Las Vegas, Nev. (April 17, 2025) — Today, the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) broke ground on its newest affordable housing development in Southern Nevada: Marion Bennett Sr. Plaza, Phase II, located at 1818 Balzar Ave. in Las Vegas. The groundbreaking ceremony was co-hosted by SNRHA and project contractor, Kalb Industries.
Named for Rev. Dr. Marion D. Bennett Sr., a former Nevada assemblyman and defender of civil rights who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 1960s, the new development sits on 1.3 acres adjacent to the first phase of the Marion D. Bennett, Sr. Plaza. Bennett, who passed in 2013, was Senior Pastor of Zion United Methodist Church for 45 years. Zion is notably the oldest Black church in Nevada, founded in 1917.
The new second phase of Marion D. Bennett Sr. Plaza will include 59 apartment homes, including one-bedroom units offering 776 square feet, and two-bedroom units offering 834 square feet. Both floor plans include a private balcony. Five percent of the units are designed for full physical accessibility, while two percent of the units are designed for hearing and visually impaired residents. The project is slated for completion by summer 2026.
Bennett Plaza II, which includes one three-story building, will offer a robust list of amenities, including activity/social rooms on every floor, laundry room on each floor, wellness/exam room, computer/study room, fitness center, public balconies, terrace area at the end of each floor, shuffleboard court, and onsite storage area.
Funding for the new development is comprised of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds administered through Nevada Housing Division Home Means Nevada Initiative (HMNI), Clark County Community Housing Funds, as well as SNRHA Capital Funds. Marion D. Bennett Sr. Plaza II is designated as senior preference for those with incomes 30 to 50 percent of Affordable Median Income (AMI).
According to Clark County Commission Chair Tick Segerblom who also serves as chair of the SNRHA Board, the agency’s recent, current and future groundbreakings for affordable housing projects speak volumes about SNHRA’s tireless efforts to keep pace with demand for affordable housing. “Just last month, SNHRA broke ground on two affordable housing communities, and today, we are celebrating yet another addition to our growing portfolio of affordable homes,’ said Segerblom. “While we pause to celebrate this latest addition, we know there is more work to do to address our region’s housing shortage.”
According to City of Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley, affordable housing continues to be one of the city’s most pressing needs. “We appreciate projects like the Marion D. Bennett Sr. Plaza II that we know will be transformational for residents, allowing them to live in comfort, dignity and safety,” said Berkley. “At the City of Las Vegas, we applaud the efforts of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and are pleased to join the agency in marking yet another quality affordable development that will serve low-income seniors, as well as our community’s disabled population.”
“My father would be both honored and proud of this new affordable housing community that bears his name,” said Retired Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron,” who spoke briefly at today’s groundbreaking. “As a tireless advocate for equality and opportunity, and whose roots in the Historic Westside ran deep, my father was grateful for the work of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, particularly in this historically important area of Southern Nevada. We look forward to seeing this new community take shape and appreciate the uplift and stability it will provide those who will call it home.”
The ceremony, hosted by SNRHA Executive Director Lewis Jordan, was also attended by Nancy Brune, City of Las Vegas Councilwoman, Ward 6 and Vice-Chair, SNRHA Board; City of Las Vegas Councilwoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, Ward 5; Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II, District D; and Sonny Vinuya, Outreach Director, State of Nevada.
“The mission of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority is to provide safe and affordable housing that fosters independence, self-sufficiency, and community pride,” said Jordan. “We know that there is no better way to accomplish this than by providing comfortable, safe, dignified and affordable housing. The confluence of federal, state and county funding is critical to make these projects a reality. And for that, we are truly grateful.”
About Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority:
The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) was established on January 1, 2010, for the purpose of consolidating three housing authorities: Las Vegas Housing Authority, Housing Authority of Clark County, North Las Vegas Housing Authority. The SNRHA’s Board of Commissioners is comprised of City Council members from the City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, City of Henderson, two (2) Clark County Board Commissioners, and four (4) SNRHA Resident Commissioners, one from each jurisdiction. The mission of the SNRHA is to provide safe, sanitary and affordable housing to eligible residents within our jurisdictions, and to provide an environment that fosters independence, self-sufficiency and community pride. For information, visit snvrha.org
Media Contact:
Melissa Warren of The Warren Group for the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
melissa@twgpr.com; 702-528-6016
