Originally published on LasVegasNevada.org
On April 30, 2025, Mayor Shelley Berkley delivered her first State of the City Address. Mayor Berkley outlined a bright future for the city, highlighting new developments and services as well as challenges that are ahead.
Symphony Park and the beautiful Reynolds Hall were the setting for the speech that started with a surprise performance from Las Vegas entertainer Clint Holmes. Following his performance Mayor Berkley presented Holmes a Key to the City of Las Vegas for his promotion of the city through his years of entertaining and his work with local nonprofits and the community.
Mayor Berkley spoke about all the new development coming to the city, including right outside of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, where the new Las Vegas Museum of Art will be built adding to the city’s cultural epicenter. The project will be built just east of The Smith Center and is a partnership between the city, the Las Vegas Museum of Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
On the west side of The Smith Center the new dual-brand AC Marriott/Element by Westin hotel is set to open in October.
The mayor also spoke about the new Cello Tower and Origin Development that broke ground April 29 on the north end of Symphony Park. Cello is a 32-story tower, which will be a part of Origin, a development with shopping, dining and midrise residential units and offices.
Nearby, the downtown government corridor will soon to be home to the beautiful new Las Vegas Civic Center. The center will feature restaurants, offices and a new plaza and stage that will be used for concerts, festivals and more. The project will also be home to public art and a new gallery that will open this fall with an exhibition that will be a partnership with the Las Vegas Museum of Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Mayor Berkley also spoke about the 18b Las Vegas Arts District, and the Immersive Entertainment District anchored by Area 15 and other entertainment offerings. The Arts District is home to many shops, galleries, restaurants and the very popular Brewery Row. We have two new residential midrise projects heading toward completion in the Arts District, bringing additional housing to this growing area. The planned Midtown development is also coming to the Arts District and will bring new residential spaces and a plaza with shopping and dining.
Area 15 has been a hit with residents and visitors alike. Expansions are already underway with a new year-round horror attraction from Universal Parks & Resorts that is sure to be a big draw.
Mayor Berkely also spoke about challenges the city is facing including the Badlands settlement, serious animal issues and helping the unhoused. Regarding Badlands, Mayor Berkley is looking forward to home builder Lennar bringing new homes to the vacant property in Ward 2. She added that the city will tighten its belt for a while but is moving forward.
The city is dealing with serious animal issues due, in large part, to the bad behavior of humans, Mayor Berkley said. The mayor is working with rescues to find and provide the resources necessary to spay, neuter and microchip our four-legged friends to help with overpopulation and to alleviate misery and suffering. To this end, on May 9 and 10 the city is partnering with two rescues to ensure that we provide free spay and neutering services to people who would like to have this service for their pets. The city is also engaged in finding and eliminating illegal backyard breeders who only add to the problem of overpopulation.
Mayor Berkley also said that it is her goal to get people off the streets by providing job training, mental health, alcohol and addiction therapy. She added that she is committed to doing everything she can to help the homeless and protect our residents and visitors alike. In early June the mayor plans to start meeting with the shelters and groups that work with the homeless to devise a plan to get the homeless off the streets and to help them be able to lead more productive lives.
Other topics highlighted include the Las Vegas Medical District and education and the work the city is doing to improve these services throughout the city.
