Reno Development

[kenratboy]

Yeah, as their other properties show, they cater to better crowd and if they start rolling Bass Pro Shop and such into it, it will be less of a casino and more of a resort. They were even talking about a movie theater in the project (and Century is currently finishing the pad for a 16-plex across the street in the Summit Sierra project).

[jwaters943]

Hey! Glad to see there is another Renoite on here! As for the Station Casino Project, there is a rendering on the first page (above the rendering for the Sparks Marina Casino). I happen to live in South Reno as well too (Double Diamond area) and am curious to see what this project will offer. The rumor is that they also plan to include an ice skating rink. They keep sending me update/feedback cards, one of which happened to mention they might include a theater as you had stated earlier. If they do include a theater I hop it's an IMAX theater as the area really doesn't need another "regular" theater with Century going in across the highway.

[kenratboy]

I live in Virginia Foothills, so I am only 2-3 miles from you! Small world. Moved to Reno about 6 years ago from London (lived there for a few years, from the Bay Area originally, and still love the area).

While we are on a skyscraper forum, I will say all the development in the south end of town is pretty amazing.

-Intersection of Mt. Rose & S. Virginia is sure going to be interesting. With 'The Summit' (freaking yuppies :p ) in, it is certainly on its way to having more. With the resort and Bass Pro Shop together, that will be one hell of a complex. An IMAX would be awesome - sell me a annual pass for $100 or so and I will just go over and over. I am into home theater and such, and the picture quality (and sound) is just jaw-droppingly good. I don't care what film they are showing, I just like the picture quality and sound!

-Double Diamond is certainly growing. I am a little annoyed there is only one tiny park, I hope some other stuff goes in. While DD is growing south, all the stuff in my area (from Geiger Grade) is growing north very fast. If you have not taken a walk/drive in the fields, you would be shocked how close they are to joining.

-They are getting ready to tie Veterans Pkwy. in with Geiger Grade about 1000' from the intersection of Mt. Rose & Virginia, could be just a few weeks. Will be able to get from Double Diamond to Geiger Grade without having to get on the freeway or S. Virginia.

Certainly a lot of interesting stuff going on.

Oh, and about the freeway, shame the contractor backed out of the project, hope that gets underway again soon, that bridge over Galena Creek will be spectacular, and it will be nice to get traffic/commuters off 395 (I have friends down there, and the road can be a PITA sometimes).

Anything cool in the area you are looking forward to, or are just interested in?

[innov8]

This last weekend I was up in Reno enjoying the Balloon Races.



Please click here to see more...
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=115194

[BTinSF]

So what do you guys think about the assertion here http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=115120 that Las Vegas is about to suck away all your water?

[Ronin]

Then, it's going to be just like California, NorNev vs. SoNev! Bring it on!

[jwaters943]

Originally Posted by kenratboy

Oh, and about the freeway, shame the contractor backed out of the project, hope that gets underway again soon, that bridge over Galena Creek will be spectacular, and it will be nice to get traffic/commuters off 395 (I have friends down there, and the road can be a PITA sometimes).

Anything cool in the area you are looking forward to, or are just interested in?

I too, was a bit irritated that the contractor backed out in the middle of construction. I sure hope they are able to secure a new builder (current bid deadline is 10/12/06) and that they are able to build the bridge as proposed. For more info. visit www.freewayextension.com.

I have lots of issues with the way growth is managed in this region. I do think we are improving, yet there tends to be a sort of knee jerk reaction to growth in the Reno/Sparks area. Instead of meeting or anticipating projected growth the city would rather wait until the last moment to implement traffic/street upgrades. Our freeway system is a perfect example of this. They just spent tons of money adding addtional lanes in certain areas, but not in others and putting up sound walls and for all the time and money spent on the "upgrades" (construction took approx. 1 year longer than it should have) I really don't see much of an improvement. Instead of fixing the freeway by implementing flyover interchanges on I-80 & 395, the city chose to do a temporary fix. Same goes for the Spanish Springs/Sun Valley interchange. Last I heard they had all but killed the idea of building a new freeway in the mountains between Sun Valley & Spanish Springs in favor of adding additional lanes to Pyramid Hwy. and redoing the Pyramid & McCarran Blvd intersection. Either way, I'll be truly suprised if the current changes to I-80 & 395 are enough to accomodate growth through 2015-2020, especially without the completion of the Tahoe/Pyramid link. Speaking of the Tahoe/Pyramid Link, has there been any resolution to where they are going to put this? They really need a freeway that links South Reno with Sparks. If only they could come to an agreement on where it will go. http://www.newsreview.com/reno/Content?oid=oid%3A23568

On a slightly different topic, but still traffic related....has anyone heard anything about the Bus Rapid Transit on Virginia Street? I think it's a great idea that they should be working on. Just think how much more money tourists could spend in the area if they had an easy way to get from downtown to Meadowood and The Summit. I also think a BRT system would work great for McCarran Blvd., but I'm sure we are decades from that happening.

As for my general interests in the Reno area, I REALLY hope the Waterfront Towers and Wingfield Towers get built. I think those two projects alone have the ability to elevate the quality of future development in downtown Reno and will do wonders for the region. I've been hearing they are running into funding issues with some of the proposed projects downtown, but last I heard the Waterfront was moving forward. The Grand Sierra Resort also looks quite promising. They still claim they are going to have a Dolce Restaurant (owned in part by Mr. Demi Moore himself) and a Viper Room, which would be quite impressive.

Well, enough of my ranting. I hope I didn't bore too many of you.
It's a beautiful day and they're talking about snow in the mountains by this weekend so I better get outside and enjoy it while it lasts.

[kenratboy]

BTinSF - thee who is upstream controls the tap There is a lot of water around here, just an issue of getting it. In Vegas, they have a lot more problems. Not worried.

jwaters943 - yeah, looks like Q&D is fighting hard for it, if anything, it would be a great flagship project for them! I think this will help the region grow (make it easier, faster, and safer to go between Reno and Carson, and points north/south)

As for the freeways, I am no expert, so I cannot really say if what they are doing is right or wrong, but I do believe the people doing this stuff are pretty good and it really is helping. You have said what I think, so not a lot more for me to add.

No idea about the bus systems, but I will say I have lived in Reno for 6 years and have never been on the bus (other than shuttle buses) - no desire or interest. I agree that a shuttle bus from downtown to Meadowood to Summit (stops at Atlantis/Peppermill/GSR as well) would be cool. No idea how feasible it is.

Yes, I really hope Waterfront and Wingfield get built - it would look amazing (help get rid of the undeserved stereotypes Reno has) and would hopefully jump-start downtown development. I also hope that GSR goes ahead as well. The Hilton site is huge, and they could do a lot. I just don't know if they will actually do cool stuff.

No, you are not boring me, interesting to hear this stuff from another person from the area.

Even though we live in Reno, I am still really interested in the stuff happening in Sacramento and San Francisco - cool stuff.

Oh, another thing even - Virginia City. They just built one large hotel off the main street, and should be building another soon (total or a few hundred rooms!) This is big news for a tiny city. They just need to get some more tourist stuff in, and build out the fvcking railroad! You should be able to leave Carson City (or at least the base of 50) and take the train up to Virginia City, be able to easily get to your hotel, and be done. I think there is a lot of potential up there, I just hope they take advantage of it.

[jwaters943]

Here is some info. on the BRT system planned for Virginia Street. The first phase will go from UNR to Meadowood, with the second phase extending all the way to Mt Rose Hwy. a few years after. BRT is much similar to Light Rail than a traditional bus. Here is a link with more detailed info.:

http://www.rtcwashoe.com/planning/transit/brt/


Transit article from Reno Magazine (2005):

Transit of the future

Within eight to 10 years, a $40 million rapid bus transit system will run the length of South Virginia Street in a designated lane from the University of Nevada, Reno to Mount Rose Highway. This won’t be any ordinary bus route. It will have its own lane, elevated platforms, and automatic doors, and it will make the trip in a fraction of the time it takes to drive it. Although the system still is in the planning stages, RTC executives already have started socking away money for it. When the line is operating, officials hope to see a rebirth of retail business along Reno’s main corridor as more and more shoppers and commuters find the speedy bus route to be the most practical way of getting around the area.

New transit centers in Reno and Sparks, scheduled for completion by 2008, will be designed as the home bases for the existing Citifare bus system. They will be much larger than the existing transit center in Reno and will include retail services and other amenities, such as day care centers. Picture it: commuters will be able to drop off their kids, get a cup of coffee, and know precisely to the minute when their bus will arrive to carry them to work. At the end of the day, they’ll be able to stop off at the grocery store to pick up milk or vegetables or some chicken for dinner. It all will be there for them.

“We have to make transit more attractive to get more people to use it,” Krause says. “These kinds of transit centers that have retail services and day care either incorporated into the project or adjacent to it have been a great success in other cities and we think it will work here, too.”

The RTC has almost completed right-of-way property acquisitions in Sparks and hopes to start building the transit center there this fall. Property acquisition in Reno is more complicated, so that project isn’t expected to start until 2006.

The train trench will be completed (in November this year) and traffic will be able to flow smoothly instead of waiting while the engines roll through town. But you probably already knew about that. What you may not know is money has been set aside for a new two-block plaza over the top of the trench downtown. Planners haven’t decided yet where to locate the plaza, but as redevelopment downtown continues, you can expect to see improvements to the roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks that will make downtown friendlier to people on foot.

High-density housing downtown already is being designed to make the decision to go without a car easier for many residents. Reno and Sparks citizens may some day find they have something in common with San Franciscans, who often find it easier to park their cars and just ride the bus. Sparks already has a housing project planned adjacent to the site of its transit center.

Based on this article I guess there won't be any construction on the project for about another 5 years or so. Just FYI, I don't currently ride the bus either, but I think well designed public transportation (i.e. light rail, subway systems and even advanced bus systems like BRT are an asset and necessity to any developing city) The Bay Area, S.F. in particular, is pretty much the only western city/metropolitan region I can think of with a truly "good" public transit system IMHO.

[jwaters943]

This is an update to my previous post:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=110928

New picture of Arterra Condo Tower:
16 Story Condo tower, scheduled to break ground in 2007 and to be completed in 2009.



Wingfield Towers gains final approval of the planning commission. When complete, it will have two towers containing 499 condos, 19,817 square feet of retail space and 20,603 square feet of office space. One tower will be 40 stories (the tallest in Northern Nevada) and the other will be 28. For more pics go to http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/WingfieldTowers.asp



The Denovo, formerly the Kings Inn Casino and one of the biggest eyesores in the downtown area, appears to be gaining momentum. Plans now include another 18-story tower on the other side of the railroad tracks with a plaza covering the train trench between the towers. Here is a pic of the existing building and what is should look like after they add 8 stories to it (they've had engineers come in and say the building is quite robust and the foundation can support the extra weight which is a bit suprising given it's appearance). There are no pics of the planned 18-story tower as of yet. They also plan to include a restaurant, dog spa and a boutique grocery store on the bottom floor.




New Train Trench Cover/Pedestrian Plaza between Virginia Street & West Street:



The Reno City Council on Wednesday approved a design for a two-block plaza west of Virginia Street, covering the city's new trench for Union Pacific Railroad tracks that cut through downtown.

The $16 million pedestrian plaza, built with railroad trench and related grant and bond money, is the final part of the $313 million trench, creating a new landmark for Reno.

"The last 10 percent of it is 100 percent of what people will see," Montage condominium developer Fernando Leal told the council.

"It's just beautiful," Mayor Bob Cashell said.

Between the plaza and a new look for Virginia Street now under way, Cashell said the two projects are going to bring people back to the downtown area.

"Just like the whitewater park did," he said. "This has been coming for 20 years."

Councilman Dave Aiazzi said the series of huge trellises remind him of railroad tracks.

Each of 12 trellises spanning 60 feet would be planted with wisteria and trumpet vine to shade the plaza. Paving stones would be laid over precast concrete sections that cover the trench, with rows of shade trees at the edge of the trellises.

The trellises disguise a series of towers that are 24-26 feet tall. The towers are equipped with fans so smoke and fumes can be removed quickly from the tunnel if there's a train accident.

The towers also help support the trellises, said Gene Webber of plaza designer PLACES Consulting Services of Sparks.

"We took a very ugly item and tried to create something beautiful," said Jack Hawkins, a Reno architect who was part of the design team. The trellises will create "a hanging garden effect," he added.

Nighttime glow

The top of each tower will glow at night, and colored light bulbs can be used.

The designers said special-event organizers believe the plaza could be used every week, and outdoor vendors could set up shop every day. Water and other utility outlets would be provided.

Source: Reno Gazette Journal

[Vtown420]

Here's a few construction pics I took.

Palladio




Former Golden Phoenix being converted to condos





And a couple skyline shots

[Vtown420]

...

[TheDesertFox]

Reno is in Nevada.

[jwaters943]

For the record I originally posted my Reno related threads in the Mountain West Forum and several members suggested posting them here instead. The city limits have been extended all the way to the Cal/Nev border so maybe they figured it was close enough.

Regarding the Palladio, go to http://www.thepalladio.net/ for more info. and a pic of what it should look like once construction is complete.

[Vtown420]

There's no Nevada forum and nobody in the Mountain west cares about it. But some people from California do. That's why we posted here.

[fflint]

Okay--I just merged the two threads.

Just to quickly address something and move on: Reno forumers are always welcome to post in the Califorum. Reno shares a border for a few miles with California, but more importantly, Northern Californians generally are infinitely more familiar with Reno than are southern Nevadans, let alone people in the rest of the Mountain West.

--
What an amazing building boom downtown. What are the chances for Wingfield? Also, is it just me, or has the Palladio taken a long time? I was there last Christmas and it was nearly topped out then.

Oh--and nice skyline shots.

[Vtown420]

Yeah, it seems like the Palladio is taking forever. Especially when I compare it to stuff going up in Vegas, where things seem to move alot faster.

[Jay916]

nice pics!

[J Church]

Can't wait to see the trench cover. Also:

The designers said special-event organizers believe the plaza could be used every week, and outdoor vendors could set up shop every day.

Will there be any sort of concerted effort to keep the plaza active? It's got such a great location; would be a shame for it to just sit there unused.

[jwaters943]

The Palladio has taken longer than expected. I think there were some cash flow ploblems. As for the Wingfield Towers project, word of mouth has been good, but I have no real "inside" information. From everything I've heard they have the financing necessary to get it built. The Waterfront and Wingfield towers, if built, will totally transform our skyline.


One last update I forgot to mention has to do with the Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the Reno Hilton). Aside from a bit of painting and sign changes, the outside has not undergone any renovations as of yet. Work on the inside is progressing a bit faster. Due to open within the next month is Dolce, the restaurant owned in part by Ashton Kutcher. Here is a blub from GSR's website:

Coming Soon!

Perhaps the ultimate test of style and taste is a resort's ability to attract a restaurant of renown. In proudly presenting the second location of Los Angeles' famous Dolce Enoteca, the Grand Sierra cements its reputation as a world-class destination for culinary delights.

Designed by Dodd Mitchell, Dolce Enoteca combines classic, high-end Italian cuisine with glamourous Hollywood ambiance. Whether patrons enjoy the classic menu of extraordinarily prepared pastas, meats, and seafood, the enoteca menu of small plates at the bar, or the sommelier's selection from among thousands of the world's finest wines, Dolce Enoteca is certain to become Reno's finest option for everything from casual drinks after work to private dinner parties and events.

http://www.grandsierracondos.com
http://www.grandsierraresort.com