Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Nevadans are fed up with people moving into the state, and experts spoke with Newsweek about why this is.
In a new survey from Rasmussen Reports and NumbersUSA, 40 percent of the state’s residents said they wanted the population to grow much more slowly. And a whopping 51 percent said the government should make it more difficult for people, including those from California, to move into their state.
The negative sentiment for those moving into the state comes as the state has experienced a record triple population growth over the past 40 years, and only 13 percent of the state’s population are on board with the state continuing to grow rapidly, the report found.
A relatively small percentage, 20 percent, said they wanted Nevada’s population to stay about the same, and 22 percent said they wanted it smaller.
Part of the concerns over the population growth come down to Nevada’s limited water supply. As America’s driest state, cities routinely compete with each other to get water in their town, and a higher population could threaten the already dwindling supply.
The influx of Californians also drives up home prices, which can leave native Nevadans without much of a housing market to sift through, according to real estate agent Alisha Penn of Keller Williams.
“Many Nevadans desire slower population growth to maintain the state’s unique culture and preserve its resources,” Penn told Newsweek. “The influx of people, particularly from California, impacts housing availability, driving up prices and straining infrastructure. If Nevada continues to grow rapidly, it may face challenges in maintaining quality of life, managing congestion, and ensuring sustainable development.”
Californians moving into Nevada typically bring in a significant income or cash reserves and can quickly snatch up the higher price real estate local Nevadans can’t.
“The significant underbuilding in Nevada has created a mismatch between supply and demand, and the increased demand from new residents has led to even higher prices, making it difficult for locals to find affordable housing,” Nick Giulioni, the CEO of Off Leash Investments, told Newsweek.
Rapid population growth also strains the existing infrastructure and public services, contributing to traffic and higher wait times for healthcare.
“If Nevada continues to grow rapidly without addressing these challenges, we could see rising tensions between long-term residents and newcomers,” Giulioni said. “Policymakers may need to balance the benefits of attracting new residents with the need to maintain a livable environment for those already living in Nevada.”
On a broader scale, local Nevadans might also be noticing a shift in values as more newcomers arrive.
“When people move in large numbers from regions with distinct socio-economic backgrounds, such as Californians to Nevada, the local populace might feel a dilution or loss of their cultural and community identity, which adds to the resistance,” Howard Hao Li, a Florida licensed attorney, told Newsweek.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Ovation Development Corp. and its affiliate, Heirloom by Ovation, a Las Vegas-based developer of multifamily housing and one of Nevada’s largest private developers of affordable senior housing, hosted a ribbon-cutting and welcome-home ceremony for residents of its newest senior affordable housing community, Heirloom at Rome, at 4850 W. Rome Blvd. in the northwest valley.
The demand for senior affordable housing is reflected in Heirloom at Rome already having more than 182 occupied units, just months after it opened.
The $78 million Heirloom at Rome community, which was funded in part by Clark County Community Housing Funds and Nevada Housing Division’s Home Means Nevada Initiative, brings 276 new affordable housing units to market, including 38 tiny homes. The community’s tiny homes offer 400 square feet of living space, while apartments that range from 664 square feet to 891 square feet offer from one to two bedrooms.
Heirloom at Rome sits on a nearly 9.5-acre site within three separate buildings totaling 243,100 square feet. Of its 276 units, 180 are available to seniors making less than 49 percent of Area Median Income, and 96 units are available to seniors making less than 59 percent of AMI.
The community sits on land once owned by the federal government and granted to the city of Las Vegas for purposes of affordable housing. Ovation was awarded the project through a competitive request for proposal process, furthering the city’s prioritization of affordable housing construction.
On-site amenities include a fitness room, movement studio, screening room, game lounge, great room, business center, wellness room and a one-story clubhouse by the tiny home village. Outdoor amenities include a community garden, pet park, extensive xeriscape landscaping, picnic tables and carport parking for residents.
Heirloom at Rome was designed and built to achieve LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and has successfully received its certification. The community features high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment including Energy Star appliances, low-E vinyl thermal pane windows, and high R-value wall and attic insulation. Additional sustainable building practices include the use of low- or no-VOC paints, adhesives and formaldehyde-free particleboard. Water conservation measures will include low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping.
As one of Nevada’s largest and leading apartment developers of both market-rate and affordable housing for low-income seniors and working families, Ovation ensures its affordable housing communities maintain the exceptional quality associated with its market-rate projects.
Through its partnership with nonprofit Coordinated Living of Southern Nevada, Ovation provides residents of its affordable housing properties with life-enhancing wraparound services and recreational amenities that create a rich social infrastructure and high quality of life. This includes transportation assistance to medical appointments and shopping, health and wellness programs, food assistance as well as social outings and events.
According to Alan Molasky, chairman and founder of Ovation, “collaboration is key to solving for challenging issues like affordable housing, and we couldn’t do it without critical support from government and agency partners who share our passion,” he said.
“We have long believed that everyone, regardless of income, deserves a quality home that helps to strengthen individuals, families and community. Providing a beautiful, dignified and comfortable place to live is key to ensuring seniors, particularly those on low or fixed incomes, can continue to thrive in a clean and beautiful environment during their golden years.”
To date, Ovation has completed 18 income- and rent-restricted communities totaling more than 2,795 units. The company will complete five more multifamily affordable communities with more than 1,300 units in Southern Nevada by 2028, providing much needed relief for low-income seniors, individuals and families.
Coming soon to the Heirloom by Ovation portfolio is Heirloom at Torrey Pines, at 6540 W. Arby Ave.
For leasing and qualifying information on Heirloom at Rome and other Heirloom by Ovation communities, visit HeirloomByOvation.com.
Ovation Development Corp. is a Las Vegas-based development company founded by Alan Molasky, a prolific developer of multifamily, resort-style housing in Southern Nevada for 40-plus years. The largest private multifamily developer in the Las Vegas Valley, Ovation has built nearly 10,000 units. In addition to luxury multifamily communities, Ovation is committed to the development of a portfolio of affordable housing for low-income seniors, known as Heirloom by Ovation, based on the belief that quality homes are foundational to strengthening individuals, families and community. Ovation and its affiliates employ more than 300 individuals representing all facets of design, construction and property management. For information, visit ovationco.com.
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Nevada Immigrant Coalition held a march and rally in downtown Las Vegas on May Day, joining similar demonstrations across the country to demand better treatment for immigrant families and workers.
The event coincided with First Friday, drawing attention to the economic pressures facing local businesses and workers as costs continue to rise.
Noe’ Orozco, a representative with the Nevada Immigrant Coalition, said the group is focused on elevating people over corporations.
WATCH | Nevada Immigrant Coalition rallies on May Day to demand worker protections
Nevada Immigrant Coalition rallies on May Day to demand worker protections
“We’re trying to put people above corporations, and we one way. You can do that is definitely by supporting the local businesses, because a lot of the local businesses, they, they sustain themselves,” Orozco said.
Many local business owners and workers say they rely on the foot traffic that First Friday generates each month.
“It’s our one night a month that we get walking traffic as if we’re on Fremont Street or on the Strip,” said a business owner at First Friday.
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Workers also described the financial strain of the current economy.
“It’s very difficult to be living in the economy now without having two jobs,” said another business owner at First Friday.
The coalition said it is also responding to a recent surge in immigration enforcement activity across Nevada, which it says is negatively affecting local families.
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“Since the start of last year, we’ve seen a lot more of those overlapping conversations happening. And so, as I mentioned, right, highlighting the workers’ rights and a lot of those workers, a lot of workers that we engage with our migrant or immigrant workers, immigrant families, and so regardless of what industry you’re looking at, there is going to be an immigrant household that is being impacted,” Orozco said.
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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
An early morning earthquake in Nevada on Friday was felt as far west as the Sacramento Valley.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck around 1:17 a.m. about 50 miles east of Carson City. Shaking was reported across the Reno, Carson City and South Lake Tahoe areas.
People also reported feeling shaking along the Sierra Nevada foothills and into the valley, including in Roseville and Sacramento.
No damage has been reported.
The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.2. A magnitude 4.3 foreshock appears to have struck about two minutes before the main quake. Several aftershocks have followed, none larger than magnitude 2.7.
Nevada also saw a magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered in the same general area on April 13. Like Friday’s quake, that earthquake was felt in the Sacramento area.
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