Decades of structural issues at Windsor Park have prompted a local developer to embark on a housing project aimed at providing new homes for residents of the neighborhood in North Las Vegas.
Developer Frank Hawkins, who heads the nonprofit Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, has outlined plans for a 93-lot subdivision as part of a $37 million contract awarded by the Nevada Housing Division.
The funding for the project comes primarily from federal COVID relief funds, amounting to $25 million, which must be utilized by the end of 2026.
However, the remaining $12 million allocated by the state requires immediate attention; these funds must be committed for expenditure by June 30 and spent by September 15.
If the funds are not utilized within these time frames, they will revert to the state’s general fund, raising concerns among local officials.
Christine Hess, the chief financial officer of the Nevada Housing Division, informed lawmakers of the current budget status, indicating that over $11 million has already been spent, mainly on Hawkins’ $9.9 million land acquisition.
State Senator Dina Neal, who introduced the financing bill in 2023 and represents North Las Vegas, acknowledges the urgency of the situation.
Neal recently attempted to extend the deadlines for the state funding and secure additional financial assistance through new legislation, but these efforts did not succeed.
“Clearly, it’s a concern,” Neal stated, emphasizing the need to act quickly to ensure the state funds are committed before the deadline.
Under the contract with the Housing Division, Hawkins’ firm has the option to seek additional financing from alternative sources if necessary.
However, Neal pointed out that there has been no discussion about seeking outside loans at this time.
Instead, she hinted at the possibility of requesting more funds from lawmakers if the original state allocation falls through.
Despite these pressing concerns, Hawkins continues to push forward with the development.
The site for the planned housing project, located along Carey Avenue just west of Martin Luther King Boulevard, was acquired by Hawkins’ firm in April.
The North Las Vegas Planning Commission has recently approved the plans for the roughly 18-acre project, with a City Council vote scheduled for July 2.
“We have $37 million to build up to 93 homes, and that’s what we’re going to do,” said Hawkins during an interview.
He added that he is not worried about the approaching deadlines, stating, “Even if I did, there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s not my purview.”
Windsor Park, originally established in the 1960s, has been beset by geological challenges, including homes and infrastructure sinking due to groundwater depletion from surrounding aquifers.
Neal’s 2023 legislation, known as the Windsor Park Environmental Justice Act, allows current homeowners to exchange their damaged homes for new ones constructed nearby.
This March, she sponsored a bill aimed at revising the original measure to seek an additional $26 million from the state, along with extending the previously-set deadlines for committing and spending the state funding by two years.
Addressing the Senate Finance Committee, Neal asserted that pushing back the deadlines is crucial to “continue to finish the project” and emphasized the additional funding as essential for completing the initiative in its entirety.
In subsequent discussions with the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, she acknowledged the skepticism surrounding the project’s financial viability, pointing out the political hurdles the initiative has faced.
Despite efforts to advance the bill, it ultimately stalled and did not reach Governor Joe Lombardo’s desk during the recent legislative session, which concluded in early June.
As the deadlines approach, the urgency grows for Hawkins and local officials to ensure that the project moves forward and benefits the Windsor Park residents who have long awaited a resolution to their housing issues.
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