Latest news with #Summers-Armstrong
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing, schools and more in the revitalization of Las Vegas' Historic Westside
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Take a look at the Historic Westside, and you will see active construction around the neighborhood. The City of Las Vegas' Hundred Plan brings new places to live, learn, shop, and more. The plan also brings new infrastructure. To improve walkability in the area, Jackson Avenue's sidewalks are now 15 feet wide with shade trees, better lighting, and rounded curbs that make crossing the street shorter and safer. Las Vegas Ward 5 City Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, who represents the area, said a change as simple as a wider sidewalk keeps people in the neighborhood. 'If you have a wide sidewalk and people are walking side by side, they stay longer in a community, they stay longer to shop because they're talking to one another and enjoying each other's company,' Summers-Armstrong said. In the near future, enjoying each other's company can take place at the new affordable and mixed-income housing developments. One of them, ShareDOWNTOWN Westside, will feature commercial space and a small business incubator to help entrepreneurs grow their restaurant ideas. 'It's going to be a destination in the community for people to come and enjoy multiple different types of food offerings in one location,' Summers-Armstrong said. 'We're just excited. I can't spill the beans, but just trust me, it's going to be the spot to be.' Summers-Armstrong said the city wants people to come back to the area, but those who have been there for generations are not going to be forgotten. Westside neighbors like Ray Watson are helping make the decisions. 'It's very pleasant to finally see some changes in this community, and I'm excited about that,' Watson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Las Vegas city council members celebrate Women's History Month
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — As Women's History Month comes to a close, political leaders in Las Vegas note some history-making for the city: five city council members and the mayor are all women. One of them, council member Shondra Summers-Armstrong, elected in 2024 to the council for Ward 5, said the women are, in many ways, unsung heroes. Council member Victoria Seaman noted the historical significance of the representation. 'As women, we've come a long way with struggling to have equal footing over the decades,' said Seaman. 'I just really love that women have been able to come this far to be leaders in our cities.' Council member Olivia Diaz, a native of Las Vegas, was elected to the city council in 2019. She became the first Latina to hold the position. 'More of us have put our names on the ballot, and thankfully, we've earned the support of our community, and that's what matters,' said Diaz. 'It's so surreal, almost. When I was going to high school, Jan Jones was the mayor and the only female that sat on this council, or probably one of very few. Summers-Armstrong expressed excitement about being part of a group of 'smart women who know how to lead.' 'For me, in my life to be able to learn from them and to work with them to get things done for the city of Las Vegas,' said Summers-Armstrong. Seaman noted the women's ability to lead in any capacity. 'We know how to negotiate. We know how to compromise. We also know how to multitask,' said Seaman. 'We've led the way, and we've led the path for women to know they can conquer and do anything.' Likewise, Diaz praised her contemporaries' dedication and hard-working nature. 'We're methodical and we think through a lot of things,' said Councilwoman Diaz. 'Also, we're compassionate.' While Summers-Armstrong focused on problem-solving abilities. 'We know how to solve them in our communities, in our schools, so we are capable,' said Summers-Armstrong. 'We just needed an opportunity for people to get out of the way and allow us to lead.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Revitalization efforts begin for Las Vegas' Historic Westside
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Several initiatives are underway to revitalize the historically underserved and impoverished community of the Historic Westside of Las Vegas. The Historic Westside has played a vital role in shaping Las Vegas' history and culture. Councilwoman Summers-Armstrong for Las Vegas City Council Ward 5 is advocating for the transformation of the community into a thriving destination for both residents and tourists alike. 'There's so much to share, so I would like to see a rebirth where we have commerce on Jackson Avenue,' Summers-Armstrong said. 'We have restaurants, we have social places for people to go and enjoy. But most of all, a place for people to live.' The Historic Westside serves as a hub for learning and higher education opportunities within the community. 'It's really, really important that we have a foundation for education and jobs right here so that people can find growth in themselves here in this community,' Summers-Armstrong said. Currently under construction, the Westside Education and Training Center is a 15,000-square-foot facility next to the Historic Westside School. A collaboration between CSN and the city of Las Vegas, the center aims to offer educational resources and workforce training to support the historically underserved community. The center will be a hub for credentialed job training in high-demand, high-paying industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and construction trade. Behind the center will be apartments for workforce housing. 'We are doing things collaboratively, thoughtfully, but also strategically so that we have a foundation for this community to grow in a manner that is going to be sustainable,' Summers-Armstrong said. The Historic Westside Education and Training Center is partly funded by a multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The center is set to open this summer. 'We are part of the history of Southern Nevada, of Las Vegas,' Summers-Armstrong said. 'Black people, African American people have been here for generations. Even before there was a westside, black people lived in this community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
