Construction starts to turn Henderson office complex into new dining, retail site

VAC Development announced Tuesday that construction has begun on its roughly $70‑million effort to convert a two‑building office campus on St. Rose Parkway just south of the 215 Beltway into the retail‑and‑dining destination dubbed The Cliff. The ownership group acquired the 10‑acre parcel for $27.5 million, with the transaction closing Aug. 31, according to property records. A press release from the developers states that they intend to start delivering space to tenants in the second quarter of next year. Plans for The Cliff call for fitness studios, a home‑lighting store, a taco shop, an ice‑cream parlor, a café and additional tenants, along with live music, theater performances and outdoor programming. The Henderson City Council gave final approval to the project’s design last year. Benjy Garfinkle, a real‑estate investor who is part of the ownership team, confirmed the group’s recent purchase of the site and said the complex is already 40 percent leased. He added that interior demolition work is underway and should be finished within the coming week or so. “You would never know it was that office building six months from now,” Garfinkle said. He explained that his interest stemmed from the fact that the project already possessed city approvals, and he noted that Henderson has not experienced the same level of retail growth seen recently in Summerlin, on the opposite side of the Las Vegas Valley. Garfinkle also observed that turning an existing office building into a retail venue is, in some respects, simpler than a ground‑up development because the structures and utilities are already in place. The project sits on Paseo Verde Parkway and comprises two single‑story office buildings that together total about 100,000 square feet. Built in 2002, the campus was purchased in 2023 by the investors who originally envisioned turning it into The Cliff for approximately $17.3 million, property records indicate. Elias George, attorney for the original development group, told the Henderson Planning Commission last year that his clients aimed to transform “two tired and aged commercial complexes” into what he described as an “anti‑mall” concept. “You’re not just voting for another retail center; you’re really voting on a model for the future of suburban retail in Southern Nevada,” George told the commission. A letter of support from the Henderson Chamber of Commerce noted that the office complex marked for redevelopment had remained “largely vacant” and had “never been updated.” Early in the process, the proposal faced resistance over its signage plans. Residents of a neighborhood across St. Rose Parkway from the office campus emailed the city to oppose the project, records show. They argued that the planned “illuminated billboard‑style sign” was “completely out of scale with the surrounding area,” and warned that approval could establish a “dangerous precedent for other developments in our area and lead to more intrusive and commercial signage in the future.” In response, the original developers reduced the size of the proposed signage and lowered the LED component. The Henderson City Council voted unanimously to approve the plans in June 2025. VAC Development was formed as a joint venture between WG Group—founded by Garfinkle and Michael Werner—and Sansone Investments, led by Devon Sansone. According to a press release, The Cliff’s ownership also includes Cast Capital Partners, which participated in the initial development team. Garfinkle said the group’s total development outlay—covering the land purchase, construction, leasing commissions and related expenses—amounts to roughly $70 million.