Mayor wants to raze what's left of Moulin Rouge - News

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Oct. 08, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mayor wants to raze what's left of Moulin Rouge

Historic Las Vegas property ruined by fires, neglect

By ALAN CHOATE
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Moulin Rouge

Parts of the Moulin Rouge, the historic hotel-casino that has suffered from two major fires in recent years, still stand on West Bonanza Road near Interstate 15.
Photo by John Locher.

The Moulin Rouge property, once an acclaimed hotel-casino that got international attention, is a "blight" and a "monstrosity" that needs to be razed to the ground, two Las Vegas officials said Wednesday.

"It may be safe. It may not be a nuisance anymore," said a frustrated Mayor Oscar Goodman, noting that the new owners have boarded up buildings, cleaned up litter and fenced the property. "But it is a blight."

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Councilman Ricki Barlow, whose ward includes the property, agreed.

"I doesn't help the neighborhood," he said. "It does not do that corridor any justice whatsoever.

"I would like to see it taken down as soon as possible."

Both men asked city staff to collect bids to see how much the demolition would cost.

The Moulin Rouge, on West Bonanza Road near Interstate 15, opened for a short time in 1955, but in that brief period attracted stars and notoriety because it was Las Vegas' first racially integrated casino.

Later years were not as kind. Hotel rooms were converted to apartments, which fell into disrepair. A 2003 fire destroyed the casino, and a fire earlier this year destroyed a 40-unit building on the grounds.

Most of what's left has been gutted and boarded up, although there are a handful of residents in condominiums on the north side of the property.

The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Las Vegas Historic Property Register, so any demolition plans would have to go before the Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission.

Barlow said it's "highly unlikely" that gaming will return to the property, which is in a largely industrial area.

He said that whatever is eventually built there needs to bring jobs to the area and be long-lasting. Other than that, his criteria is "anything but what it is right now."

"I'm open to a development that makes sense to the community," he said. "I'm open to any new buyer or owner who's looking to come and bring a development that makes sense."

Over the years, several developers have sought to re-create the Moulin Rouge, the latest being Moulin Rouge Properties, which borrowed money in 2006 and 2007 to buy the parcel.

Financing to redevelop the site wasn't forthcoming, however, and the lenders -- Las Vegas Apartment Lenders and Olympic Coast Investment, both based in Washington -- foreclosed on it.

The new owners have made it clear that they're not interested in being developers and are only looking for a buyer.

As with other city interventions on distressed properties, the bill for any demolition work the city does could be attached to the property as a lien that would be repaid when the property is sold.

It wasn't clear what might be done with the Moulin Rouge tower, which survived both fires. No one talked about it at Wednesday's meeting.

The famous multistory sign that stood in front of the hotel-casino was removed before the latest fire and is in storage at the Neon Museum.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. J wrote on October 08, 2009 09:01 PM: Who cares !! That place has been a dump for decades! If anyone that lived in that area realy gave a crap about any of that area, it would not be in the state that it always has been in. You could build a mini bellagio on that land and most people with half a brain would not even drive over there---- Katherine Duncan wrote on October 08, 2009 05:21 PM: The deed to the Moulin Rouge was vested in African Americans for the first time under the leadership of Mr. Dale Scott in 2006. Influential African Ameicans as well as others invested into the property but the initial plans which were sound and reasonable were not approved by our City. When Black Entertainment Television, billionaire Bob Johnson came to Las Vegas to invest in the Moulin Rouge, the powers suggested that he would be better served on the Las Vegas Strip where he ended up at the Hilton Hotel. The Foxwood Casino owners aproached Sarann Knight Preddy who held a contract for sale but of course Foxwoods was not welcomed by those same powers. So the question still remains, Has our City reached out and invited any developer for the Moulin Rouge? Shameka Lafonda Damarcus Latrell Knowshawn Donte Lavernius Kunta Kinte wrote on October 08, 2009 12:26 PM: Helps me Jesse! Helps me Rev. Al! Helps me ACORN! Helps me Barack!!! Let's Do What is Right! wrote on October 08, 2009 12:23 PM: Demolish ALL of west Las Vegas too! Hopefully with the free loading residents inside. AdoreInVegas wrote on October 08, 2009 12:16 PM: "Michelle wrote on October 08, 2009 07:58 AM: I think they should put a hotel/casino there & include a museum that acknowledges the "Mississippi of the West" that Las Vegas used to be. If it was done right it could be informative and not a downer. I'm sure the Mob Museum won't be a downer so why can't be have a African-American History in Las Vegas museum inside a new property on the Mulin Rouge site?" Excellent idea. The Nevada State Museum has a room in one of the historic homes that covers the historic presence of African-americans in Vegas, but it's only a very small portion of the large history. Memphis has the Lorraine Motel converted to a museum, also in a very depressed area. The same could certainly be done here with the remnants of the Moulin Rouge, made into a true museum with renovations. I completely agree - it is time some of the billions of dollars made by minorities should be put back into the communities and historic landmarks. TimeRanger wrote on October 08, 2009 11:30 AM: I'm still trying to figure out why so much time and money was spent trying to put the fire out a few months ago. harrahs can rebuild the place, without permits wrote on October 08, 2009 10:47 AM: . S. Summerlin wrote on October 08, 2009 10:00 AM: Time to call a spade a spade... Face it that this might be tough to hear... The black community is only about the black community if you are poor and you need a "community organizer"... All the black blight on this city remains because the "rich blacks" neglect you far more than any white person ever would... Look at the charities that support blacks... most are lead by WHITES!!! Where are the wealthy blacks giving back to their community... oh yeah, just like in life, those blacks are expecting others to do something for them... You want the Moulin Rouge (which I believe could be a FANSTASTIC property), talk to your rich boys to bail you out... But since the wealthy members of your own community don't care, why should we continue to leave this disgrace in place... You think this is racist... too bad. Maybe you need some hard talk to realize that you are where you are because your own community refuses to help after they have made it "out"... Virga wrote on October 08, 2009 09:42 AM: Leave it alone, it is an icon for a violent area that deserves nothing. The real truth was and is whites are not safe in that area but blacks wanted to be safe in other areas. I remember my neighbor coming home bleading with the windshiels of his car busted out just because he was white in that area. Of course it failed. Lets tell it like it was and is. FertitaBurrita wrote on October 08, 2009 09:31 AM: Moulin Station, anyone? Read All Comments