The North Las Vegas Planning Commission has taken a significant step forward this week by approving plans for a new 93-lot housing subdivision designed for residents of Windsor Park, a nearby neighborhood facing severe structural issues.
Located along Carey Avenue, just west of Martin Luther King Boulevard, this publicly funded development aims to provide essential housing solutions for residents affected by decades of problems, including sunken homes, deteriorating roads, and unreliable utilities.
Commissioner Marissa Guymon emphasized the importance of this project, stating, “This is something that is going to change people’s lives.”
The city’s council is scheduled to vote on the project’s specific plans on July 2, as confirmed by city spokeswoman Liz Abebefe.
Residents like Eli Valdez have voiced their concerns during the Planning Commission meetings, describing the dire conditions within Windsor Park.
“Homes in the neighborhood are falling apart,” Valdez said, referencing the dangerous cracks in his house.
Using a Jenga analogy, he explained how the precarious state of their homes creates a constant fear of impending disaster—comparable to a tower of blocks that can topple over if it leans too far.
Windsor Park, which dates back to the 1960s, was initially built over geological faults, leading to severe sinking issues when groundwater was extracted from an underground aquifer.
In response to these challenges, State Sen. Dina Neal introduced a bill in 2023 to finance a project allowing homeowners in Windsor Park to trade their deficient houses for newly constructed homes nearby.
Following this initiative, the Nevada Housing Division awarded a $37 million project contract to Frank Hawkins, a Las Vegas developer and founder of the Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, a nonprofit organization focused on affordable housing.
Hawkins acquired the project site for $9.9 million in April 2023.
The site spans around 18 acres and includes an additional nearly 1-acre parcel on Carey Avenue that is not within the subdivision’s boundaries.
Hawkins, who grew up in Windsor Park and previously served as a Las Vegas councilman and a player for the Raiders, has a long-standing connection with Sen. Neal and her family.
Despite being the only other bidder for the project, concerns arose about the bidding process from various officials who suggested reopening the contract to attract more developers.
Neal participated in the contracting process as an advisory committee member but chose not to evaluate the bids due to her friendship with her late father, Joe Neal, who was Nevada’s first Black state senator and passed away in 2020 at the age of 85.
Nevertheless, Neal was vocal about her reservations concerning the other applicant, stating in emails that a decision needed to be made to expedite the process.
She referenced Hawkins as “the only clear person who is willing to do this work, qualified and will do this,” and expressed her concern that dragging out the bidding would pose a problem.
Despite some controversy, both Hawkins and Neal maintain that their actions throughout the bidding process were ethical and transparent.
Hawkins has expressed disappointment over claims that political influence may have swayed the process, stating, “We have always adhered to ethical and transparent practices.”
Attending the Planning Commission meeting, Neal reiterated her integrity throughout the process, declaring, “I didn’t try to stray anyone anywhere” and affirmed that the “best person won the bid.”
Residents such as Pamela Neal, who shares no familial ties to the senator, conveyed their enthusiasm about the imminent changes.
With her family having owned their home since the 1970s, she has witnessed the significant structural damages firsthand, including large cracks in her walls that require ongoing maintenance from her husband.
Looking towards the future, she expressed her excitement about moving into a new house built on a solid foundation, stating, “I’m very happy” about the forthcoming project.
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