The Movable Buffet

Dispatches from Las Vegas
by Richard Abowitz

Category: Ivana Trump

Condo Crazy Las Vegas: George Clooney and Ivana Trump and Me

December 16, 2005 |  4:12 pm
Ivanatrump_hfba34kf Since leaving the parental nest I have always lived in apartments. I am not fussy as long I've got my books, my music, my cats and a door to get out. So, before I moved here in 1999, I rented the first apartment I found on the Internet and I am still living there now. Few understand why I stay here as my apartment was built in the 80's (ancient by Vegas standards) and has construction problems that are apparent even to me (light switches that are wired backwards, a roof that doesn't keep the rain out, and is so porous that during the summer the air conditioner running full time can't get my two bedroom apartment lower than 85 degrees and, most disturbingly, odd dark stains on the ceiling that each year seem to mysteriously grow). And, yet, I have never really thought of moving. But last week in the mail I got a notice that even my cruddy apartment complex is hoping to go condo and if I am not interested in purchasing all this luxury I will be required to move next year.
Yes, Las Vegas has gone condo crazy. In the last 18 months 70 condo towers have been announced. And, now that boom is predictably going bust. The Las Vegas Sun has an article, "LV Condos Toppling Before They Rise," about the condominiums that have failed so far (including Ivana Trump's planned high rise, Ivana Las Vegas).   They quote one developer:

"It's the combination of rising construction costs, rising land prices and the fact that the mid- and high-rise condo market (in Las Vegas) is still in its infancy," said John Restrepo, principal of Restrepo Consulting Group.

He said the fever to build a condo tower in Las Vegas was equivalent to a gold rush. But getting a condo project off the ground is tougher than drawing up a rendering and having a slick marketing campaign.

"There's a certain segment that are more promoters than developers, more snake-oil salesmen," Restrepo said.

Continue reading »


Advertisement

About the Bloggers

Recent Comments


Categories


Recent Posts
Movable Buffet: Final entry |  November 4, 2009, 1:05 pm »
Photos from Fangoria: Trinity of Terrors |  November 1, 2009, 8:45 am »
Oops, I am a tourist (and it's expensive) |  October 31, 2009, 10:00 am »
Fright Dome: Huge haunted houses at Circus Circus |  October 30, 2009, 11:47 am »

Archives