Las Vegas Blvd. North of Strip Named Scenic Byway: Huh?

From the Las Vegas Sun: A stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that goes through downtown has been designated a National Scenic Byway, the city of Las Vegas announced today.
The primary qualifying factor was the large amount of neon signage along the boulevard from Washington to Sahara avenues, the city said. It was also recognized for its cultural, historic and nighttime scenic amenities... The city started pursuing the designation in 2000 and the stretch was designated a state scenic byway in 2001. To be considered a National Scenic Byway, a road must be designated a state scenic byway and must have adopted a Corridor Management Plan.
One of the city’s goals under its plan has been to restore and place up to 20 historic neon signs in the median and to protect the existing neon signs. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/oct/19/las-vegas-blvd-north-strip-named-scenic-byway/
Ok, well, what's on Las Vegas Blvd: You have the Saraha Hotel, which is nice and you have Fremont St. You have a few wedding chapels. You also have a gift store or 2. And of course, for those who like the show, Pawn Stars, that is also on Las Vegas Blvd.
Now what else does it have? You have office buildings which are non-descript. Past Hwy 95, you have the homeless, which the City has taken steps to care of and a few stores and a cemetary and mortuary.
So, The City of Las Vegas is having financial difficulities, people are losing their jobs within the ciyt government and outside, foreclosures are on the rise and this is what the City worries about?