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Downtown Las Vegas: A Surprising Hub of Sustainable Thinking
I recently had a chance to visit downtown Las Vegas, a place many tourists don't even know exists. Although it's been somewhat neglected for years, the area is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance. New residential buildings are slowly cropping up, bike lanes are going in, and even a public gathering space made from old shipping containers has appeared. All of this is beginning to create a walkable, diverse and sustainable center for a city that for decades hasn't really had one.
The major forces pushing this "new" Las Vegas are a forward-thinking city government, coupled with a $350 million investment from Zappos' CEO Tony Hsheih, through what's known as the Downtown Project. The project has invested in dozens of startup businesses, sowing the seeds to catalyze a new downtown community.
I had a chance to stop by city hall to talk to the city's Chief Sustainability Officer Tom Perrigo, as well as visit with SHIFT, one of the many startups funded by the Downtown Project. In the video below, you can learn more...
Video after the jump:
Nick Aster is the founder of TriplePundit. Prior to launching 3p, Nick worked for Mother Jones magazine, successfully re-launching the magazine's online presence. He worked for TreeHugger.com, managing the technical side of the publication for 3 years, and has also been an active consultant for individuals and companies entering the world of micro-publishing. He also worked for Gawker Media and Moreover Technologies in the early days of blogging. Nick holds an MBA in sustainable management from the Presidio School of Management and graduated with a BA in History from Washington University in St. Louis.
