Neon Museum requests withdrawal of $2.125 million La Concha relocation grant; commission pauses action

The Commission for the Las Vegas Centennial voted on May 12 to accept a request from the Neon Museum to withdraw, without prejudice, a $2,125,000 grant application tied to the relocation of the La Concha Motel Lobby at 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North.

Seth Floyd, staff to the commission, said the museum sent a letter dated April 1 asking that the item be removed and that the Neon Museum “was not ready to move forward with this request at this time.” Floyd added that the museum had retained structural engineering to evaluate the La Concha structure and that the organization was considering multiple relocation sites. The commission expressed a desire to keep the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas and noted staff is awaiting the museum’s next steps.

A motion to withdraw the grant request without prejudice was made and approved by voice vote. No new funding action was taken. Commissioners asked staff to remain engaged with the museum and to report back if and when the Neon Museum resubmits a formal grant application.

During follow-up comments, commissioners asked whether the La Concha relocation still included potential siting “next to the railroad tracks.” Floyd said he did not know and that it was unclear whether the museum itself had chosen a final site.

The item was listed as Ward 5 on the agenda; the commission’s acceptance of the withdrawal means the requested grant and grant agreement authorization were removed from further consideration until the Neon Museum returns a revised request.