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Vacant lot may become home to Asian-themed resort
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JASON BEAN/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The site of the Lucky Dragon, a proposed Asian-oriented resort, is seen Thursday. The planned project would have a 10-story, 201-room hotel with a casino, and would front on Sahara Avenue about a block west of the Strip. » Buy this photo
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Feb. 3, 2012 | 8:58 a.m.
A vacant lot once meant for a condominium tower is now planned as the unorthodox location for a new Asian-oriented resort.
Plans for the Lucky Dragon, proposed as a 10-story, 201-room hotel with a casino, will come before the Las Vegas City Council for approval on Feb. 15. If it opens, it would become the only resort targeted at both locals from and residents of countries in the Far East and would be the only one that even attempts an Asian identity now that Caesars Entertainment Corp. has said it would change the name of the Imperial Palace as part of a general overhaul.
The Lucky Dragon, fronting on Sahara Avenue about a block west of the Strip, between the Allure condo and the Golden Steer restaurant, would stand apart in an area that has become known in the past few years more for blight than high rollers. The north section of the Strip, where the casino industry took off in the 1940s, is now dotted with empty lots, projects halted midway through construction and properties well past their primes.
However, said Gregory Borgel, vice president of planning and development services for project consultant Moreno & Associates, the almost total lack of pedestrian traffic does not affect the Lucky Dragon's business plan.
"I don't think the developer sees this as a problem," he said. "The local and foreign clientele will go there as a destination and will not be interested in walking up and down the Strip."
Project developer and long-time real estate investor Andrew Fonfa, who already owns the 2.6-acre parcel, could not be reached for comment. County records show that last year he bought another 0.2 acres on the back of the property, now an abandoned apartment building, for $289,000
It was unclear whether the all-important financing is in place or how much the Lucky Dragon would cost. Borgel said the Asian theme was selected because Chinese investors were backing it, but he did not know the specifics.
Besides an 18,900-square-foot casino that would emphasize games, such as baccarat, that are popular among Asians, the exterior would feature the liberal use of red, considered a lucky color in Asian countries including China. Dining locations would also have Asian menus.
However, Las Vegas architect Ed Vance said the Lucky Dragon will not resemble something from 19th century Beijing.
"The goal nowadays is to create good architecture," he said. "We don't do much in the way of thematic architecture anymore."
The plans also show 478 slot machines and a 446-space parking garage.
Fonfa has owned the site for years, but sold about half of it to the company that built the Allure. The Lucky Dragon site originally was meant for as a twin to the Allure, but the weak sales that accompanied the recession and oversupply of high-rise condos on the Strip caused the original plan to be shelved.
Besides local properties, Fonfa and partners took over the Indian Springs Casino about six years ago, so he already won clearance from the Nevada Gaming Authority for a license. The Lucky Dragon lies within the city's gaming district and already has commercial zoning.
The Las Vegas Planning Commission approved the project on Jan. 10.
Contact reporter Tim O'Reiley at toreiley@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290.
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Google Chew's Chow, a fictional night club/casino located at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard & Sahara, or go to website Asylum Earth and check it out in my graphic novel G.M.T.
Great Project and super addition to the neighbour hood. This will be very succesfull if catering to locals and asians. At 210 rooms I would expect it to be full every night. Love the plan and look of the building, Great for the residents of Allure, dining and casino at their door step, bound to increase their proeprty values emensly. I wish the investors all the luck
In case you haven't visited the strip in the past decade, all the newly constructed hotel/casinos already cater to the asian community. (Remember when MGM had to redesign the Lion?) All the high rollers have all gone to Macau to play. There's absolutely no need to construct another casino in Las Vegas at this time - asian themed or otherwise.
I hope they put in a Restaurant. It will get rid of some of the stray dogs and cats in that area.
I do not understand this project. There has been discussions for years of building a really grand Chinese themed casino hotel like no other in Naked City fronting on the west side of Las Vegas Blvd., but no realty group was able to assemble 40-50 acres. Now taking Fonfa's tiny site that was supposed to be the second phase Allure tower before the recession crashed the project and cramming a 201 room basic casino hotel and parking garage is stupid. I looked at the 1/10/12 Planning Commission drawings--it is rudimentary. The garage takes up most of the site, the hotel tower is separate o save money with rooms looking east and west over naked city and into the Allure. It is hard to believe that anyone, even Asian drug money, would finance this $100,000,000 construction project.
Good ruck...
i wish the mob was still here ..such non sense wouldnt be tollerated .
whats the name going to be ?? you pay now .? five dollar make you hollar ??
wont even get financed from a bank . this is a pipe dream
Asia will lead the world in gaming revenue by 2013. Las Vegas is a has-been.