History
In October 2005, after failed negotiations with The Related Co. on the development of Union Park, San Diego-based Newland Communities was chosen by the city as the new development firm. The Newland contract calls for Dan Van Epp, Newland's regional vice president and former president of the Howard Hughes Corp., to oversee his company's work on Union Park.
Originally Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced plans to include a baseball stadium within the Union Park project, however the stadium has since been removed as part of the master plan.
The city approved initial infrastructure plans for $40 million in bonds necessary to finance the 61 acres project. The City Council also approved a development agreement for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, a planned 2,050-seat performing arts center, as well as a development agreement for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health being designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. It was the first building at Symphony Park to began construction in 2007 and opened in May 2010.
The Las Vegas Performing Arts Center Foundation, in partnership with the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency, is developing The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Upon completion, this facility will be the first regional performing arts center in the Las Vegas valley. The city is donating a 4.77-acre (1.93 ha) site in Symphony Park on which The Smith Performing Arts Center will be built. The project is being funded through a tax on car rentals in Clark County, together with private fund-raising led by the foundation. The Reynolds Foundation has committed a $50 million endowment to ensure the long-term success of the center’s operations. The center's design is projected to be completed by third quarter 2008. The city will oversee bidding and construction of the project's first phase. The Center began construction in early 2010 is will open in 2012.
In November 2010, the city council considered adding a sports arena component to Symphony Park replacing some of the residential parcels.
When the project first started it was known as Union Park. On May 20, 2009, the Las Vegas City Council renamed the area as Symphony Park.
In August 2010, Lied Discovery Children's Museum announced plans to construct and occupy a new home and larger home in Symphony Park beginning in 2012.
Read more about this topic: Symphony Park
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—Milan Kundera (b. 1929)
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