Aliante, North Las Vegas

Aliante is a master-planned community located in North Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2001, American Nevada Corporation and Del Webb Corporation formed North Valley Enterprises, which purchased 1,900 acres (770 ha) of land in the city and began construction of the community a year later, with the opening held in May 2003. Aliante is located in the city's northwestern area.^[1]

History

Mike Montandon moved to North Las Vegas in 1992, at a time when 7,500 acres (3,000 ha) of land in the city, owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), was labeled for use as a future master-planned community. Montandon became the mayor of North Las Vegas in 1997, and pushed for the land to be sold as one contiguous piece. Approximately 1,900 acres (770 ha) were auctioned in May 2001. North Valley Enterprises, a joint-venture affiliate of Del Webb Corporation and American Nevada Corporation, won the auction with a $47.2-million bid,^[2] at approximately $25,000 per acre.^[3] On August 13, 2002, North Valley Enterprises announced the 1,900-acre Aliante master-planned community.^[2]

The community was ultimately expected to include 7,500 homes and 20,000 residents. D. R. Horton, KB Home, Pardee Homes and Pulte, four of the top six home builders in the Las Vegas Valley, were scheduled to begin construction on the community's first 1,750 homes in October 2002, with sales starting the following month and a grand opening set for April 2003. Most of Aliante's neighborhoods would be priced between $130,000 and $200,000, while some larger homes, starting at 3,000 sq ft (280 m²), would sell for $270,000.^[2]

North Valley Enterprises was required to set aside 22 percent of its property for public and recreation purposes, as part of its development agreement with the North Las Vegas government. The community would include a trail system, a public 18-hole, 6,900-yard golf course, and 45 acres (18 ha) of park land that would include an amphitheater, soccer fields and tennis and volleyball courts. Montandon said, "We had to walk that fine line between how much (land) we leave on the table for the developer and how much do we extract so the community of North Las Vegas benefits 10, 15, 20 years down the road."^[2]

The community was also to include two elementary schools and a middle school, all of which would be built by the Clark County School District. Property had also been selected for a fire station and a potential library. Aliante was zoned for 100 acres (40 ha) of commercial property, which included 40 acres (16 ha) for a hotel and casino to be located at Simmons Street and the Las Vegas Beltway.^[2] Montandon was initially against a casino being included in Aliante, but was later convinced that it was a good idea.^[4] Prior to Aliante's announcement, North Las Vegas had been considered the Las Vegas Valley's lower-class area,^[5] with a reputation for high crime.^[6]

Groundbreaking took place in August 2002.^[7] Aliante celebrated its official grand opening on May 3, 2003.^[8]^[9] At that time, Kilduff estimated that the community would take approximately five years to be entirely built out, contingent on demand. Aliante's first phase consisted of approximately 1,750 single-family detached homes, ranging from the mid-$100,000s to the upper-$200,000s.^[8] By the time of opening, the BLM was planning to auction the remaining 5,595 acres (2,264 ha) over the next several years. Montandon said that Aliante would help retain residents once they become financially successful, saying, "One of the problems we have is that people move out of North Las Vegas when they have a little success." Montandon also said that for the first few years, Aliante would likely cost more money than it could generate in taxes: "Rooftops are a drain on resources, police, fire and parks. But then come the restaurants and grocery stores." At that time, it was expected that Aliante's casino would not be built for years.^[6] Construction began on Aliante's first commercial office building in September 2004, with a scheduled completion date in the second quarter of 2005. At that time, Aliante's first shopping center, anchored by a Smith's grocery store, was set to finish construction by fall 2005.^[10]

In 2004, Aliante was the sixth top-selling master-planned community in the United States. Among master-planned communities in southern Nevada, Aliante was rated number one for new home closings during the first quarter of 2005, with 355 recorded closings.^[11] Aliante later ranked number four on a list of the top five best-selling master-planned communities in 2005, but did not rank on the list for 2006.^[12]

Sun City Aliante

Sun City Aliante, an age-restricted 55-plus community by Del Webb, was completed in March 2003, and is located within Aliante.^[13]^[8]^[14] Sun City Aliante was the third best-selling age-restricted community in the Las Vegas Valley during the second quarter of 2003, with 130 closings averaging $181,198.^[15] Sun City Aliante became the third best-selling community of 2003, with 400 home closings.^[16]

Attractions and amenities

Aliante Casino and Hotel, a 211-room hotel and 125,000 sq ft (11,600 m²) casino, initially opened as the Aliante Station in 2008.
Aliante Golf Club, a public golf course located in Sun City Aliante.^[17]^[18]^[19] The 65-acre course opened in December 2003.^[20]
Aliante Library, built at a cost of $5.2 million and opened on May 24, 2006. The Aliante Library was the second library to open in North Las Vegas, after the North Las Vegas Library opened more than 40 years earlier.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]
Aliante Nature Discovery Park, the main park in Aliante.^[26]

References

^ "Subdivision Boundaries Map" (PDF). September 14, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Smith, Hubble (August 14, 2002). "North Las Vegas Development: Developer unveils master plan". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 17, 2003.
^ Smith, Hubble (May 6, 2003). "BLM to auction 1,030 acres in June". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
^ Knightly, Arnold M. (February 23, 2007). "Welcome After All". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on February 25, 2007.
^ Smith, Hubble (September 19, 2002). "North Las Vegas takes shot at high-technology corridor". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 24, 2003.
^ ^a ^b Kulin, Dan (May 2, 2003). "New homes bring new image to 'Northtown'". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
^ Packer, Adrienne (January 24, 2003). "Montandon hails development gains". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 28, 2004.
^ ^a ^b ^c Smith, Hubble (May 3, 2003). "Exec sees bright future for community". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005.
^ Shubinski, Jennifer (May 2, 2003). "Aliante competing for planned-community, age-restricted buyers". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
^ Smith, Hubble (September 6, 2004). "Work begins on Aliante office building". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 26, 2005.
^ Smith, Hubble (May 28, 2005). "Data: Aliante first for local master-plan closings". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on July 22, 2005.
^ "Local master-planned communities among nation's best-sellers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 3, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
^ Smith, Hubble (March 1, 2003). "Local developers ally for land-auction clout". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005.
^ Smith, Hubble (July 4, 2003). "Boomers plan to keep moving". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 29, 2004.
^ Smith, Hubble (July 26, 2003). "LV housing market to remain robust, expert says". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005.
^ Smith, Hubble (January 17, 2004). "LV new-home sales hit record in '03". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 25, 2004.
^ Iola, Kevin (September 10, 2003). "Design Challenge: New North Las Vegas course taking shape". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004.
^ Benton, Peter (December 10, 2003). "Aliante opens doors, draws rave reviews". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
^ Smith, Hubble (January 5, 2004). "Aliante Progress". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004.
^ Dewey, Todd (January 21, 2004). "Course is Aliante's green centerpiece". View News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2005.
^ Kulin, Dan (July 28, 2003). "Bill provides $75,000 for Aliante library project". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
^ Casey, Juliet V. (November 20, 2003). "Projects planned free of tax hikes". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on January 27, 2005.
^ "Aliante to get new library; satellite will close". Las Vegas Sun. March 28, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
^ Brekken, Isaac (February 26, 2006). "Making an Impression". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2016. The library, which opens in mid-April at 2400 W. Deer Springs Way, is the first to be built in North Las Vegas in 40 years.
^ "In brief - NLV library opening at Aliante on Wednesday". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 20, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2016. North Las Vegas' new $5.2 million Aliante Library will open Wednesday at 2400 W. Deer Springs Way in the Aliante master-planned community. The city's second library comes more than 40 years after the North Las Vegas Library opened at 2300 Civic Center Drive.
^ Whitley, Joan (June 21, 2004). "Recreation: 8 Great Parks". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 4, 2004.