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Apr. 19, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Arizona homes project halted

Land use, water, zoning issues cause stoppage in Kingman

By HUBBLE SMITH
REVIEW-JOURNAL

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Las Vegas home builder Jim Rhodes has suspended work on Pravada, a 5,750-acre master-planned community near Kingman, Ariz., because of land use, zoning and water issues, a spokesman for Rhodes Homes said Wednesday.

Rhodes had done some preliminary grading of land in Golden Valley and had built four showcase homes, Bill Marion of public relations firm Purdue Marion & Associates said.

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    • Pravada had more than 1,000 reservations and will continue to take reservations, Marion said. The community would ultimately be built out to 30,000 homes.

    "We're suspending that work until we get approval for vertical construction," he said. "There are issues relating to zoning, water and land use, so while we're waiting for those approvals, we are suspending day-to-day operations. It has nothing to do with the market."

    Dennis Smith, president of Home Builders Research in Las Vegas, said he was a little surprised at the decision because Rhodes had almost completed a golf course there.

    "I'm sure it has something to do with Arizona's unwillingness to accommodate his water needs," Smith said. "I can assure you that growth in Golden Valley was based on Rhodes legitimizing that area. That sets that community back five years, maybe more."

    Smith said zoning and water issues could be part of the reason why Wal-Mart backed out of a deal to build a store outside of Kingman.

    The Arizona Department of Water Resources had established water availability for Golden Valley, but there were still issues with the Arizona Corporation Commission for the Perkins Mountain Water and Utility companies to provide water and sewer services, Marion said.

    "Rhodes has a number of other projects in Nevada and Arizona, so it's kind of refocusing our efforts in those projects and once we receive approvals, we'll go back to vertical construction," he said.

    Mercy Adella of West USA Realty in Kingman said the Rhodes development would be an asset to the community.

    "I'm hoping they do continue with the plan, of course," she said. "Some people are against the growth of the community. At the same time, people here would like to have conveniences of the big city, like malls."

    Smith said the halt is a shame because Rhodes' Golden Valley homes were going be affordable at about $100 a square foot.

    Rhodes, a 20-year developer in Las Vegas, also plans to build in White Hills, Ariz., and continues to develop Rhodes Ranch in southwest Las Vegas Valley and Tuscany in Henderson.



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    Sandy wrote on June 18, 2007 11:13 AM: We couldn't be happier that Jim Rhodes has stopped work. Has anyone investigated his past work in Las Vegas? He has more law suits pending against him then any other builder there. We don't want him out here. My first comment on his project was Golden Valley will be the downfall of this guy! Your article is so WRONG, he has spent millions on grading, wells, planting, labor. He hasn't just done "preliminary work" in GV, he built a ballpark for the kids with NO RESTROOMS, fences or drinking fountains. The park has never even been used! What a scam, wake up Mohave County this guy is bad news!! Admit you made a huge mistake Jim and go back to LV where you belong.


    Katie wrote on May 23, 2007 06:07 PM: I would love to see a "nice looking" area developed in the Golden Valley area. Has anyone seen that "ugly looking" Paradise Trails? Now that development is being done on a shoe string by some real "cheap" developers. Tomorrows bario. Not worth a single drop of water.


    ANDY CAZARES wrote on May 15, 2007 03:05 PM: I'VE LIVED IN GOLDEN VALLEY FOR 10 YEARS BUT WOULD STILL LIKE SOME BIG CITY CONVIENCES WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE BACK TO L.A. GIVE RHOADES HIS WATER WERE SITTING ON A LOAD OF IT NOW AND WE DO HAVE THE COLORADO JSUT DOWN THE HILL TOO.


    Vito wrote on April 20, 2007 02:43 PM: Jim Rhodes used to build as an outlaw contractor in the 80's and 90's. The Building Departments have caught up with him and he now has to conform with the building codes and Inspections. I think Jim's biggest concern now should be the Framing Companys Supervisors who are inept and criminal.


    Wendy wrote on April 19, 2007 03:03 PM: I think all of you need to get your facts in order before you publish an article. Who told you that Wal-Mart backed-out and if so What was the reason, not water - CONSTUCTION COSTS PUT THE PROJECT ON HOLD - that was according to the walmart spokesman on a radio release some months back.


    JD wrote on April 19, 2007 02:08 PM: Rhodes does not appear to be a very honest person:



    http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/87839


    Ian wrote on April 19, 2007 11:48 AM: Rhodes has proved that he has enough water to support his project and this article casts a negative light on a great project and an area with a ton of growth to do. There are many other projects planned in the areaand I praise Jim Rhodes for what he is doing and I look forward to him adding hundreds of thousands of residents to the area over the next 30 years. I just don't understand how a project that is "haulted," according to Mr. Smith, is still taking reservations and they plan on going vertical with construction in the near future.


    Russ wrote on April 19, 2007 11:42 AM: And don't you just love the overriding philosophy of the Developer's Creed: The people now living in southern Nevada and northern Arizona must continue forfeiting their quality of life, so that megalomaniacs like Jim Rhodes and Harvey Whittemire and their super-wealthy ilk can continue cramming schlock golfcourse tract houses into every last square inch of our bone-dry area.


    RussBBinVegas@aol.com wrote on April 19, 2007 11:28 AM: And don't you just love the overriding philosophy of the Developer's Creed: The people now living in southern Nevada and northern Arizona must continue forfeiting their quality of life, so that megalomaniacs like Jim Rhodes and his super-wealthy ilk can continue over-developing every last square inch of our bone-dry area.


    Richard wrote on April 19, 2007 08:30 AM: Once again, with the quote from self-interested Mercy Adella, we see that greed trumps everything -- including common sense. What part of "there is not enough water" do these people not understand? If you must have "big city conveniences" perhaps the big city might be a better place for you