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Haha, yeah it is a lot like Aurora (not a good thing for those who don't know). That's good that Luv-It is still there. Used to go there as a kid.
Ya, one of the last things we did before leaving town was hit up our regular favorite spots, and we were sure to get Luv-Its. Only it's a little scary when you are there ordering at night and there's bums scouting everyone in line. That's a cash only line and they know it. One of us orders, the others watch his back.
What I think a lot of people from out of state are looking for is what I have in Ballard, or other Seattlites have in Wallingford, Fremont, Phinney Ridge....they want to be able to walk to a pub, a grocery, a cafe, a coffee shop, the post office, and then right back to their safe high-end house, like they are used to doing. Las Vegas doesn't have a 400k house, an 800k house and a 1M house, all built on the same street as heavy traffic and a Red Mill burger and a zoo. In Vegas those houses would be safely tucked in a gate community and only residential. Now there are some places on heavily traveled streets like Jones or Eastern, where the homes converted to commerical, so you may have 3 houses in a row, and the 4th was converted to a law firm or tax firm. But they aren't great areas. It's the nature of the beast, Vegas was built with commerical centers, surrounded by many gated or walled off communities. So if you live in Silverado Ranch like I did, you can take that long walk to Eastern and Silverado and do shopping, but it's not truly set up to be a "walking town", plus your ice cream might melt on the way home .
The above poster is right about John S Park. I think 50 years ago that place was spot on for a walking neighborhood. Areas around Huntridge Theater, Huntridge Pharmacy where you can still eat at the counter......the problem is that area has turned for the worse. Those are the houses that should be snapped up, restored to their original design, and the whole area should go through a regentrification. I drove through John S Park, and out of ten houses on the street one would be pristine. Probably the same old lady who's owned it for the last 50 years. All the others were trashed, clothe's lines hanging in the front drying. Las Vegas neighborhoods always start out great, they just never age well. I don't know what the solution would be? Maybe register these neighborhoods historically, and require new buyers to stick to some strict code of fixing them up?
To answer your question: Crazy to live in downtown LV? Most likely.
Disclaimer: My comments below are harsh, but I really am only discussing downtown which is separate from the other areas in the city that I could say plenty of nice things about.
I worked in downtown Vegas for 3+ years and it is not a desirable place to live. It's not a downtown. It's okay to visit on a Friday/Saturday night if you are into drinking and gambling at the older, less trendy casinos (Golden Nugget is nice however) and maybe a stop by Hugo's for a nice dinner, but there isn't much else. Lots of empty buildings, empty courthouses, empty stores, pawn shops, etc. There's no shopping, no grocery stores, no farmers markets. The business district consists of one or two buildings. It's also very small - head a couple blocks over from Fremont street and you'll have a very strong desire to turn around.
Another thing to point out is that the neighborhoods surrounding downtown are some of the worst in the city and in the country. That isn't highly unusual for a downtown but in other cities you at least get the perks of living downtown. To me it's a lose-lose.
I did check out the so-called "arts" district a couple times and even though it's nice that there is something, it's mostly just a novelty to go check out on First Friday once or twice a year. Las Vegas just isn't that type of town. There are artists, of course, but it's not why anyone chooses to live there.
In a nutshell, if you're used to Seattle and not just downtown Seattle, but any of the surrounding neighborhoods you will be dissapointed living in downtown LV. It's not a real "downtown" and won't be for a long time, if ever.
I grew up in South Seattle and remember when there was "no hope." Columbia City is the classic example of gentrification. What I see or actually feel is that that same budding energy is also present in the Arts District. Can it be as successful as Columbia City, I do not know, but I just get the sense it is going in the right direction. imho.
I don't doubt it is going in the right direction...it obviously is since there was nothing there 10 years ago. Anything is possible and I think it would be a great thing for Vegas to have a Columbia City type area. I'm pessimistic simply because it's not in the Vegas DNA.
Having lived in Las Vegas and Seattle, I can say that there is a marked difference in the people and what they look for in their environment, food, culture, and so on. Obviously both have transplants and you can easily bump into someone on the street in Seattle who is from Las Vegas or Phoenix and vice versa, but overall, the general vibe is quite different between the two, and I can say that Vegas just doesn't value the arts, locally owned business, and the "hip" culture that places like Seattle do.
It's the norm to live in tract housing and eat dinner at chain restaurants and Casinos almost exclusively in Vegas. I don't think it's a bad thing personally, but that existence is mocked in Seattle. People here pride themselves on eating local organic food and shopping at mom and pop stores. Wal-Mart's are hard to find. It's snobbery to some extent, but more often than not, those are the people who are going to fuel an arts district and they are much more rare in Vegas.
I do think that if enough of those people get together you can see it happen in Vegas and it obviously is happening, but I guess it's a question of how much patience you have and if it's worth it. It will be a struggle in that town and in my opinion when I was down there a couple years ago it all appeared a bit forced, but again, something is better than nothing.
Having lived in Las Vegas and Seattle, I can say that there is a marked difference in the people and what they look for in their environment, food, culture, and so on. Obviously both have transplants and you can easily bump into someone on the street in Seattle who is from Las Vegas or Phoenix and vice versa, but overall, the general vibe is quite different between the two, and I can say that Vegas just doesn't value the arts, locally owned business, and the "hip" culture that places like Seattle do.
It's the norm to live in tract housing and eat dinner at chain restaurants and Casinos almost exclusively in Vegas. I don't think it's a bad thing personally, but that existence is mocked in Seattle. People here pride themselves on eating local organic food and shopping at mom and pop stores. Wal-Mart's are hard to find. It's snobbery to some extent, but more often than not, those are the people who are going to fuel an arts district and they are much more rare in Vegas.
I do think that if enough of those people get together you can see it happen in Vegas and it obviously is happening, but I guess it's a question of how much patience you have and if it's worth it. It will be a struggle in that town and in my opinion when I was down there a couple years ago it all appeared a bit forced, but again, something is better than nothing.
Vegas' nature of being a transient city detracts from it having a true vibrant arts district, true artists not really setting roots here but its improving. Add the fact Downtown is a less desirable area to reside in surrounded by not so pleasant areas and with nice neighborhoods whether tract housing or custom built homes just a very short ride away. People opt to live away from Downtown for these reasons.
Zappos might help transform Downtown with its younger demographic employees some of whom will definitely be residing Downtown. As far as the Arts District, all I can say is look at the two ugly "paintbrushes". Many locals are actually proud of these two ugly "paintbrushes" welcoming people to the Arts District. With the amount of money spent on these 2 very expensive art pieces, the city should have at least gotten better public art pieces. Worse these art pieces were not made by local artists. As I have said here, the electrical posts next to these "paintbrushes" have more artistry on them.
As far as the dining scene, I like chain restaurants and with resorts having their own 24 hour cafes, mom and pop establishments will have a tough time competing. There are some independently owned restaurants but I prefer to eat at chain restaurants or the 24 hr cafes inside the casinos.
Mind you these chain restaurants and cafes have so much on the menu the variety is great plus these restaurants give better value for your money. Vegas is great as far as the dining scene whether you prefer, celebrity owned restaurants, chain, 24 hr cafes or mom and pop, it definitely has something for everyone.
One of the problems with all this is the definition of downtown.
To me the Scotch 80s, the Alta and Rancho area as well as John Parks and Huntridge are all downtown. And the Newport/Soho lofts.
And there are other lesser neighborhoods that qualify. YOu can get a half acre horse property four miles off the strip.
So one can easily spend two million for a "downtown" place. McNeil and the Huntridge/Parks are certainly coming back. Some magnificent places though they may need 30K to update.
Note that none of these are in the arts district.
Crime in most of these areas is relatively light. In fact some are likely as tight as anywhere in Las Vegas.
Schools are a problem though Our Lady of Las Vegas covers it for much of the area if you are willing to deal with a broad minded parochial school. For high school Clark is ok for a bright student...ship the others to a private school .
If you wish to live within half a mile of Fremont it is more daring. Though there are a few places that work as long as no children are involved and you are urban smart.
Perhaps the OP would return and clarify what was meant by "100 miles away from everything"? What is "everything" to you? Casinos? Farmer's Markets? Walkable neighborhoods? Cultural centers? Public transit hubs? Taquerias? Movie theatres? Public libraries? Live music venues? If you could be more clear on the places and place-qualities that you are looking for, we could offer better advice.
Ya, one of the last things we did before leaving town was hit up our regular favorite spots, and we were sure to get Luv-Its. Only it's a little scary when you are there ordering at night and there's bums scouting everyone in line. That's a cash only line and they know it. One of us orders, the others watch his back.
Geeze, that sounds terrible...I probably won't head there for old-times sake when I'm visiting family in Vegas. Not too excited about fighting off bums to get some desert.
Perhaps the OP would return and clarify what was meant by "100 miles away from everything"? What is "everything" to you? Casinos? Farmer's Markets? Walkable neighborhoods? Cultural centers? Public transit hubs? Taquerias? Movie theatres? Public libraries? Live music venues? If you could be more clear on the places and place-qualities that you are looking for, we could offer better advice.
OP would probably be interested to find an area within walking distance from the Downtown core (Fremont St). There are options but the location itself would not be very appealing, at least to me. The other side of Symphony park is not any better and defeats the purpose of living near the Downtown core since it is not really advisable to walk nor an easy walk to Downtown.
There is a newly (less than 5 years) built loft style living on Fremont, the mid rise condos and small single family homes near the law offices and the Mormon compound. The problem with living in the Downtown core aside from the location and safety issue is the lack of grocery stores. The only grocery store nearest would be Resnicks and that is more like a mini mart than a grocery store. There is a Hispanic grocery store on East Charleston and Maryland Parkway but I would not walk there anytime of the day, not at all an appealing area to walk nor reside if you ask me.
I don't doubt it is going in the right direction...it obviously is since there was nothing there 10 years ago. Anything is possible and I think it would be a great thing for Vegas to have a Columbia City type area. I'm pessimistic simply because it's not in the Vegas DNA.
Having lived in Las Vegas and Seattle, I can say that there is a marked difference in the people and what they look for in their environment, food, culture, and so on. Obviously both have transplants and you can easily bump into someone on the street in Seattle who is from Las Vegas or Phoenix and vice versa, but overall, the general vibe is quite different between the two, and I can say that Vegas just doesn't value the arts, locally owned business, and the "hip" culture that places like Seattle do.
It's the norm to live in tract housing and eat dinner at chain restaurants and Casinos almost exclusively in Vegas. I don't think it's a bad thing personally, but that existence is mocked in Seattle. People here pride themselves on eating local organic food and shopping at mom and pop stores. Wal-Mart's are hard to find. It's snobbery to some extent, but more often than not, those are the people who are going to fuel an arts district and they are much more rare in Vegas.
I do think that if enough of those people get together you can see it happen in Vegas and it obviously is happening, but I guess it's a question of how much patience you have and if it's worth it. It will be a struggle in that town and in my opinion when I was down there a couple years ago it all appeared a bit forced, but again, something is better than nothing.
This is all true. Not right, wrong, better or worse, just a fact. Seattle isn't near as hippie-ish as Portland, but there is a hippie vibe to it. It's almost a "reverse snobbery" if you will. Don't think of carrying that Coach bag and wearing those Loius Vuitton shoes (though some do). There's a fashion sense, just different. Think REI and messenger bags. You'll see people shoeless at the farmers markets, lots of street musicians, more dreadlocks per capita probably with the exception of Portland or Jamaica, LOL. They shun conglomerates, chains, and pride themselves in supporting locals. There aren't many chains. Of the few there are most are outside city limits, in cities like Bellevue. The few in city limits there may be one of that joint. The only Baja Fresh in town closed down. People just won't go. Don't get me wrong, growing up in Vegas I LOVE my chains and when we head back to visit I litterally plan my week around where I'm eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. I miss my regular spots.
The closest thing I came to in Vegas for a Seattle style place was a coffee shop at Alexander and Tenaya called Art From the Heart. You can get coffee, lunch and art lessons. All the art in the restaurant on display was local artists for sale. They had "no perfume" signs on the door (trying to keep the air allergen free) and they shunned Starbucks. Anti Starbucks signs everywhere. I absolutely loved that place and even when I moved to the south side of town I drove all the way back northwest just for that store. Sadly, after about ten years of going they stopped serving the drinks and food, and stuck only with the painting. The owner said they just weren't getting enough local business to make the food costs worth it. A place like that in Seattle would be standing room only.
It will take locals in Vegas an effort, but it would mean chosing to support local artists, stores and shops. This always costs more. My food prices at chains in Vegas were always less than what I pay in Seattle, so we eat out less and are more choosey. It's really just a difference in how the cities are ran, and I think it's a mistake to try to turn one into the other. Everyone always moves to Vegas and then looks for what they just had. It's not going to happen, and vice versa. I suppose they could get the arts district up and going, and it may end up being this great thing.
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