Las Vegas City Council Blocks Harlem Nights Casino Plan amid Community Pushback

Plans to construct a towering casino and hotel in the Las Vegas Historic Westside were shelved this week following a decisive vote by the City Council. In a 6-1 decision, council members shot down the Harlem Nights development proposal, citing zoning compliance issues, neighborhood compatibility, and public opposition. The lone vote in favor of the project came from councilwoman Victoria Seaman.

The Planned Casino Would Exceed Zoning Limits

The development project, headed by California investor Shlomo Meiri, envisioned extensive redevelopment of the area surrounding Jackson and F Street. At its latest iteration, the project proposed two 22-story towers, one with a 207-room hotel and 60 condominiums and the other with over 300 apartment units. The project also included a 7,000-square-foot gaming floor and multiple high-end amenities.

Despite several scale-backs from the original plan, which included a 60-story skyscraper, the revised version still drew substantial opposition. Residents packed the council chambers ahead of the vote, voicing concerns about traffic congestion, environmental strain, and potential damage to the neighborhood’s historic character. Many wondered whether the project would benefit the long-neglected neighborhood or merely accelerate gentrification.

City planning staff and the Planning Commission previously recommended against approving the necessary zoning exemptions, citing height restrictions that limit structures in the area to seven stories without special permission. The Harlem Nights project far surpasses these limits, even after several revisions, motivating the Council’s decision.

Further Revisions Are Likely Unavoidable

The Harlem Nights project was plagued with setbacks from the beginning. In 2023, a fire devastated the proposed development site, severely damaging the site of the historic Tokyo Casino. While developers were adamant that they would treat the building’s remains with dignity, the incident sparked questions about whether the planned high-profile venue suited the community’s identity and needs.

Jo Kato, a consultant for the Shlomo Meiri development team, acknowledged the community’s intense response and hinted at future revisions. Unless developers opt to abandon the project, their next step would be additional iterations to bring the proposal into compliance with current zoning laws. However, such a move would likely result in a much smaller-scale venue.

A lot of passion is running right now, so we’ll just have to see where it goes. We look forward to another opportunity to come up with something great.

Jo Kato, Harlem Nights project consultant

Another option would be for the developers to push for a rezoning effort, even if such a measure would entail waiting a year before the matter returns to the City Council for consideration. For now, the Historic Westside remains safe from the towering ambitions of Harlem Nights. However, the debate on how to best utilize this space is far from over.