TITANIC GOES TIMESHARE?

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal/KNTV and others

April 13, 1999
Bob Stupak's plans for an oversized version of the Titanic on Las Vegas Boulevard have been at least temporarily sunk as the Las Vegas Planning Commission has denied a zone change for the project. The 5-0 vote came hours after Stupak announced his plans before about 100 invitees at the Plaza hotel downtown.

The ruling, while not final, could make it difficult for Stupak to pursue the project on the site he has proposed, at Las Vegas Boulevard near Charleston Boulevard, north of the Stratosphere.

In order to build the $300 million to $400 million project, Stupak needed a small portion of an 8-acre site to be rezoned to allow high-intensity commercial uses. But commission members said the 280-foot-high structure would be too close to an abutting neighborhood -- a view supported by about eight residents who attended the meeting in protest.

The issue goes before the City Council for a final vote on May 10, when Stupak hopes the commission's vote will be reversed.

During the meeting, Stupak suggested possibly moving the project from the east to the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard as a way to resolve the dispute with homeowners. "There's always all kinds of possibilities," he said.

Stupak, creator of the internationally famous "Stratosphere Tower" intends to replicate the famed ship. He said this time it would be bigger than the first Titanic with suites even larger than the original's accommodations to give it that certain Las Vegas flair.

The Stupak Titanic will be more than twice the length of the ship that sailed in 1912 and much wider. Attached to the north side of the ship will be an "iceberg" housing an 1,800-seat showroom. Stupak says that his "ship" would be more than 1 million square feet with 1,200 cabins and suites, including 800 Interval Ownership units, and a public area designed to
offer themed tourist attractions.

Two levels of parking will be located underground, beneath the boat. The bottom portion of the boat, below and above the waterline, will actually be floating in water. Directly across the street a new, multi-level parking garage will be constructed to resemble the Titanic's homeport of Southampton, England.The parking structure will be connected to the main deck of the ship by a walkway which will span the Las Vegas Strip and be designed in a 1912 style
reflecting the history of that gilded era.

The architectural firm of Bergman, Walls and Youngblood designed the new Titanic resort. This is the same company that developed the Mirage Hotel and Resort and the new Paris Hotel and Casino, currently under construction.

Initial funding of approximately $1.2 billion, less applicable funding costs, will be through Interval Ownership sales of the project.