LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A recent survey of hundreds of Las Vegas Chinatown customers and businesses shows that more people want parking solutions to improve the bustling corridor.
More than 700 people responded to the Inspiring Spring Mountain survey, conducted by Clark County along with members of the AAPI community. FOX5 told you about the Inspiring Spring Mountain Project, and efforts to collaborate with community members to plan development for the area.
“The positive feedback is, everybody loves to go to Spring Mountain. We have the best restaurants in town,” said Commissioner Justin Jones. “Certainly, there are concerns that people have raised that are really the focus of this whole process: parking, walkability, making sure that we take into account the tourists who frequent it, but also all of the locals,” he said.
Businesses have told FOX5, not only do they want parking garages, but would also like transit solutions to help tourists get from the Las Vegas Strip to Chinatown.
The area is closer than ever to finally being designated a Redevelopment corridor. Chinatown’s reclassification as a “redevelopment area” could allow local property taxes to assist businesses with payments for repairs, construction and development. Funds could also be diverted to sidewalk and road improvements.
Jones said the process is being finalized over the next 90 days through the Clark County Redevelopment Agency.
The first phase of redevelopment will focus on the epicenter of visitation and tourism: Shanghai Plaza and Chinatown Plaza, and creating a way for pedestrian access. Jones said that a new traffic signal will be added by the middle of next year.
Sidewalk expansion is also planned for Spring Mountain Road as well as the addition of public art, Jones said.
The second and third phases of development will head west of Decatur Road to Rainbow Boulevard, then from I-15 to Decatur Road, Jones said.
The Spring Mountain corridor is an area long overdue for redevelopment, according to the AAPI Chamber of Southern Nevada. “It’s good growth and growing pains, however, Spring Mountain itself did not grow with the growth of Chinatown. We need to fix that,” said President Catherine Francisco, who also called for the need for pedestrian solutions for tourists who dart into traffic to cross Spring Mountain Road.
“Business owners are saying that 50% of their business comes from tourism. Some of the tourists don’t have vehicles. We want to make it safe for them,” Francisco said.
FOX5 also told you how many small businesses want solutions to tackle car break-ins.
Car break-ins are down 47% in the area since the start of the year, according to Lt. Jesse Roybal. Earlier this year, LVMPD boosted patrols and visibility in the Spring Mountain corridor to crack down on criminals. The SMART team of “Mike and Ike” is now dedicated to Chinatown.
The survey showed that many locals want a LVMPD police substation or visitors station, similar to what pedestrian tourists can access on Fremont Street. Jones said that any solutions are still part of a 20-long-term plan for the area.
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