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“With the Stardust and Riviera and La Concha and El Morocco, the Thunderbird, the El Rancho — that area used to be as nice as anything,” Doumani said. “Over the years, everything shifted south. The north end of the Strip, really, used to be the center of the Strip, but things got neglected over time.”
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For the past three decades, Leon Boghossian has visited Las Vegas about twice a year.
The Rhode Island resident has seen many changes to the city during that time, but is particularly impressed with what’s happening now at the north end of the Strip.
“There’s a lot going on in this area,” said Boghossian, walking north on Las Vegas Boulevard near Resorts World Drive. “The changes, in my opinion, have been all positive. It’s really great to see.”
As he talked, construction sounds could be heard to the west as workers labored on the $4 billion, 59-story Resorts World Las Vegas project, which is being built on the site formerly occupied by the Stardust.
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To the east, Boghossian could see work being done on a $935 million expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The project, which will also feature a renovation of the existing space, will cost $1.5 billion and be complete in early 2021.
A short walk to the north of where Boghossian stood sits Circus Circus, the family-themed former MGM Resorts International property that is in the process of being sold to Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin for $825 million.
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