Harlem Nights Casino Hotel Project Denied by Las Vegas City Council

• The Las Vegas City Council voted almost unanimously on Wednesday to shut down Harlem Nights
• The casino hotel proposed two 22-story towers in Las Vegas’ Historic Westside neighborhood
• Area zoning restrictions limit heights to seven stories so the developer was seeking permission to exceed the limit
• The developer, who was threatened with removal from the meeting for interrupting, stormed out before the vote

The Las Vegas City Council voted on Wednesday to deny land-use entitlements for the controversial Harlem Nights casino hotel during a contentious meeting from which its developer was nearly ejected.

Developer Shlomo Meiri had expressed hope to revitalize the Historic Westside neighborhood by building a 22-story mixed-use casino hotel and apartment complex near Jackson Avenue and F Street that would have exceeded current zoning limits.

His plans for a special use permit and height variance to exceed those limits were shot down 6-1 by councilmembers who ruled them incompatible with the community.

Our community is not looking for a savior. We’re looking for a partner,” said Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, who represents the district and called the project “a behemoth on less than 2 acres.”

Harlem Nights would have included the 22-story Jackson Hotel with 207 rooms and 60 condos, and the Harlem Nights Casino, featuring 7,000 square feet of gaming space.

The project would also have included a second 22-story tower, called the Westside Residence, with 336 apartments. A theater, restaurants, a nightclub, retail stores, and a parking garage were also part of the proposal.

Zoning limits for the area cap heights at seven stories unless a special use permit or variance is granted.

Due to resistance from neighbors, city staff, and the City Planning Commission, which voted last month against recommending land-use entitlements for the project, Meiri scaled those plans down several times.

Meiri interrupted Summers-Armstrong’s statement by stating: “That’s what happens when you have stupid people making decisions in business. They don’t care about the community. All they care about is their personal gain.”

Mayor Berkley threatened to have marshals escort Meiri out of the meeting if he continued interrupting, prompting Meiri to walk out before the vote.

“Cancel it, please,” he stated on his way out.

Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, who ran against Berkley for mayor, cast the lone dissenting vote.

According to the city attorney, Meiri can return with a new pitch in a few months if he follows existing zoning requirements. If he wants to challenge them again, he will have to wait a year.