The North Las Vegas City Council has unanimously approved the construction of a new housing tract aimed at providing better living conditions for residents of the deteriorating Windsor Park neighborhood.
On Wednesday, council members voted in favor of a 93-lot subdivision located along Carey Avenue, just west of Martin Luther King Boulevard.
This publicly funded initiative seeks to offer new homes to residents of Windsor Park, a historically Black community that has faced ongoing struggles with severe structural damage for many years.
Developer Frank Hawkins expressed his intentions to begin construction as early as this month.
“We just want a decent community built for us that we deserve,” stated Nancy Johnson, a longtime resident of Windsor Park, during the council meeting.
Several residents spoke in support of the project and shared their experiences regarding the current state of their neighborhood.
Windsor Park was established in the 1960s but was later built over geological faults, leading to significant sinking issues for homes, roads, and utilities as groundwater from the area was pumped out of the aquifer.
Van Collins, another Windsor Park resident, conveyed his emotional distress when reflecting on the transformation of the neighborhood.
“It’s very emotional,” he told the council.
During the meeting, State Sen. Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, expressed gratitude for the residents for maintaining their hope and resilience, despite the hardships they face.
Neal also took the opportunity to voice her political grievances, thanking city officials for their past actions during her campaign that only strengthened her resolve.
“I want to thank you for every low-down action that you took,” said Neal, emphasizing her commitment to advocating for the community.
The City Council did not respond to Neal’s allegations during the session.
Neal’s legislation, known as the Windsor Park Environmental Justice Act, was instrumental in providing funding for the housing project and enables existing homeowners in Windsor Park to exchange their current homes for new ones within the new subdivision.
The Nevada Housing Division allocated a $37 million contract to Hawkins’ nonprofit, the Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, last year.
Hawkins’ nonprofit acquired the project site for approximately $9.9 million, which included a nearly 1-acre parcel on Carey Avenue that is not part of the planned subdivision covering about 18 acres.
The North Las Vegas Planning Commission had already approved the project in the previous month, paving the way for development.
Hawkins faces strict deadlines for utilizing the allocated funds, as $25 million of the project funding comes from federal COVID relief money that must be spent by the end of 2026 according to the terms of his contract with the Housing Division.
Additionally, the remaining $12 million from state funding must be committed by June 30 and expended by September 15, as any unspent amount would revert to Nevada’s general fund.
According to Christine Hess, chief financial officer of the Housing Division, more than $11 million has already been used for the project, primarily for the land purchase.
Hess revealed that all expenditures to date have been drawn from the COVID relief funds.
During this year’s legislative session, Neal attempted to extend the deadlines associated with state funding and sought an additional $26 million; however, her proposal ultimately did not progress.
With these developments, residents of Windsor Park look forward to a brighter future as they await the establishment of their new community.
image source from：reviewjournal
