A group of concerned neighbors in Las Vegas has initiated legal action against the planned Campus for Hope project, urging for more comprehensive studies to evaluate its impact on the surrounding area before construction begins.
On Thursday morning, residents gathered for a press conference at the proposed site located at the intersection of Jones Blvd. and Charleston Blvd.
The lawsuit, filed in District Court, seeks an injunction to halt the project until all necessary studies are conducted and made available to the local community.
As of now, the community is awaiting the date for the initial court hearing.
Residents have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clear answers regarding their concerns about the development.
In response, they launched a petition that gathered over 1,000 signatures both in-person and online.
Matthew Wambolt, a concerned resident and a named party in the lawsuit, emphasized that their stance is not against helping the homeless, but rather about ensuring that the right location for the proposed campus has been validated through adequate studies.
Wambolt articulated the group’s frustrations by questioning whether environmental impact studies, urban impact analyses, or traffic pattern assessments have been conducted prior to the project’s advancement.
“If I wanted to build a casino here, you would ask me to do those same things,” Wambolt noted.
Community concerns also include the potential attraction of homeless encampments to the area.
Gail Johnson, a former school teacher, voiced her worries for the safety of students attending schools nearby, highlighting that over 20,000 students reside in the vicinity.
Earlier this year, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development approved the application for a 26-acre campus, designed to be a part of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services.
Before the site announcement, officials reported that various locations throughout the Valley were considered for the project.
This $200 million project aims to address the homeless crisis in Las Vegas Valley and has been in development for several years.
In 2023, the state legislature approved AB528, allocating $100 million to social services focused on assisting the homeless.
Las Vegas resort leaders played a significant role in advocating for the bill, pledging an additional $100 million in support.
In an interview earlier this spring, Kim Jefferies, the CEO of Campus for Hope, detailed the vision for a “transitional housing” model, contrasting it with traditional emergency shelters.
According to Jefferies, individuals will not be able to simply arrive and request a bed, as referrals from social services will be necessary.
The design for the facility aims to replicate a community feel, incorporating elements such as residential places and green spaces reminiscent of a college campus.
The lawsuit names several parties, including the City of Las Vegas, Councilman Brian Knudsen, Clark County, the Campus for Hope, and the State of Nevada.
Both the Attorney General’s Office and Clark County declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
The City of Las Vegas has released a statement regarding the situation, while Campus for Hope also addressed the issue in a separate statement.
As the legal process unfolds, residents continue to seek answers and clarity regarding the future of their community.
image source from：fox5vegas
