Developers win approval for hotel, plaza and retail at Debbie Reynolds site near Convention Center

Clark County commissioners approved a phased redevelopment of the former Debbie Reynolds property on the south side of Convention Center Drive, authorizing a two-phase project with a retail-and-plaza element to be built first and a 620-foot-tall, non-gaming, convention-oriented hotel to follow.

The project, presented by a representative for the applicant and developer Lorenzo Dovany, would include about 66,000 square feet of restaurants and retail in a plaza fronting Convention Center Drive and a later hotel tower with about 604 total rooms and convention facilities. The applicant said the plaza would be built first and the hotel would follow in a later phase.

County staff and the Winchester Town Board recommended approval. The commission read into the record an additional condition requested by the Department of Aviation requiring that "all cranes and temporary equipment will require separate FAA airspace determinations" and that a crane plan and FAA determinations be submitted before building permits are issued. The developer agreed to comply.

Why it matters: the site sits directly across from the expanded Las Vegas Convention Center and commissioners said the project will add retail and meeting capacity aimed at convention business. County officials also flagged the airport safety paperwork because the hotel tower height and construction cranes require FAA review.

Commission discussion and details: the applicant described the site as narrow and long, spanning from Convention Center Drive to Debbie Reynolds Drive, and said prior approvals for the parcel dated to 2018. Project materials submitted to the county include waivers for loading space and sign design changes; staff recommended approval for the waivers that remain necessary after the applicant revised site circulation to reduce driveway conflicts.

Developer Lorenzo Dovany told the commission the retail plaza is intended to begin first, with the hotel to follow. "This portion is going to be built first," he said, calling the design "convention oriented and wellness oriented." The developer estimated the plaza build could start in March (developer-provided schedule) and said the hotel tower would be a longer, multi-year build.

Public hearing and outcome: no members of the public spoke on the item. The commission approved the applications, with the aviation/FAA condition read into the record and standard conditions listed in the staff report.

Next steps: the project will advance to permitting, with FAA airspace determinations and a crane/temporary equipment plan required before issuance of building permits per the added condition. If the developer proceeds with phasing, county staff will track the separate permit packages for the plaza and the hotel.