Nevada Lawmakers Propose $25M Boost for Windsor Park Homes

Nevada lawmakers are pushing for an additional $25 million in state funds to aid the Windsor Park housing project in North Las Vegas. This new bill, introduced during a special legislative session, not only seeks more money but also includes a controversial clause allowing the current developer to bypass competitive bidding for related demolition work.

Addressing a Decades-Old Problem

Windsor Park, a historically Black neighborhood in North Las Vegas, has faced widespread structural damage for decades. Built in the 1960s over geological faults, its homes, roads, and utilities began sinking after groundwater was pumped from a nearby aquifer. This has left the area, near North Las Vegas Airport, with numerous empty lots, cracked infrastructure, and compromised residences.

In 2023, Governor Joe Lombardo signed a measure that initially allocated $37 million to address this crisis. This funding was intended to develop a new 93-lot subdivision where affected homeowners could exchange their damaged houses for newly built ones. Construction on this crucial project has already begun along Carey Avenue, west of Martin Luther King Boulevard.

The New Bill: More Funds, Less Bidding?

State Senator Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, who sponsored the original 2023 bill, is now behind the new proposal. As a member of the Senate Jobs and Economy Committee, which sponsored this special session measure, Sen. Neal aims to amend the prior legislation.

The new bill seeks to allocate an extra $25 million from Nevada’s general fund, bringing the potential total state and federal commitment to the project significantly higher. More notably, it mandates that the existing developer for the new housing tract also be hired for additional project-related work, such as demolishing vacated homes to create space for a public park, without a formal bidding process.

Funding Snapshot: Windsor Park Project

Developer Ties Raise Questions

The initial contract to develop the project was awarded to the Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, a nonprofit affordable-housing firm led by former Las Vegas councilman and Raiders player Frank Hawkins. This firm was one of only two bidders for the original $37 million contract and scored higher than the other applicant.

However, the Las Vegas Review-Journal previously reported on close ties between Frank Hawkins and Sen. Dina Neal, including Hawkins’ long-standing relationship with Neal’s family and his past contributions to her campaigns, as well as her previous employment at his firm. Although Neal recused herself from reviewing bids due to her connection to Hawkins’ late father, emails showed she expressed concerns about the other applicant and indicated that Hawkins “wanted the job,” stating there was “only one clear person who is willing to do this work, qualified and will do this.”

Both Neal and Hawkins have consistently maintained that the bidding process was ethical and transparent, and that no improprieties occurred. Hawkins stated his firm adheres to ethical practices, and Neal asserted she was acting in the best interests of residents and that “the best person won the bid.” The new stipulation to bypass bidding for additional work reignites questions about transparency and fairness in public contracting.

What’s Next for Windsor Park?

With construction already underway for the 93 new single-family homes, the focus now shifts to the legislative process. The proposed additional $25 million, coupled with the no-bid clause for demolition work, will be closely scrutinized. This development highlights ongoing challenges in addressing long-standing community issues while ensuring accountability in public spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Windsor Park project?
  It’s a housing initiative in North Las Vegas aimed at relocating residents of a historically Black neighborhood plagued by severe structural damage due to geological issues. New homes are being built in a safer location.
• Why is more funding being requested?
  Nevada lawmakers are seeking an additional $25 million from the state’s general fund to supplement the original $37 million allocated for the project, likely due to increased costs or an expanded scope for related work.
• Who is the primary developer?
  The Community Development Programs Center of Nevada, a nonprofit led by Frank Hawkins, was awarded the initial contract for the housing tract development.
• What is the main controversy surrounding the new bill?
  The new bill includes a provision that would allow the existing developer to undertake additional work, such as demolishing vacated homes for a public park, without a formal competitive bidding process. This raises concerns about transparency and fairness given previously reported ties between the developer’s leader and Sen. Dina Neal.

For North Las Vegas residents and taxpayers, monitoring the progress and financial oversight of the Windsor Park project remains crucial to ensure effective and transparent use of public funds for this vital community revitalization effort.

Nevada Boosts Fund For Sinking Windsor Park Homes