The Planning Commission of North Las Vegas has taken a significant step forward in addressing the housing crisis in a historically Black neighborhood by approving plans for a new housing development.
On Wednesday, the Commission approved a project for a 93-lot subdivision located along Carey Avenue, just west of Martin Luther King Boulevard.
This publicly funded initiative is designed to provide new homes for residents of Windsor Park, a community that has been plagued by sinking homes and deteriorating infrastructure for decades.
Commissioner Marissa Guymon expressed her belief that this project will have a profound impact on the lives of the residents.
The City Council is set to vote on the project plans on July 2, as confirmed by city spokeswoman Liz Abebefe.
Concerns regarding the living conditions in Windsor Park were raised by resident Eli Valdez during the Planning Commission meeting.
Valdez described his home as being “falling apart,” highlighting the structural cracks that have developed over time.
He drew a comparison to the game Jenga, illustrating the constant fear of collapse that residents experience due to the instability of their homes.
Windsor Park was constructed in the 1960s over geological faults, leading to significant subsidence issues as groundwater was extracted from an underground aquifer in subsequent decades.
To address this crisis, State Senator Dina Neal introduced legislation in 2023 that would fund a project to allow Windsor Park homeowners to exchange their deteriorating houses for newly constructed ones in the same area.
The Nevada Housing Division subsequently awarded a $37 million contract to Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, a nonprofit affordable-housing firm led by Las Vegas developer Frank Hawkins.
Hawkins, who grew up in Windsor Park and has a background as a former councilman and Raiders player, acquired the project site in April for $9.9 million.
This acquisition included nearly one acre of land on Carey Avenue that is not part of the subdivision, which encompasses approximately 18 acres.
His firm was one of only two bidders for the Windsor Park project, and despite some concerns about both bids, Hawkins’ firm received a higher score in the evaluation process.
Emails obtained through a public records request indicated that some officials involved in the process suggested reopening bids to attract additional developers.
Neal, who has longstanding ties to Hawkins, was part of an advisory committee regarding the contracting process but opted out of evaluating the bids due to her relationship with his family.
Even with her involvement, she expressed concerns about the other applicant and communicated that Hawkins was a strong candidate for the project.
In her correspondence with Housing Division officials, Neal stated there needed to be a prompt decision, reflecting her confidence in Hawkins’ ability to complete the work.
Both Neal and Hawkins have dismissed allegations of impropriety in the bidding process, maintaining that all actions taken were ethical and transparent.
Hawkins emphasized that the suggestion of political influence on the outcome of the contract was unfounded and disappointing.
Following the Planning Commission meeting, Neal reiterated that she did not pressure anyone involved in the process and was focused solely on the well-being of the residents.
Pamela Neal, a Windsor Park resident with no familial connection to the senator, shared her excitement about the new project.
Having lived in her structurally damaged home since the 1970s, she looks forward to moving into a new house with a solid foundation.
“I’m very happy,” she said, expressing her enthusiasm for the developments ahead.
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