The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Las Vegas on Dec. 17 approved a Commercial Visual Improvement Program (CVIP) grant of up to $25,000 to support exterior improvements at White Whale, a new lounge proposed for 111 South Las Vegas Boulevard in the Fremont East Entertainment District. The agency read the resolution and authorized execution of the CVIP agreement during the meeting.

Dina Babsky, director of Economic and Urban Development, summarized the project, saying the building’s exterior was “nothing but a bare brick wall” with no signage and sagging exterior lights. Babsky said the $25,000 CVIP grant would help pay for a new sign, artistic window wraps and lighting repairs, and that the developer is investing roughly $171,000 in the project. Babsky also corrected an initial date reference and said work completion is estimated for Jan. 30, 2026.

Applicant Daniel Young introduced himself for the record and said he and three other local investors developed White Whale to bring a lower-key, community-focused lounge to the downtown area. “We really are happy to be a group of 4 locals who’ve invested a lot of our time to reinvest into the community,” Young said. He described the concept as “an elevated lounge” without DJs, focused on craft cocktails and a speakeasy-style backspace designed for conversation.

Councilwoman Diaz moved to approve the CVIP agreement. The Chair called for a vote and the motion passed by voice vote; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.

The agency offered brief congratulatory remarks to the applicants; no public comments were made on the item during the redevelopment agency portion of the meeting. The CVIP agreement was authorized not to exceed $25,000 from the RDA special revenue fund for Redevelopment Area 1.