Las Vegas Weekly

October 30, 2009 · 1:22 PM

Hollywood stars working together to revitalize downtown

By Robin Leach

Dan Aykroyd cautiously stares at a bottle of his Crystal Head Vodka.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

When it is all finally revealed, the Hollywood star involvement in a major downtown revitalization project will become a huge news story. We have only the very first rumblings. For the next two days, none other than Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi help fire the first salvo by hanging out all weekend long at Binion’s with the new owners and operators from Los Angeles.

I’ve also heard that Jack Nicholson’s name is attached to the plans, which start at Binion’s and then spread block by block until the project is complete. I’m told some real heavyweight redevelopment operators are involved, and the entertainment and club complexes they’ve built in similarly blighted areas in California have become major real estate successes.

The plan is to use Hollywood star power as part of the attraction as they take over one hotel property after another and then link them all together in a massive makeover.

We’ll keep you well posted on the plans and the stars who will be lending their support, and I’m told they mean serious business with the project. That’s got to be music to the ears of Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has always wanted his legacy to be the rebirth of downtown.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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