Harlem Nights Casino Hotel Project Denied by Las Vegas City Council

On Wednesday, the Las Vegas City Council voted to reject land-use entitlements for the disputed Harlem Nights casino hotel amid a heated meeting in which its developer faced near expulsion. 

Developer Shlomo Meiri aimed to rejuvenate the Historic Westside area by constructing a 22-story mixed-use casino hotel and apartment complex close to Jackson Avenue and F Street, potentially surpassing existing zoning regulations. 

His proposals for a special use permit and height variance to surpass those limits were rejected 6-1 by council members who deemed them unsuitable for the community.

"Our community is not looking for a savior. We’re looking for a partner,” said Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, who represents the district and called the project “a behemoth on less than 2 acres.”

Harlem Nights was set to feature the 22-story Jackson Hotel, which would have 207 rooms and 60 condos, along with the Harlem Nights Casino that offered 7,000 square feet of gaming area. 

The initiative would additionally feature a second 22-story building, named the Westside Residence, housing 336 apartments. The proposal included a theater, dining establishments, a nightclub, shops, and a parking garage. 

Zoning regulations for the area restrict building heights to seven stories unless a special use permit or variance is obtained. 

Meiri first revealed more ambitious plans for the project, which he titled after the 1989 film featuring Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor. The original proposals featured one 60-story hotel comprising 764 rooms, a 10,000 square-foot casino, and 458 residential units. 

As a result of opposition from nearby residents, city officials, and the City Planning Commission, which last month voted against endorsing land-use entitlements for the project, Meiri reduced those plans multiple times. 

Meiri cut off Summers-Armstrong’s comment by saying: “That’s what occurs when foolish individuals make business decisions." They have no interest in the community. Their only concern is their own benefit. 

Mayor Berkley warned he would have marshals remove Meiri from the meeting if he kept interrupting, leading Meiri to leave before the vote. 

“Cancel it, please,” he stated on his way out.

Councilwoman Victoria Seaman, who competed against Berkley for mayor, was the only one to cast a dissenting vote. 

As stated by the city attorney, Meiri may return with a revised proposal in a few months if he adheres to current zoning regulations. To challenge them once more, he must wait a year.