Marnell did not say whether the mall addition would alter some of the other previously approved plans. A source associated with the developer tells GlobeSt.com that "if anything, the project will move forward faster than planned." An official with the City of Henderson tells GlobeSt.com the overall development is entitled for one million sf of non-casino retail but the developer would still have to obtain multiple approvals for any design changes and no revised designs have been submitted as yet.

As of December, the first phase of M Resort was to cover 40 of the 80 acres Marnell owns at Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway with an 11-story building housing 390 rooms and suites, 90,000 sf of gaming space and approximately 40,000 sf of meeting and conference space. Additional amenities included a 20,000-sf spa and outdoor pool, a top-floor lounge and multiple dining and entertainment options. The second phase called for an additional 600 hotel rooms, nearly 2,000 condominiums in multiple mid-rise towers and additional entertainment offerings.

The news is the first about the resort since December, when Marnell announced that it had struck a deal with Galaxy Theaters for a 14-screen, 63,000-sf movie house on the casino level that would be up and running about six months after the rest of the resort's $1-billion initial phase, which is scheduled to open in early 2009. The overall project cost has been estimated at closer to $2 billion.