Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero announces hospital partnership for a recuperative care center in State of the City speech

What happened

Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero used her annual State of the City address on Wednesday to announce a partnership with St. Rose Dominican Hospital, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The partnership will create housing and specialized medical care for people who have recently left the hospital. Romero spoke to several hundred people at the M Resort.

The speech also covered public safety, housing, business growth and schools. Romero is seeking re-election, and her race is covered in our explainer on the Henderson mayor race.

A new recuperative care center

According to the Review-Journal, the project is called the Recuperative Care Navigation Center. It will be located at the hospital's Rose de Lima campus, near East Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway. Romero said it is meant to fill a gap for people who are medically fragile, meaning they still need care but no longer need a hospital bed.

What the center will offer

Romero told reporters after the speech that renovations are underway and that the goal is to open in early 2027. She said the center will have 40 beds for stays of 30 to 90 days. It will also provide medical oversight, meals, transportation and case management. In her address, she said the partnership aims to help people recover while helping "break the cycle of homelessness."

Who runs the hospital

St. Rose Dominican hospitals are operated by Dignity Health. The Review-Journal reported that Dignity Health did not respond to a request for comment. Romero described the center as something the city has worked on for a while and called it "desperately needed."

Public safety figures

Crime and crash numbers

Romero cited figures presented at the Oct. 6 Henderson City Council meeting. She said property crimes fell 13 percent, violent crimes fell 18 percent and deadly crashes fell 25 percent compared with 2025. She also said the Henderson Fire Department graduated 23 full-time firefighters from two cadet academies and added three new fire engines.

Police chief credits staffing

Romero said the Henderson Police Department added 65 police academy graduates. She also said the department secured U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funding to start a permanent drone program. Police Chief Reggie Rader told the Review-Journal the department had filled most of its vacant positions over the past year, leading to a 20 percent increase in officers on patrol. He said that increase was a big reason crime dropped.

Housing and business growth

Romero said the city recently finalized a transfer of roughly 18 acres to the developer Ovation, which plans to build roughly 300 attainable housing units. She also said most of the 171 luxury units at the Four Seasons Private Residences in MacDonald Highlands have sold. According to the mayor, the city's economic development team helped nine major companies move to or expand in Henderson, creating more than 700 jobs and more than $50 million in investment.

Former Fiesta Henderson site

Romero said the city continues to work with Agora Realty & Management on plans to turn the former Fiesta Henderson site into a hub for recreation, hospitality and dining. Officials previously said Agora plans to buy the 35-acre site from the city for $30 million. She also pointed to Henderson Sport & Social, which she said is holding its grand opening this week.

Schools and early education

Romero said Henderson authorized its first charter school within the past year. That school, Kesher Academy, serves kindergarten, first grade and second grade. The city also approved Nexus Charter School this year, and it is scheduled to open next fall.

The city broke ground in January on its second preschool, near Galleria and Grand Cadence drives. Romero said construction is estimated to be finished in early 2027.

What to watch next

• Renovations on the Recuperative Care Navigation Center are underway, with an opening hoped for in early 2027.
• Construction on Henderson's second preschool, near Galleria and Grand Cadence drives, is estimated to finish in early 2027.
• Nexus Charter School is scheduled to open next fall.
• Agora Realty & Management plans to buy the 35-acre former Fiesta Henderson site from the city for $30 million.