The Harmon is one of six high rise towers on CityCenter’s 67 acre plot and it was originally planned to be a 47 storey mixed-use tower. It was going to have 207 residences at the top, and a 400 room hotel. Then it was discovered that the reinforced steel bars used in the concrete (the rebar) had been incorrectly installed. The project was subsequently shrunk to 26 stories in height, with the residences wiped out – whether this was an economic decision, or related to the construction is a matter being debated by teams of attorneys.

General contractor Perini Building was tasked with making the Harmon a reality, but the company is now tied up in litigation with MGM. The affair was investigated by the Nevada State Contractors Board and the Clark County Building Department. It seems that Converse Consultants, the Harmon’s inspection firm, provided inaccurate data in their daily reports. As a result the firm was suspended from bidding on new work in Southern Nevada for six months and Perini Building’s subcontractor Pacific Coast Steel was fined $14,105, although it did not admit any fault in the rebar mistake. The mistake likely had its origins in the fact that the rebar was moved without first checking with the structural engineer.

The legal battle between MGM and Perini over the Harmon Hotel construction issue has a number of aspects to it. Perini is suing its subcontractor Pacific Coast Steel for defects relating to the beams, the general contractor has also pointed the finger at MGM by claiming the structural drawings were late and riddled with errors. MGM claims that the Harmon was halved in size because of the construction defects, but Perini counters that it was a decision made because of the downturn in the market for luxury condos.

Today, the Harmon remains unfinished and on hold, and $490 million of payments are being withheld by MGM International Resort. Perini has filed a master mechanic’s lien, and the attorneys are the only ones making money out of this deal at this time.

Location of Las Vegas Tuscan Villas

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It has a total of 435 units which sold for a total value in excess of $85 million back in 2005, but by 2010 values had receded to as little as 25% of purchase price. However, the price decline has not been accompanied by falling standards in this excellent gated community. The features of the development include pools, spas, parking for boats and RVs, a playground for children and areas for BBQs.

Community Photos

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Inside the units were fitted to a high standard with granite countertops, and appliances made of stainless steel. There are a range of floor plans at the Las Vegas Tuscan Villas, from one through to three bedrooms.

Streetview of Las Vegas Tuscan Villas

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The glory days of Las Vegas giving everyone a bite at the cherry that is the American dream, where a hotel maid could buy a house, are long gone. Whilst housing prices have declined to once again become affordable the recession has hit the construction and gaming sectors hard and unemployment is at just below 14%. Furthermore it is important to remember that Nevada is a right-to-work state which means that employees can be fired at will for no reason (except for illegal reasons such as discrimination).

If you decide to go ahead and secure a position in the gaming industry then you will need a sheriff’s card which is used to document and license all employees of the gaming and liquor industry. In order to get one you will need a signed referral slip from your prospective employer, so don’t try and apply until you have found a job. You will also need to show proof that you are over 21, a birth certificate if you 25 years, documentation from Immigration and Naturalization Services if you are not a US citizen and a juvenile work permit if you are under 18. If you have an extensive criminal history then you are unlikely to be granted the card.

Tips to Getting Casino Jobs in Las Vegas
For people that are new to the gaming and casino industry their best bet is to apply for positions off-Strip as experience is required at most of the major hotels. With that said what you will often find off-Strip is experience locals who appreciate being able to work closer to home. Places like Red Rock Casino and Green Valley Ranch have some very high quality employees. If you have your eyes on the prize of a big tipping Strip job then a good way in is to apply at one of the smaller casinos that is under the same ownership as a mega-resort and work your way to a transfer. If you do start off at a local’s casino then many of your customers work in the industry so you need to be at the top of your game – it’s an excellent training ground.

There are a lot of flakes attracted to the bright lights of Vegas so if you can show that you are a reliable person, and someone with a spark of initiative, then you place yourself at the front of the line. If you can show that you do not frequently change jobs that is also looked upon favourably. Show that you have attention to detail by submitting an error free application form.

Once you get to the interview the best approach varies depending on the type of job that you are going. If it is a customer facing role then one of the most important things is showing that you are positive and outgoing. Don’t change your image to try and fit in with what you think Vegas wants – just be yourself. Whichever type of job you go for expect to be tested for drug use. Dress smartly for the interview. A freshly dry cleaned suit is appropriate for men and women. Often interviews take place on the casino floor so be prepared for this.

The top tipping jobs are those of bellman, dealer, valet, cocktail waitress, and bartender, but if you decide to go this route you will initially find that you are on the graveyard shifts where tips are minimal. You have to be prepared to put in some low salary time before you are rotated into the top positions, and this can take a long time because people are reluctant to relinquish such prime positions.

North Las Vegas is a working class area with an unwarranted reputation for high crime levels. Some of the newer developments are very attractive and well worth a look. In the southeastern side of Las Vegas is the master-planned community of Green Valley which is beautifully landscapes and extremely well thought out. Other planned communities are: Spring Valley, Summerlin, Peccole Ranch and Desert Shores.

Home owners associations are more common in Las Vegas than some other parts of the nation and you want to be careful that you understand that whilst the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions keep things looking nice and uniform they also limit your freedoms – a lot of folks from the Mid-West find that they are more comfortable living outside of gated communities in order to avoid these restrictions. You can have liens placed against your property if you do not comply with the HOA.

An alternative to buying is of course renting, but traditionally this tends to be fairly expensive in Las Vegas relative to mortgage repayments. However, following the real estate crash occupancy for rental apartments has dropped to 90%, the available supply is as much as 20,000 units and rent rates have dropped below $1 per square foot. The highest are in the southwest and Green Valley-Henderson area, and the cheapest rents are in the northeast and southeast. When you rent you are usually required to commit to a period of six months or a year, and put down a security deposit in addition the first and last month’s rent. It is not uncommon for newcomers to rent prior to employment and you just need to show a bank statement that assures the landlord that you will be able to meet the rental obligations.

Once you move in you will want to get your Las Vegas utilities set up:

Water is provided by Las Vegas Valley Water District located at 1001 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, Nev. 89153. To start or transfer residential water service, call the office Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at (702) 870-4194. You can also request service before 3:30 p.m. for same-day service for a $15 fee. You may be required to pay a $150 deposit to activate your water service.

NV Energy is the company to contact for connecting your electricity and they can be reached at (775) 834-4444. You do not require a deposit to activate this service, but if you are renting you will require a letter of reference from your previous electric company.

Southwest Gas Corporation has a very easy online set up service https://ssm.swgas.com/start.php, or you can call Toll Free (877) 860-6020, or vist the customer service office located in the Beltway Business Park, next to Starbucks and Port of Subs: Las Vegas, 6040 Badura Ave, Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV 89118. There is also a customer service office at North Las Vegas, 1374 W. Cheyenne # 107, North Las Vegas, NV 89030.

There are four Nevada assistance programs run by Southwest Gas that you can look into: Deferred Payment Program, Energy Assistance Program (EAP), Energy Share Program, and Nevada Energy Connection. These are designed to help low-income Nevadans with the cost of home energy.

There are also a number of energy efficiency programs that you can take advantage of to lower your bills. Call Southwest Gas for details on: Northern Nevada Low-Income Energy Conservation Program, Energy Start Home Program, Nevada Residential Energy-Efficient Consumer Products Rebate Program, Northern Nevada Furnace Rebate Program, and the Solar Thermal Advantage Rebate (STAR) Program.

Clark County Sanitation handles sewage and can be reached at: 5857 E Flamingo Rd Las Vegas, NV 89122-5507. The phone number is (702) 458-1180.

Trash removal is managed by Republic Services of Southern Nevada. They pick up around twice a week at a cost of less than $50 per quarter. They are located at 770 East Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89104 on phone: 702 735 5151. There is also a recycle center at  333 West Gowan Road, North Las Vegas, NV 89032 that can be reached on 702 399 1112.

For telephone Sprint Central Telephone Company is one option, but these days many people are opting for a bundled internet and phone connection from Cox Communications. Sprint is at 330 South Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV  89107 on 702-244-7400, and Cox will happy to sell you TV, internet and phone 24 hours a day at (702) 383-4000.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is the transit authority and the transportation-planning agency for Southern Nevada. It used to be known as the Citizens Area Transit (CAT), and it has an extensive bus network throughout the Valley, which you can find at: http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/about/index.cfm The network runs 20 hours a day, and every 15 minutes at peak hours on the busiest routes.

Taxis can be tricky for locals since the drivers tend to stick to the tourist funnel of the airport and Strip hotels. This is not New York and you can’t just flag a cab down, also when you phone ahead to make a booking you should check to see whether the firm accepts credit cards or not. Some of the taxi firms operating in the city are:

• Ace: (702) 736-8383
• Deluxe Taxicab Service: (702) 567-0557
• Desert Cab Company: (702) 386-9102
• Henderson Taxi Company: (702) 384-232
• Lucky Cab Company: (702) 477-7555
• Nellis Cab Company: (702) 248-1111
• Western Cab Company: (702) 736-8000
• Whittlesea: (702) 384-6111
• Yellow Cab: (702) 873-2000

The Strip itself is serviced by a number of options, including a trolley which takes the back streets to stop at each of the casinos. There are three different routes that you can take: the Vegas Strip route from the Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay; the South route from Mandalay Bay to Grand View; and the Downtown Las Vegas loop route from the downtown bus terminal to the outdoor outlet mall. An alternative to the trolley is the Las Vegas Monorail, which covers a four mile route behind the Strip from MGM Grand to the Sahara.

Whilst these options are all well and good the reality is that you will be driving yourself most places once you settle in Las Vegas. If you are not keen on driving then this is not the place for you. New Nevada residents must obtain their driver license within 30 days, and register vehicles at the same time or within 60 days, whichever is soonest. Those that fail to do so face a $1,000 fine. When you register your vehicle make sure that you have:

• Most recent registration
• Out-of-state license plates
• Nevada Evidence of Insurance Card
• Nevada Emissions Vehicle Inspection Report (smog check) if needed
• Nevada Vehicle Inspection Certificate (“VIN check” done at the DMV office)
• Certificate of Title (if ownership is changing. If not changing ownership, the owner has the option of retaining the out-of-state title.)

It is required that you secure liability insurance from a Nevada-licensed carrier in the exact name(s) which will be on the registration and title. If your insurance is with a large, national company, you must notify the company that you have moved to Nevada. Out-of-state insurance is not accepted. The DMV will verify this electronically with your insurer, and there is a fine of $250 for those who do not maintain Nevada liability insurance.

The smog test, or Nevada Emission Control Certificate can be obtained from any authorized service station. If you don’t pass then you need to undertake repairs until you do.

To get the driver’s license you will need to jump through some administrative hoops and pass a written test on the laws related to driving in Nevada. The test is pretty easy if you do some study of the “Nevada Driver’s Handbook. You should be a Nevada resident and provide a Nevada street address when you apply for the driver’s license. The documents you need to take are some proof of your name and age such as a birth certificate or passport, your out-of-state driver’s license, and proof of social security number.

For the latest information on all your licensing needs you should visit the DMV web site: http://www.dmvnv.com/newresident.htm

As for the people that call Las Vegas home, the thousands of people of people that arrive each month come from a range of backgrounds and ethnicities. Looking at Las Vegas demographics, although the city itself had a population of 558,383, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area has 1,865,746.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area is one of the fastest growing places in the United States, and this is fueled by new residents arriving every month, with over 40% of these from California. Around 20% come from the Northeast and Southwest, 10% from the Midwest, 10% from the South and 5% from the Northwest. One good way to track the incomers is via the DMV which records vehicles switching states. That data tells us that the states driving in to register cars in Nevada come mainly from California, followed by Arizona, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Michigan and Washington.

According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the ethnic background of Las Vegans is:

• White Americans: 70.8%
• Blacks or African Americans:10.6%
• American Indians: 0.7%
• Asian Americans: 5.0%
• Pacific Islander Americans: 0.4%
• Individuals from two or more races: 3.5%
• Hispanics and Latinos: 29.2% (there are Hispanic whites, blacks etc.)

As the population has expanded so has the number of Republicans. Las Vegas demographics have changed such that in a state that used to be 75% Democrat, nearly half of registered voters are now Republicans. In 2000 Las Vegas was made up of 478,434 people, 176,750 households, and 117,538 families. That meant that it had a population density of 4,223 per square mile. Of the 176,750 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.20.

In terms of age 25.9% in 2000 were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,000 and the median income for a family was $58,465. Males had a median income of $35,511 versus $27,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,060. About 6.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those aged 65 or over.