New developments underway in the Arts District

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — When Brett Robillard sees the vacant lots in the Arts District, he says, he sees a canvas.

“I think there is a huge amount of opportunity here to create an environment that is great for locals, and visitors," he said. "In the heart of downtown, to have such vacancy is an opportunity but also an unusual circumstance."

Robillard is an architect who works for Stantec and is currently working on two projects in the Arts District.

The first one is an office space called, The Charleston. It's a three-story building at the intersection of Charleston Blvd. and Art Way.

The second project is called ZLife Hotel. Robillard describes it as a four-story, boutique hotel with 76 rooms, that will also be home to a 125+ seat restaurant featuring a widely known chef. The property will not have a casino.

"Even though it's a small project by Las Vegas standards, I think that it offers a non-gaming entity that will bring a different kind of clientele down to the Arts District," he said. "I mean, as a hotel, obviously there are visitors. However, we also want to have amenities that are geared towards locals so it is more of a fusion between locals and visitors. We are decidedly focused on working in the Arts District and creating a sense of community with great buildings downtown," Robillard said.

Derek Stonebarger, the President of the Arts District Board, says he's pleased to see how much growth is coming to the area.

"This is where the locals hang out, true locals, true community," he said. "There is a lot of potential for growth here."

Derek says the Arts District gives a real feel for local culture, and right now, many folks are helping build it up and define its character as more than a community for art.

"Something cool is happening," he said. "It's not all big businesses, it's a lot of mom and pop shops. It's a lot of people who invested their 401(k) and cashed in all of their chips."

Robillard says the Strip will always be synonymous with the valley. However, he's hopeful that the Arts District will solidify its place as a unique part of the Downtown Las Vegas landscape.

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“I would like to think that it has the potential to be a destination that is not dissimilar to the Gaslamp District in San Diego, or the Design District in Miami," he said. "I think the future is really bright, there is a lot of opportunities."