Clark County Approves 29-Story Heart-Shaped Casino Resort on Former SkyVue Site

Clark County commissioners gave unanimous approval to zoning waivers and use permits that clear the way for a 29-story hotel-casino on the long-vacant south Las Vegas Strip parcel once earmarked for the SkyVue observation wheel. Developer Eli Applebaum, operating through Kulik River Capital, acquired the property for $70 million earlier in 2026 and now moves forward with plans that include a distinctive heart-shaped glass facade featuring integrated LED displays along with a full casino floor, multiple restaurants, retail outlets, entertainment venues, convention space, and an elevated sky venue restaurant that reuses the existing concrete support columns from the prior project.

Project Details and Design Elements

The resort will rise to 29 stories and contain 752 guest rooms while incorporating FAA-mandated height reductions to maintain safe airspace around nearby airports. Observers note that the heart-shaped exterior stands out as a signature visual element meant to draw attention on a stretch of the Strip that has remained undeveloped for years. The design reincorporates the concrete columns left behind by the abandoned SkyVue wheel, a practical choice that reduces new foundation work and aligns with existing structural approvals already on file with county agencies.

Inside the property, plans call for a casino floor sized to accommodate table games and slots, several dining options ranging from casual to upscale, retail corridors, and dedicated entertainment and meeting facilities. The elevated sky venue restaurant will sit atop the reused columns and offer panoramic views while functioning as a distinct revenue driver separate from ground-level operations. County documents list these components as part of the use permit package that received approval without dissent during the recent public hearing.

Site History and Redevelopment Context

The parcel sat idle after the SkyVue observation wheel project collapsed years earlier, leaving behind a prominent concrete skeleton that many viewed as an eyesore on one of the Strip's most visible corners. Applebaum's acquisition in early 2026 shifted the trajectory of the site toward a full-scale resort that reuses portions of the prior infrastructure rather than starting from scratch. Commissioners reviewed traffic studies, parking ratios, and signage plans before granting the waivers, confirming that the proposed height and facade treatments meet updated FAA guidelines issued for the area.

Those who've tracked Las Vegas land use patterns point out that converting dormant parcels into active hospitality projects has become a recurring theme along the southern Strip corridor. The current approval adds one more data point to that trend, showing how developers continue to navigate layered regulatory requirements that include both local zoning rules and federal aviation constraints. The project timeline now shifts to permitting, design finalization, and eventual groundbreaking once remaining administrative steps conclude.

Regulatory Path and Next Steps

County staff prepared the zoning waiver and use permit applications over several months, incorporating public comment periods and inter-agency reviews that addressed everything from utility connections to emergency access routes. The unanimous vote reflected alignment across multiple departments rather than any single deciding factor. Applebaum's team presented updated renderings during the hearing that highlighted how the heart-shaped LED facade will function as both architectural feature and dynamic advertising surface visible from passing vehicles and adjacent properties.

Further along the regulatory chain, the Nevada Gaming Control Board will review the casino license application once construction milestones are met. That process typically involves background checks, financial disclosures, and operational planning submissions that run parallel to building permit reviews handled at the county level. Developers who have completed similar projects in Clark County note that the dual-track approach allows design work to advance while gaming-specific approvals move forward on their own schedule.

Broader Development Implications

The approval comes as Las Vegas continues to absorb new supply along the Strip, with several other large-scale projects already under construction or in advanced planning stages. County records show this particular site had changed hands multiple times since the SkyVue cancellation, each transaction reflecting shifting market conditions and investor interest in high-visibility locations. The $70 million purchase price set a benchmark for comparable parcels that had remained undeveloped for extended periods.

Project documentation submitted to Clark County outlines a construction schedule that factors in the reused structural elements as a time-saving measure. The sky venue restaurant, positioned on the retained columns, will require specialized engineering reviews but avoids the cost and delay of entirely new vertical support systems. Those familiar with Strip redevelopment patterns observe that such hybrid approaches have gained traction when sites carry legacy infrastructure that can be adapted rather than demolished.

Conclusion

With zoning waivers and use permits now secured, the heart-shaped resort project enters the detailed engineering and permitting phase. The developer expects to finalize remaining design elements and begin site preparation work in the coming months, provided no additional regulatory hurdles emerge. County officials have scheduled follow-up reviews to monitor compliance with the approved height limits and facade specifications throughout construction. The outcome of this approval process adds another chapter to the ongoing transformation of underutilized parcels along the southern Las Vegas Strip.