The Las Vegas Arts District has come a long way since 2003.
That’s when the city drew its boundaries, created design standards for the area and limited what kinds of businesses could open there.
But this past week, the City of Las Vegas Planning Commission voted to retire that list of permissible uses. They say it kept out businesses that would benefit the area.
Trinity Schlottman is chair of the city planning commission. He said businesses applying for a license in the area will still be judged on whether they are a good fit for the neighborhood.
"Now, with the Arts District really taking off over the past two years, I hope this opens it up to allow other businesses to come in and not have to jump through as many hurdles," Schlottman said.
Schlottman said the original list of permitted businesses might have been a little too restrictive. He said it would sometimes take months for applicants to get the permits and approvals needed to open a business in the area.
Under the new rules, he expects the process to be reduced to as little as 90 days. The city council must still approve the changes.
Derek Stonebarger is the president of the Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association and the owner of Rebar on Main Street.
He supports retiring the permissible uses list to cut through red tape, but he's concerned that non-arts businesses will attempt to move back into the area.
"I think that there is nothing artistic about check cashing or pawn shops or even maybe even liquor stores," Stonebarger said.
Stonebarger is worried that used car lots, auto-repair shops, sex-oriented businesses, bail bondsman and pawn shops could push out galleries and artists.
"When you open it up to basically every business, they can probably afford more than someone who is a struggling artist to take over a space," he said.
Jenn Hunter is also a business owner in the Arts District. She owns Atomic Style Lounge, a retro full-service salon on Main Street. She relocated to downtown from New York City.
"I like being in a city that hasn't figured it all out yet," Hunter said. "Small businesses can open and thrive. There is a sense of community."
Hunter said they looked at other neighborhoods in Las Vegas, but decided to set up shop in the Arts District because it felt like it was going to be the " it neighborhood."
Hunter is also worried that allowing certain types of businesses into the neighborhood would hurt.
"I would echo Derek's concerns that these types of businesses are not harmonious with the area," she said. "They would contribute to loitering, I would say. Possible additional drug use, which we certainly see enough of right now."
The arts community worry it might mean a “de-artsing” of the district, but the planning commission said that’s won’t be the case.
Trinity Schlottman, chair, City of Las Vegas Planning Commission; Derek Stonebarger, president, Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association; Jenn Hunter, owner, Atomic Style Lounge