Henderson City Council approves Casara of West Henderson, a 390-unit affordable apartment complex on land sold by the BLM

What happened

The Henderson City Council has approved nearly 400 new affordable apartments on the city's west side, KTNV reported. The project is set to be built by 2028. It became possible through a partnership between the city and the Bureau of Land Management, which sold the land for the development.

The complex, called Casara of West Henderson, will have 390 units. It will sit on what is now an empty lot at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Larson Lane. According to KTNV, the site is expected to be under construction by the holidays.

Who is building it and who it is for

A new kind of project for the developer

The developer is Ovation. Its chief operating officer, Jess Molasky, told KTNV that the company used to focus on building housing for the elderly. Molasky said Casara is the company's first affordable community without an age restriction.

Molasky described the intended residents as "the people who give their lives to the city," naming workers who staff hotels, hospitals, stores and schools. Ovation told KTNV it expects to begin accepting applications around mid-2028. The KTNV report did not list income limits or rent levels for the units.

Housing costs in Henderson

KTNV reported that home prices in Henderson continue to rise. Citing Redfin, the station said prices for all home types have increased about $50,000 over the last 5 years. Readers following local housing costs can find more coverage in our real estate section.

How the land deal came together

A faster federal land transfer

Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero credited the Bureau of Land Management for selling the property. She told KTNV that a land transfer like this typically takes five to eight years, but said "we got this done in two and a half years."

Ryan Chatterton, who manages the bureau's Southern Nevada District, called the deal an example of governments working together. He told KTNV the effort shows "what can be accomplished when federal and local governments work together."

Room for shops and services

KTNV asked Romero whether shopping and other amenities could come to the area. She said those decisions are driven by the private market, but that the land is zoned so it can have amenities. For other housing news in the city, see our report on a Henderson complex setting aside units for former foster youth.

What neighbors are saying

Charlize Luna, who lives in West Henderson, told KTNV she is excited to see something built on the empty land. She described her side of Henderson as small and far from everything else. "It's kind of just like our own little world," Luna said.

What to watch next

• Construction at Las Vegas Boulevard and Larson Lane is expected to be under way by the holidays, according to KTNV.
• Ovation said it will start accepting applications for Casara of West Henderson around mid-2028.
• The 390-unit complex is planned to be built by 2028.
• Whether shopping and other amenities come to the area depends on the private market, Romero said, though the land is zoned to allow them.