Anthem, Nevada

Last updated
Anthem
Anthem, Henderson, Nevada (14436771963).jpg
Anthem in 2014
Country United States
State Nevada
Counties Clark
City Henderson
Area Las Vegas Valley
ZIP code
89052, 89044
Area codes 702, 725

Anthem is a master-planned community in Henderson, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Valley. It was developed by Del Webb Corporation, and opened in 1998. As of 2011, it had one of the highest average household incomes by ZIP code in the Las Vegas Valley, with an average household income of $131,445. [1]

Contents

History

Anthem was developed by Del Webb Corporation. In November 1997, Henderson, Nevada approved the first phase of Anthem by annexing 2,535 acres (1,026 ha) of vacant land into the city. Del Webb acquired the land through a property swap with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the annexation had been in the planning for two years prior to its approval. Del Webb planned to start preparing the site for construction by the end of 1997. Anthem was expected to take 15 to 20 years to fully build out. The development project would include a country club community and a Sun City senior community. Anthem would eventually consist of 11,000 to 13,000 homes. Approximately 72 acres of the first phase were set aside for parks and recreation. [2] [3]

Henderson ensured that its water supply would meet the future needs of the new community. [2] [4] As part of the annexation agreement, Del Webb and property owners would be responsible for projects such as the paving of roads and the installation of sewer lines and utilities. Del Webb would also pay to build a fire station, and worked with the Clark County School District to locate a 20-acre site for the construction of a middle school. [2]

By January 1998, the inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Interior was investigating the land swap deal after former and current BLM officials complained about it. The land was valued at $10,900 per acre, although critics of the deal said each acre was worth $36,000. The deal also raised questions about the involvement of Bruce Babbitt and senator Harry Reid, who both supported it. Babbitt, the Secretary of the Interior, had once represented Del Webb in efforts to acquire BLM land. Although Babbitt recused himself from the Anthem deal, he became involved with the project at a critical point when he ordered the BLM to prioritize the Anthem deal. At the time, other property exchange applications had been put on hold. In addition, Del Webb had previously held a fundraiser for Reid in 1994, although Reid said his support for the Anthem deal was unrelated to the fundraising. [5] [6] [7]

The Anthem land was ultimately appraised at $12,210 per acre, although a retired appraiser challenged this figure, stating each acre was worth between $15,000 and $17,000, which would equal taxpayer losses ranging from $8 million to $24 million in undervalued appraisals. Del Webb and the BLM stated that critics did not take into consideration the $250 million infrastructure that Del Webb was putting into place on the land. [8]

Anthem home sales began in mid-1998, and the community held its grand opening on October 24, 1998. Approximately 3,000 people attended, more than twice what was expected. Anthem consisted of three subdivisions: Anthem Country Club, Sun City Anthem, and Coventry Homes at Anthem. [9] The latter subdivision was marketed as affordable housing. [10] Sun City Anthem offered new residents free advice from professional home designers. [11] At the time of opening, construction was nearing completion on two golf courses, and had begun on a 74,000 sq ft (6,900 m2) recreation center. Upon completion in about 13 years, it was expected that Anthem would have 30,000 residents. The community would include retail and office space. [9] [12] Del Webb relocated its local administrative offices to Anthem in January 1999. [13] [14]

In February 1999, the Henderson Planning Commission approved plans for parts of Anthem, including its commercial subdivision. [15] Anthem Country Club opened its golf course in April 1999, [10] [16] and received approval for residential units in August 1999. [17] That year, Del Webb transferred ownership of 147 acres of Lake Tahoe land, including the Thunderbird Lodge, to the BLM. In exchange, Del Webb received an additional 2,535 acres for the Anthem project, for a total of more than 5,000. [10]

A year after opening, Del Webb had sold more than 1,000 homes in Anthem. Sun City Anthem had 660 residents, while Anthem Country Club had approximately 200 residents and 100 golf members. [10] During 2000 and 2001, Anthem was the sixth-best-selling master-planned community in the United States. [18] [19] [20] Anthem was ranked fifth for 2005, but did not make the top 10 list in 2006. [21]

Education

The neighborhood is served by the Clark County School District. The schools above are the schools serving all of the Anthem community. There are also multiple private schools in the surrounding area including The Henderson International School, Challenger School, and Hillcrest Academy.

Related Research Articles

Enterprise, Nevada Unincorporated town in Nevada, United States

Enterprise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 108,481 at the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 14,676 at the 2000 census. It was founded on December 17, 1996. Like other unincorporated towns in the Las Vegas Valley, it uses Las Vegas ZIP Codes for addresses within its boundaries.

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area United States historic place

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area is a National Conservation Area (NCA) administered by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It includes the Sloan Petroglyph Site which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1978. It is located south of Las Vegas, Nevada, access is available from Las Vegas Boulevard, near the Del Webb Anthem development in Henderson. Sloan Canyon NCA protects 48,438 acres (19,602 ha).

Sahara Las Vegas Casino hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada

Sahara Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. It is owned and operated by the Meruelo Group. The hotel has 1,616 rooms, and the casino contains 50,662 square feet (4,706.7 m2). The Sahara anchors the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip, at the corner of Sahara Avenue. It is the site of the northernmost station of the Las Vegas Monorail.

Coyote Springs, Nevada

Coyote Springs, Nevada, is a master-planned community being developed in Lincoln County and Clark County, Nevada. The community was initially planned by developer and attorney-lobbyist Harvey Whittemore and Pardee Homes. Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno, Jr. became the sole owners of Coyote Springs following Whittemore's resignation from the Wingfield Nevada Holding Group amidst legal troubles. No homes had been built as of June 2018.

Galleria at Sunset Shopping mall in Nevada, United States

Galleria at Sunset is the only enclosed indoor shopping mall in Henderson, Nevada and one of the largest malls in the state. It is located at 1300 West Sunset Road. Anchors include Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillard's, JCPenney, Kohl's, and Macy's.

The Boulevard Mall Shopping mall in Paradise, Nevada

The Boulevard Mall is located at 3528 S Maryland Pkwy, in Paradise, Nevada, United States. Located on 75 acres (30 ha), it is a single-story super-regional mall with 1,180,000 sq ft (110,000 m2) of lease-able retail space. It has 140 stores; anchor stores include Goodwill and 99 Ranch Market. It is the oldest shopping mall in the Las Vegas Valley.

Downtown Summerlin (shopping center) Shopping mall in Nevada, U.S.

The Downtown Summerlin shopping center or DTS is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment center. It is a part of the greater Downtown Summerlin area, a 400-acre (160 ha) development which lies within the community of Summerlin on the western outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada. The shopping center contains 1,600,000 square feet (150,000 m2) and is located on 106 acres (43 ha).

The El Rancho Hotel and Casino was a hotel and casino that operated on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. It originally opened on September 2, 1948, as the Navajo-themed Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was owned by building developer Marion Hicks and Lieutenant Governor of Nevada Clifford A. Jones. A sister property, the Algiers Hotel, was opened in 1953. During the mid-1950s, the state carried out an investigation to determine whether underworld Mafia figures held hidden interests in the resort. Hicks and Jones ultimately prevailed and kept their gaming licenses. Hicks died in 1961, and his position as managing director was taken over by Joe Wells, another partner in the resort. Wells added a horse racing track known as Thunderbird Downs, located behind the resort. The Thunderbird also hosted numerous entertainers and shows, including Flower Drum Song and South Pacific.

Downtown Summerlin

Downtown Summerlin is a 400-acre (160 ha) commercial and residential neighborhood located in Summerlin South, a suburban area on the western outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Blue Diamond Hill housing proposals

Since 2002, there have been various housing proposals for Blue Diamond Hill, located in rural Clark County, Nevada. The proposed site is located west of Las Vegas, near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Blue Diamond Mine has operated on the land since the 1920s, but the property otherwise remains vacant. Each of the proposed housing projects have received opposition from nearby residents and from environmentalists, citing concerns about the impact that such a project would have on the surrounding area.

Fiesta Henderson Hotel and casino in Henderson, Nevada

Fiesta Henderson is a hotel and casino located on 35 acres (14 ha) of land at 777 West Lake Mead Parkway in Henderson, Nevada. Gem Gaming announced the project in 1995, as The Reserve, with an opening planned for July 4, 1996. Construction began later in 1995, and the project was topped off in May 1996, with an opening scheduled for October 1. Steve Rebeil and Dominic Magliarditi, both of Gem Gaming, were the project developers. Later in 1996, Ameristar Casinos planned to purchase Gem Gaming, and construction slowed to allow for an expanded redesign of the project, which was then expected to open between March and April 1997.

Blue Diamond Hill

Blue Diamond Hill is a 4,931-foot (1,503 m) peak that borders Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, west of Las Vegas. The Blue Diamond Mine is located on the hill, and the small community of Blue Diamond, Nevada is located nearby. Several housing projects have been proposed for the hill since 2002.

Aliante is a master-planned community located in North Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2001, American Nevada Corporation and Del Webb Corporation formed North Valley Enterprises, which purchased 1,900 acres (770 ha) of land in the city and began construction of the community a year later, with the opening held in May 2003. Aliante is located in the city's northwestern area.

Southern Highlands (Nevada) Place in Nevada, United States

Southern Highlands is a master-planned community located in the southern foothills of the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, United States. The community surrounds the private Southern Highlands Golf Club. It contains a resort, two retail centers, recreational facilities, a country club, spa, multiple parks, two medical centers, a public safety department, and an office plaza.

Craig Ranch Station is a cancelled hotel-casino that was planned by Station Casinos for North Las Vegas, Nevada. NevStar Gaming Corporation initially proposed the NevStar 2000 hotel-casino and entertainment complex in 1998, but the project received opposition from nearby residents who did not want a casino in the area. NevStar Gaming filed bankruptcy in December 1999, and Station Casinos proposed the Mediterranean-themed Craig Ranch Station in March 2000.

Santa Fe Valley is a cancelled hotel-casino that was planned by Santa Fe Gaming for 40 acres (16 ha) of land in Henderson, Nevada, next to the Galleria at Sunset mall. The project was announced in 1994, and construction was expected to begin in July 1996. The start of construction was delayed several times because of poor financial quarters for Santa Fe Gaming and because of the company not yet receiving financing for the project. Site preparation started in July 1998, with an opening date scheduled for December 1999, but construction never began. In 1999, the property was sold to Station Casinos, which sold the land a year later for use as a shopping center.

Jim Rhodes is an American real estate developer. He founded Rhodes Homes in 1985, and has developed various housing projects in the Las Vegas Valley, including the golf course communities Rhodes Ranch and Tuscany Village. In the 2000s, he was a well known philanthropist in Las Vegas. In 2008, he formed Harmony Homes and began buying distressed properties during the Great Recession. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009, and turned over most of his residential projects to creditors.

Rhodes Ranch

Rhodes Ranch is a master-planned community and golf course located in Spring Valley, Nevada, approximately six miles southwest of the Las Vegas Strip. It was developed by Jim Rhodes. The community was announced in 1996, after Rhodes gained 1,330 acres, some of it through the Bureau of Land Management. At the time, much of the surrounding area was rural, and nearby residents opposed the development of the land. Despite the opposition, the Rhodes Ranch project was approved and began construction.

Tuscany Village

Tuscany Village is a golf course community located in Henderson, Nevada. It was originally proposed by developer Jim Rhodes in 1995, under the name Palm City. The project was proposed for the former site of the Stewart gravel pit. The surrounding area initially sparked concern about the location's suitability, due to various environmental issues at the time. The site was located near sewage ponds and a longtime manufacturer of chemicals which had contaminated the land. Ground water was also found to have high radioactive levels.

References

  1. "Report: Households in ZIP code 89144 wealthiest in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  2. 1 2 3 Bach, Lisa Kim (November 8, 1997). "Del Webb gets green light for Anthem project". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 17, 2000.
  3. DeFrank, Sean (November 26, 1997). "City approves items for Del Webb project" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2019 via NewsLibrary.
  4. "Nevada officials dispute Johnson's claim" . Arizona Daily Star. October 7, 1998 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Feds probe Del Webb land deal". Las Vegas Sun. January 16, 1998. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  6. Taylor, Jeffrey (January 16, 1998). "How Builder Del Webb Managed To Win Prime Las Vegas Parcel". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  7. "When push comes to shove, it's often public appraisers who get moved". The Seattle Times. September 30, 1999. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  8. "Retired appraiser criticizes land swap". Las Vegas Sun. June 27, 1999. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Caruso, Monica (October 27, 1998). "Thousands turn out for Anthem". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 30, 1999.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Hubble (October 23, 1999). "Anthem Anniversary". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on May 11, 2001.
  11. "Anthem offers residents choices". View News. September 15, 1999. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003.
  12. DeFrank, Sean (November 4, 1997). "Anthem opens new community" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 26, 2019 via NewsLibrary.
  13. Smith, Hubble (January 16, 1999). "Del Webb settles in at Anthem". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on August 29, 1999.
  14. DeFrank, Sean (February 3, 1999). "Del Webb moves offices to Anthem". View News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000.
  15. Miller, Valerie (February 26, 1999). "Commission OKs parts of Anthem community". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  16. Benton, Peter (May 5, 1999). "Anthem unveils gem of a course". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  17. Miller, Valerie (August 13, 1999). "Anthem plans receive commission OK". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  18. "Top seller named". Las Vegas Sun. February 26, 2001. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  19. Gorman, Tom (May 13, 2001). "Raising the Stakes in Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  20. "Summerlin, Anthem on best-seller list". Las Vegas Sun. February 7, 2002. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  21. "Local master-planned communities among nation's best-sellers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 3, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2019.

Coordinates: 35°57′50″N115°05′24″W / 35.964°N 115.090°W / 35.964; -115.090