Symphony Park is the largest brownfield site in Las Vegas, and is the former site of the Union Pacific Railroad maintenance yard. Contamination is primarily from fuels affecting both soil and groundwater. In the late 1990s, city leadership saw the potential in redeveloping this site as a catalyst for downtown revitalization. Initial phase 1 and 2 testing was conducted in preparation for development. Design standards were created as well as a development plan.
Symphony Park is beginning to spur revitalization in the surrounding areas of downtown. This transformation began in 2000, when the city was able to secure the commitment of the Cleveland Clinic to locate a major research and treatment clinic on the site. This was followed by the commitment to locate The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Symphony Park. Both are world-class facilities, which are now complete and operational. More recently, two parking garages with ground floor office and retail have opened as well as the first two residential mixed use projects bringing the first residents to the area. New retail, restaurants, medical office, hospitality and housing are planned or in process.
The purpose of the Environmental Protection Agency grant is to address remediation and clean up needs on Symphony Park parcels J/K and L North/M4.
After clean-up, the parcels will be redeveloped by private developers in accordance with the city’s 2045 Downtown Master Plan and Symphony Park Design Standards. The city is currently negotiating with developers to develop mixed-use projects that may consist of medical office, office, cultural facilities, housing (for rent or for sale), hospitality, food/beverage, and/or retail.
Converse Consultants were awarded the recent bid for a certified environmental manager or qualified environmental person for the grant award. Converse’s contract is scheduled to be on the Nov. 6 City Council meeting for action. If approved, the consultants will begin work in mid-November, conducting and updating a number of studies and the work plan prior to remediation and overseeing the remediation and close out of the work.