Downtown Las Vegas is the central business district of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the original gambling district of Las Vegas, prior to the Strip, and the area still incorporates downtown gaming.
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Downtown Las Vegas is centered on Fremont Street (Fremont Street Experience and Fremont East).
The Fremont Street Experience is a canopied street of the downtown area where casinos have been connected to the street and to each other in a unique visual manner. With more than 2 million lights and a state-of-the-art sound system, the Fremont Street Experience brings nightly shows through the world's largest audio-video system. The $70 million attraction features the ultimate in multisensory entertainment. It also brings a variety of exciting special events, cuisine, special entertainment and live concerts throughout the year.[1]
The downtown area in recent years has played second fiddle to the larger and more famous Las Vegas Strip, which is located a few miles to the south. The city has been working on revitalization efforts to entice more visitors and residents to the downtown area.
The city has been successfully working to redevelop Fremont Street just east of the Fremont Street Experience. In 2007, the city of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency joined with Fremont East property and business owners for a $5.5 million streetscape improvement. This three-block renovation included pedestrian-friendly street redesign, landscaping and retro-looking neon signage.[2]
The three-block revitalization of Fremont Street was celebrated on August 24, 2007. Development of this area is intended to increase the draw of downtown Las Vegas by offering a compact, walkable entertainment area of bars and clubs. This area is officially called the Fremont East Entertainment District.
World Market Center Las Vegas is another project on which the city concentrated its efforts. In 2002, WMCLV was announced on a lot adjacent to the city of Las Vegas' redevelopment parcel, as an eight-building complex offering 7,500,000 square feet (700,000 m2) in a facility designed by Jon Jerde. Three of the buildings have opened as of 2011.
The square footage of World Market Center Las Vegas is greater than the Willis Tower in Chicago (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere), and the Empire State Building in New York City.
A third effort put into place is Symphony Park, a mixed-use development in downtown Las Vegas. The city of Las Vegas is undertaking the development on 61 acres (25 ha) located on land purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad. The city acquired the land in 1995. The Symphony Park development will be one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the country.
Symphony Park is being planned by the city of Las Vegas. This is a major project for the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency and the city.[5]
The city is also working to attract events to the downtown area. For instance, in April 2007, the Champ Car World Series hosted the 2007 Vegas Grand Prix in downtown Las Vegas.
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