This land has been identified for Las Vegas affordable housing

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — Land for affordable housing projects is what local governments need, but how will neighborhoods react when that housing ends up closer than they bargained for?

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced an effort to sell public land for $100 an acre to build affordable housing, which is about to meet “not in my backyard” sentiments.

The first plot of land targeted for affordable housing is on 20 acres in the middle of a Mountain’s Edge neighborhood in the southwest Las Vegas valley. 8 News Now has reached out to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for maps showing where all of the 525.5 acres identified as places for 15,000 units of affordable housing.

In Mountain’s Edge, backyards bordering the open land have mature trees and landscaping. More than 10 houses have backyard pools and some rooftop decks overlook the site. The paved Tenaya Paseo trail lies on the east edge of the property. A channel cuts through the property, likely requiring a small bridge from the larger of the two open areas.

The view from those rooftop decks might become an apartment complex.

No one denies the need for action to solve high prices by increasing the supply of housing in the valley. Reactions to Biden’s announcement initially focused on the president’s request that Congress pass legislation for a 5% cap on rent increases in existing rental units — a proposal that divides free-market advocates and Democratic leaders. But that won’t move forward until lawmakers can draft a law and attempt to pass it, and the general election is less than four months away.

The plan to sell public land at $100 an acre, on the other hand, is already in progress.

“While the release of federal land for subsidized housing in Las Vegas is one arrow in our quiver, significant work remains in alleviating high housing costs for the middle class and eliminating federal barriers to housing development across the state,” Gov. Joe Lombardo said. “Like many others, I’m also concerned about President Biden’s rent control proposal, which studies have repeatedly shown to inadvertently raise rental costs and lead to lower-quality housing options. My administration remains committed to delivering sustainable and practical long-term housing solutions for Nevadans.”

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), supported the plan. A segment of her statement said, “I am hopeful that by increasing the number of new homes built on public lands and by increasing the supply of existing homes we can give more Southern Nevadans the chance to live in a home they can afford. Having a roof over one’s head should be a right, not a privilege.”

The BLM, which controls 63% of Nevada’s lands, issued a request for public comment on Tuesday, seeking input on the sale of the land on Cactus Avenue. Public comment will close on Aug. 30.

BLM confirmed that the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act — SNPLMA — land sales are at $100 an acre for the purposes of affordable housing.

That has another effect on the Las Vegas valley, where 85% of SNPLMA revenue goes to parks. As the BLM releases tracts of land to developers, it produces a windfall to fund park projects around the valley. That money will be dramatically lower when land is sold at the discounted price.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones represents District F, where the 20 acres on Cactus Avenue are located. He provided this statement Tuesday evening:

The challenge of affordable housing in our community has been well-known over the last couple of years and it is a challenge that the County has worked to address through the historic investment in our Welcome Home program which has dedicated $160 million toward the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing units across our community. The term ‘affordable housing’ has raised some concerns in some areas of our community, but that is likely a result of not knowing who fits into that category: working families and fixed-income seniors. The Welcome Home Community Land Trust will construct single family homes for those who qualify, including teachers, administrative professionals, and others who earn $50,000 to $80,000 per year. The County maintains ownership of the land and there is a restriction on how much the home can be sold for to help ensure it remains affordable. This restriction should not have an impact on the value of surrounding homes and the homeowner will be unable to rent or sublease the home. Through the community land trust, we can get people into homes that are designed to fit within the community while allowing them the opportunity to find permanency through homeownership. Just like any other neighborhood, the Cactus Avenue project is designed to be an investment in our community while also addressing a pressing need for many of our working residents.

Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones

Jones is scheduled to attend a 7 a.m. event on Wednesday morning as a traffic signal is turned on at Buffalo Drive and Cactus — just west of the property.

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