A shift in suburban housing: Dense developments spark debate in Las Vegas [Video]

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — For decades, a home with a spacious backyard has symbolized the American suburban dream. But in Las Vegas, that dream is evolving as developers embrace smaller lots and denser rental communities to address the valley’s housing crisis. The trend is sparking heated debates among residents.

One such debate is unfolding in the northwest valley, where Leslie and Tim Murphy have lived on Ann Road since 1980. Their 5,000-square-foot home sits on a half-acre lot, a stark contrast to a proposed development nearby. An empty three-acre parcel of land near their property is slated to become a tightly packed rental community of 25 homes.

“There’s nothing in the area this dense. The lots are 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. With the house to the fence, it’s just 5 to 7 feet,” said Leslie Murphy.

The couple fears the project could significantly lower their property value.

The Las …