Crown Las Vegas
Encyclopedia
Crown Las Vegas, formerly known as the Las Vegas Tower, was a proposed supertall skyscraper
that would have been built on the Las Vegas Strip
in Winchester, Nevada
, an unincorporated suburban community of Las Vegas
. If built, the tower would have been 1064 feet (324 m) tall, making it the tallest building in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
and the 2nd-tallest structure in the Las Vegas Valley and in the state of Nevada, after the Stratosphere Tower
. After two major redesigns, the project was officially canceled in March 2008.
Crown Las Vegas, as originally planned, would have consisted of a casino
, a hotel and an observation deck
. The tower would have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard
on the former site of the Wet 'n Wild Water Park. The building's architect is Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. The cost of the project was estimated to be $5 billion, and its original completion date was set for 2014.
reached an agreement on May 31, 2007 with the tower's developers to invest money in the project and run its casino. As part of the agreement, the project was renamed Crown Las Vegas.
Crown Las Vegas was originally proposed to rise 1888 feet (575 m) by Christopher Milam, a building developer from Texas
. According to KLAS-TV
in Las Vegas, the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) was concerned with the proposed height, due to the tower's proximity to McCarran International Airport
and Nellis Air Force Base
. In November 2006, the FAA issued a "notice of presumed hazard" because the tower's location is 2.5 miles (4 km) north of McCarran Airport's runways.
The FAA had previously stated that anything over 700 feet (213.4 m) on the site chosen for the tower would constitute an air hazard. On October 24, 2007, the FAA denied the project, deeming that the tower was a "hazard to aviation". As a result of the decision, Clark County
code prohibited its construction at the proposed height. There were plans to resubmit the project, with a new height of 1150 feet (351 m). However, on November 20, 2007, the FAA reached a final decision that no structure taller than 1,064 feet (324 m) would be approved in the site. Developer Christopher Milam then resubmitted the project to the Clark County Planning Commission at the maximum height allowed by the FAA, and the tower was officially approved for construction on December 6, 2007 with a height of 1,064 feet (324 m).
There had been some speculation that Milam may wish to submit plans for the construction of a second, twin tower to also rise 1,064 ft (324 m). If constructed, the two Crown Las Vegas towers would then become the tallest twin towers in the Western Hemisphere
. However, no official plans have been released.
In March 2008, Crown chairman James Packer announced the project was canceled and the site put up for sale. Crown will continue its investment in the under-construction Fontainebleau Resort and Casino
on the site next to the proposed Crown Las Vegas site.
Christopher Milan's 2 year option expired in June, 2008. Milam and his partners paid $67.1 million in nonrefundable deposits and fees to Archon between June 2006 and June 2008. In December 2008, developer Christopher Milam resubmitted another bid for the
27 acres (109,265.2 m²) site which has now risen to $618 million vs $475 million for the last agreement. The arrangement calls for him to submit a non-refundable $60 million. He has a little over two years to complete the purchase.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
that would have been built on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
in Winchester, Nevada
Winchester, Nevada
Winchester is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States that contains part of the Las Vegas Strip. It is one of a number of CDPs in the unincorporated urbanized area directly south of Las Vegas. The population was 26,958 at the 2000 census. It is governed by the Clark County...
, an unincorporated suburban community of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. If built, the tower would have been 1064 feet (324 m) tall, making it the tallest building in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
and the 2nd-tallest structure in the Las Vegas Valley and in the state of Nevada, after the Stratosphere Tower
Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas is a tower, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 5th-tallest structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas.It is owned by Whitehall...
. After two major redesigns, the project was officially canceled in March 2008.
Crown Las Vegas, as originally planned, would have consisted of a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
, a hotel and an observation deck
Observation deck
__FORCETOC__ An observation deck, observation platform or viewing platform is an elevated sightseeing platform usually situated upon a tall architectural structure such as a skyscraper or observation tower...
. The tower would have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
on the former site of the Wet 'n Wild Water Park. The building's architect is Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. The cost of the project was estimated to be $5 billion, and its original completion date was set for 2014.
History
Originally proposed as the "Las Vegas Tower", the name of the building changed when Publishing and Broadcasting LimitedPublishing and Broadcasting Limited
Publishing and Broadcasting Limited was one of Australia's largest companies, with interests primarily in media and gaming. The company demerged in late 2007, spinning out its gaming interests into Crown Limited...
reached an agreement on May 31, 2007 with the tower's developers to invest money in the project and run its casino. As part of the agreement, the project was renamed Crown Las Vegas.
Crown Las Vegas was originally proposed to rise 1888 feet (575 m) by Christopher Milam, a building developer from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. According to KLAS-TV
KLAS-TV
KLAS-TV, virtual channel 8 , is the CBS-affiliated television station serving the Las Vegas, Nevada market; it is owned and operated by Landmark Media Enterprises...
in Las Vegas, the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) was concerned with the proposed height, due to the tower's proximity to McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
and Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
. In November 2006, the FAA issued a "notice of presumed hazard" because the tower's location is 2.5 miles (4 km) north of McCarran Airport's runways.
The FAA had previously stated that anything over 700 feet (213.4 m) on the site chosen for the tower would constitute an air hazard. On October 24, 2007, the FAA denied the project, deeming that the tower was a "hazard to aviation". As a result of the decision, Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
code prohibited its construction at the proposed height. There were plans to resubmit the project, with a new height of 1150 feet (351 m). However, on November 20, 2007, the FAA reached a final decision that no structure taller than 1,064 feet (324 m) would be approved in the site. Developer Christopher Milam then resubmitted the project to the Clark County Planning Commission at the maximum height allowed by the FAA, and the tower was officially approved for construction on December 6, 2007 with a height of 1,064 feet (324 m).
There had been some speculation that Milam may wish to submit plans for the construction of a second, twin tower to also rise 1,064 ft (324 m). If constructed, the two Crown Las Vegas towers would then become the tallest twin towers in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. However, no official plans have been released.
In March 2008, Crown chairman James Packer announced the project was canceled and the site put up for sale. Crown will continue its investment in the under-construction Fontainebleau Resort and Casino
Fontainebleau Resorts
Fontainebleau Resorts, LLC, is a resort-hotel company started by South Florida real estate developers Turnberry Associates and the Plant family in 2005 after their purchase of the famous Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. The two families have a 50% stake in the company each...
on the site next to the proposed Crown Las Vegas site.
Christopher Milan's 2 year option expired in June, 2008. Milam and his partners paid $67.1 million in nonrefundable deposits and fees to Archon between June 2006 and June 2008. In December 2008, developer Christopher Milam resubmitted another bid for the
27 acres (109,265.2 m²) site which has now risen to $618 million vs $475 million for the last agreement. The arrangement calls for him to submit a non-refundable $60 million. He has a little over two years to complete the purchase.
See also
- Crown CasinoCrown CasinoCrown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a large casino and entertainment precinct located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown Casino is a unit of Crown Limited....
, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(Sister Casino) - List of tallest buildings in Las Vegas