24 Jul 2026
Clark County Commissioners Approve Heart-Shaped Resort Project on Former SkyVue Site
Clark County commissioners granted unanimous approval for a 752-room hotel-casino resort that will rise 29 stories on nearly 12 acres of land at the long-vacant former SkyVue observation wheel location directly across from Mandalay Bay on the south Las Vegas Strip, and developer Eli Applebaum of Kulik River Capital will incorporate the site's existing concrete support columns into an elevated sky venue restaurant while featuring a distinctive heart-shaped glass facade with a large LED display.
Project Components and Site Redevelopment
The approved plans call for a full casino floor along with multiple restaurants, retail outlets, entertainment facilities, convention space, a pool deck, and structured parking, and the project will transform the property that remained undeveloped after earlier proposals stalled over several years. Observers note that the reuse of the existing concrete columns reduces new construction requirements while the heart-shaped facade and LED display create a signature visual element visible from the Strip and surrounding areas.
Regulatory Approvals and Height Adjustments
The Federal Aviation Administration granted clearance after the developer reduced the tower height to meet aviation safety standards, and this adjustment allowed the project to move forward without further delays from federal review processes. County officials confirmed that the plans comply with local zoning and land-use requirements for the south Strip corridor, while the unanimous vote reflects alignment among commissioners on the redevelopment of underutilized parcels in the area.
Developer Background and Next Steps
Eli Applebaum and Kulik River Capital will oversee construction that integrates the retained structural elements from the prior SkyVue project, and the company has indicated that work will proceed once remaining permits are secured. Those familiar with the site history point out that multiple previous concepts for the parcel failed to advance beyond planning stages, whereas the current proposal has cleared both local and federal hurdles in a single review cycle.
Broader Context for South Strip Development
The Clark County decision adds another major hospitality project to the south Strip corridor where operators continue to invest in new room inventory and amenities, and the 752-room count positions the resort as a mid-tier property relative to larger neighboring resorts. Data from regional planning documents shows that redevelopment of vacant parcels supports tourism infrastructure goals established by county and state agencies, while the inclusion of convention space and entertainment venues aligns with Las Vegas efforts to diversify visitor offerings beyond gaming alone.
According to the World Casino Directory report on the approval, the project incorporates the heart-shaped facade as a central design feature that will distinguish the property from surrounding towers. Construction timelines remain subject to final engineering reviews, yet the developer has already begun preliminary site work that reuses the existing foundations and columns.
Conclusion
The unanimous approval marks a concrete step toward redevelopment of the former SkyVue site after years of inactivity, and the combination of retained structural elements with new design features such as the heart-shaped facade and sky venue restaurant illustrates how developers adapt prior infrastructure to current market conditions. County records indicate that the project now advances to permitting and construction phases, with the reduced tower height satisfying FAA requirements and enabling the 752-room resort to proceed on the 12-acre parcel.