Clark County Still Has Not Decided Whether to Tear Down or Fix New Orleans Square, and Tenants Are Waiting

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

On Oct. 21, 2026, the Clark County Redevelopment Agency took up the future of New Orleans Square. Commissioners talked through Nevada state laws on relocation and redevelopment. They also got updated cost figures for the property.

KTNV 13 reported that the meeting ended after a lot of questions and some confusion. Commissioners continued the item to November so they would have more time to understand the state statutes. They also told county staff to start drafting a relocation proposal. That is a plan for how businesses might be moved or helped if they have to leave during construction.

The new cost numbers went up after the county found more problems with the buildings. Here is where they stand now, based on KTNV's report:

Demolish all four buildings: about $3.8 million
Bring the buildings up to code: about $21.4 million
Make the buildings leasable, including new storefront glass and new HVAC: about $25.3 million

Those numbers are much higher than earlier estimates. In March 2026, FOX5 reported that officials put a rehab at about $15 million and demolition at about $3 million. So the cost to save the buildings has climbed by roughly $6 million to $10 million in about seven months, depending on which rehab option you look at.

Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick made it clear the board knows people are waiting. "We've got to make some decisions for people," she said, according to KTNV. "That's our job."

The tenants feel that wait every day. Sabrina Saffel manages Violin Outlet, a shop that has been in the complex for decades. She told KTNV, "Nobody knows what the future is going to hold for New Orleans Square." Tenants say they do not know if they will have months or a year, or whether they will be asked to come back after any work is done.

There is also a community voice in the mix. Monica Gresser of Brazen Architecture said her firm ran a community survey in September. A majority of neighbors and stakeholders who answered said they want the center fixed, not torn down. "It is a little frustrating that nothing is still happening," Gresser told KTNV.

A historic brick building with ornate iron balconies, the French Quarter style that inspired the look of New Orleans Square in Clark County

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

The first reason is money. New Orleans Square is owned by the county's Redevelopment Agency. That means the bill for whatever happens next is paid with public redevelopment dollars, not by a private landlord. A $3.8 million teardown and a $25.3 million rehab are very different uses of that money. Residents have a real stake in which way it goes.

The second reason is the small businesses. These are not big chains with a backup location across town. They are local shops, and some have been at the center for a long time. Every month without an answer makes it harder for them to plan. Should they sign a new lease somewhere else? Should they buy new stock? Should they hire for the holidays? Without a timeline, every one of those choices is a guess.

Saffel put the risk plainly. She told KTNV that "at some point, it might get to the point where it is not worth their time or effort to renovate." Tenants say some businesses have already left in recent years because of the uncertainty, and that is part of why the complex looks as empty as it does now. A center that was once busy is now quiet, in part because nobody knows what comes next.

The third reason is the neighborhood around it. New Orleans Square sits inside the Historic Commercial Center District, near Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported in 2024 that the property sits less than 1.5 miles east of the Strip. This is an older part of the valley with a lot of character and a lot of challenges. What the county does here is a test of its larger plan for the whole district.

FOX5 reported in March that Commissioner Tick Segerblom has called the Commercial Center one of the most dangerous places in the county, citing homeless encampments and break-ins. That same report also found new businesses moving in, including Arty's Steakhouse, a new diner, a new Pilates studio and the return of Lotus of Siam. So the area is at a turning point. A clear decision on New Orleans Square could help push it in one direction or the other.

It helps to look at what each option really means in plain terms.

Option one: tear it down. At about $3.8 million, this is by far the cheapest path on paper. It would clear the land for something new. But it would also end the oldest structure on the property and the French Quarter style look that local businesses have asked the county to save. It would also mean every tenant has to leave, and the land would sit empty until a new plan is ready.

Option two: bring it up to code. At about $21.4 million, this would fix the buildings so they meet current safety and building rules. It keeps the history in place. But on its own, it does not get the spaces fully ready for new tenants.

Option three: make it leasable. At about $25.3 million, this goes one step further. It includes work like new storefront glass and new heating and cooling systems, so the spaces could be rented out again. It is the most expensive choice, but it is also the one that lines up most closely with what a majority of people in Brazen Architecture's September survey said they wanted.

None of these numbers include what happens after. A cleared lot needs a new project. A fixed building needs tenants who will pay rent. That is why the relocation plan and the long-term vision matter just as much as the price tag.

For people who live nearby, the outcome could shape what the next decade looks like on their side of town. A rebuilt or reopened center could bring more foot traffic, more local shops and more reasons to stay in the neighborhood. A long stretch of empty buildings sends a very different message.

A for lease sign on the glass double doors of an empty commercial storefront, like the vacant spaces tenants describe at New Orleans Square

Background and History

The Historic Commercial Center has been around a long time. The first buildings there opened in 1963, according to the center's website, as cited by the Review-Journal. FOX5 reported that in the 1960s and 1970s the area was a major place for shopping, dining and entertainment, with concerts by big-name acts. Over the years, it declined.

New Orleans Square is the oldest structure on the property, according to FOX5. It was built to look like New Orleans, with French Quarter style details. Local businesses have pushed to keep it. FOX5 quoted them in March saying, "We've got to save it."

The county stepped in back in 2024. The Review-Journal reported that the Clark County Redevelopment Agency bought New Orleans Square for $6.5 million. The property covers 1.15 acres and includes several buildings at 900 Liberace Ave. Deed records showed the transfer to the agency in January. At the time, tenants included the Core Contemporary art gallery, The Square Bar and Avantpop Bookstore.

County spokesperson Erik Pappa told the Review-Journal the purchase was tied to an updated master plan for the Historic Commercial Center. He called the Commercial Center the largest of the county's three redevelopment areas and said it "presents the greatest opportunity for change." He also said no decisions had been made yet about plans for the center or New Orleans Square.

So how does a redevelopment area work? FOX5 explained it this way. Tax revenue from business spending inside the district can be put back into improvements in that same district, and local lawmakers decide how that money is used. The county has bought several buildings in the area with the goal of supporting artists, small business incubators and art installations. FOX5 also reported that artists are looking for space after rising rents pushed some of them out of the nearby Arts District.

The area has deep cultural roots too. FOX5 noted that the district has LGBTQ+ cultural importance, that The Badlands is still operating there and that Liberace Avenue runs through it. Its central spot and free parking are often named as two of its biggest strengths.

What Happens Next

The next big date is the Redevelopment Agency's November meeting. That is when commissioners are expected to bring New Orleans Square back up. No official decision, timeline or relocation plan has been announced yet, according to KTNV.

Here is what to watch for when the item comes back:

The relocation proposal. Staff were told to start drafting one on Oct. 21. Look for what it offers tenants, how long they would have, and whether they would be invited back.
The final cost numbers. The estimates have already gone up once this year. Watch whether they move again before a vote.
The choice itself. Demolish for about $3.8 million, bring to code for about $21.4 million, or make leasable for about $25.3 million.
How state law fits in. Commissioners delayed the vote to better understand Nevada's relocation and redevelopment statutes. Their reading of those rules could shape what tenants are owed.

It is also worth remembering that this is not the first time the decision has been pushed. FOX5 reported back in March that the fate of the building had not been decided. Seven months later, it still has not. Each delay gives the county more information, but it also costs tenants more time, and the cost estimates have gone up along the way.

Gresser told KTNV she wishes the county had acted sooner, because "New Orleans Square could really be the catalyst" for the area. Whichever way the board goes, a firm answer would let tenants plan and let the rest of the Commercial Center see where it is headed.

A closed storefront with a metal security gate pulled down, a reminder of what long uncertainty can do to small shops in an older retail center

Ryan's Take

I talk with a lot of buyers about older parts of the valley, and the question I hear most is simple: "Is this area getting better or not?" Projects like New Orleans Square are how you answer that. When a public agency buys property and starts making plans, it is a signal that it wants change. But the signal only means something once a decision is made and work starts. Right now, this one is still stuck in the planning stage.

What I would watch is the follow-through. Clean, clear decisions tend to bring private investment along with them. Long delays can do the opposite, because good tenants leave and buildings sit empty. If you own a home or rental near Maryland Parkway and Sahara, the November vote is worth paying attention to. It will not change your home's value overnight, but it will tell you a lot about the direction of your part of town over the next several years.

A metal stepladder leaning against a commercial building entrance with a for lease sign, the kind of in-between moment New Orleans Square is stuck in

What You Can Do

If you want a say, the best place to start is the Clark County Redevelopment Agency meeting in November. County meetings post their agendas ahead of time on the Clark County website, and they usually include a time for public comment. If you live or work near the Commercial Center, speaking up or sending a written comment is the most direct way to be heard.

You can also support the businesses that are still there. Tenants have said the uncertainty has already pushed some shops out. A visit, a purchase or a good review helps a small business get through a hard stretch. If you have never been, Liberace Avenue and the blocks around it are worth a look, and FOX5 has noted that free parking is one of the area's perks.

Finally, if you own property nearby or are thinking about buying in Paradise, keep an eye on what the county decides. Ask questions about nearby projects before you buy, and look at what is planned around a home, not just the home itself.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com