Historic Preservation Commission Meeting - September 24, 2025

The Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission met on September 24, 2025, with a quorum present. The meeting included reports on the Huntridge Theater walkthrough, approval of the second draft of the Cliff May Homes historic resources survey, and summaries of preservation conferences attended by commissioners. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Roll call established a quorum. Compliance with open meeting law affirmed.
• Motion to approve the agenda as presented passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public were present to comment.

Discussion Items

• Huntridge Theater Walkthrough (Item 7): Dr. Seabrant and Director Floyd reported on the August 25, 2025, walkthrough of the theater at 1208 East Charleston Boulevard, part of the city's obligations under a settlement agreement. The purpose was to document current conditions of the original 1944 exterior walls, marquee, monument sign, and interior configuration. Commissioners noted the building appeared stable and similar to previous visits. Chair Stodal clarified that the settlement requires restoration to reduce the judgment against the owner, and the commission will evaluate progress at year-end. A question about involving code enforcement was raised; staff will consider taking building inspectors on future walkthroughs.
• Cliff May Homes Historic Resources Survey – Second Draft (Item 6): Consultant Zoanne Campana from Calts Environmental Consultants presented the revised draft of the intensive-level survey for the neighborhood bounded by Evergreen Avenue, Heron Avenue, Easy Street, Upland Boulevard, and Idle Avenue. She noted that Shippo concurred with findings and commissioner comments were incorporated, including additional information on fireplaces and Cliff May details. Chair Stodal praised the report as a model for future surveys. Commissioner questions addressed a reference to crawl spaces under concrete slabs (to be corrected) and the origin of the connection between builder Ernie Becker and Cliff May (information not found). A motion to approve the report passed unanimously.
• National Alliance of Preservation Commission's Virtual Summer Short Course (Item 8): Dr. Seabrant reported on the virtual course held August 20–21, 2025, highlighting key takeaways: balancing priorities with limited staff resources, the importance of unbiased reviews, and the value of the meeting space. Commissioners Gillespie, Moody, Cerfaz, Harper, and Chair Stodal shared their impressions, noting the course was a useful primer for new commissioners and provided case studies on zoning, easements, and rehabilitation standards. The course recordings are available for 90 days.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation PastForward 2025 Conference (Item 9): Dr. Seabrant and Commissioner Gillespie reported on the conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 16–18, 2025. Highlights included adaptive reuse examples (e.g., a sugar beet factory turned into a commercial space, a brewery bottling house converted to student housing), sessions on sacred spaces and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and emphasis on the blend of humanities, science, and economics in preservation. Commissioner Laramie noted the importance of tying preservation to sustainability and suggested inviting the city's sustainability expert to a future meeting.
• Project Update List (Item 11): Dr. Seabrant provided updates: the Old Mormon Fort National Register update is delayed to the December 5, 2025, state board meeting due to a cyberattack; the Cliff May Homes final report is scheduled for the October meeting; the Floyd Land Park Historical Report will be distributed before the October meeting; and the Las Vegas Academy of the Performing Arts (original Las Vegas High School) will give a campus update in October. Commissioners who attended the virtual short course were reminded to submit summaries by October 6, 2025, for reimbursement.
• Future Agenda Items (Item 13): Vice Chair Laramie proposed a future discussion on strategic planning to re-evaluate commission priorities, resources, and community goals, noting the last such planning was over five years ago. No other items were proposed.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to approve the second draft of the Cliff May Homes intensive-level historic resources survey passed unanimously.
• No other formal actions were taken. Reports and updates were accepted for information.
• Commissioner Laramie's proposal for a strategic planning discussion will be placed on a future agenda.