that go into a successful master plan. More than 1,100 acres, or 60 percent of the land, are set aside for residential areas; another 428 acres, 22 percent of the land, go to recreation and public purposes; the beltway takes up 151 acres, 8 percent; commercial development takes up 101 acres, a bit more than 5 percent; roads, 90 acres, about 4 percent; and 49 acres go toward school sites, just over 2 percent.

Mike Jesberger of Del Webb joined in the Q&A session after Kilduff's presentation. He stressed that Webb's merger with Pulte Homes had no effect upon the development of the master plan, except that Pulte was very supportive.

"I can pretty much guarantee you that Pulte will be a major merchant builder,¸ Jesberger said about the home builders who have been lining up to sign contracts to develop parcels.

The senior-oriented section is segregated enough by the interstate and commercial development that it becomes a community unto itself. Webb plans to build the clubhouse and other amenities close to the southern end of the parcel to ease traffic and facilitate entry to the beltway.

Jesberger and Kilduff said high-tech wiring and all the newest and greatest technology will be used in the community.

"We are ahead of the curve on this," Kilduff said. "We are well aware that technology could set this community apart from others -- not only in Las Vegas, but around the country."

Residents will live in smart houses in a smart community in one of the soon-to-be smartest cities in Nevada -- North Las Vegas.

Carmel Hopkins, Real Estate Product Manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is Carmel_Hopkins@lasvegasnewspapers.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

Real Estate home