Reno Development

[jwaters943]

Originally Posted by 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.

It remains to be seen, but I don't think they'll have a problem. As it is now, there is a severe shortage of outdoor public space in downtown. Reno has lots of special events that take place downtown and it's not uncommon to find Virginia Street closed off during the weekend during much of the Summer on the weekend. The plaza could be utilized at any of the following events that take place downtown: Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations, The Great Italian Festival, Blues & Brews Festival, Artown, Gay Pride, etc.

At other times of the year I would love to see the plaza become a gathering spot for musicians/artists and cart vendors (hot dogs/falafel/ice cream/funnel cake, etc.). It would also be a great site to house a Farmers Market like the one in Sparks, NV.

[EastBayHardCore]

Awesome pics and info. I was just in Reno 2 weeks ago and it's looking great. I was wondering what was up with the former Hilton, thanks for filling us in about it!

[jwaters943]

More info. on The Palladio from http://dianecohn.blogs.com:

Last week I took a hard-hat tour of The Palladio, Reno's first built-from-scratch condominium project downtown. Hidden under a green tarp for many months now, what surprised me about the building were the numerous expansive windows, high ceilings and generous outdoor terrace space in almost every unit I saw. This project is right on the Riverwalk, so the water views from the south and west units are fantastic.

To keep HOA fees under control, the project went light on homeowner amenities. The deck and spa area will feature an infinity edge pool overlooking the river when complete, and of course, residents will enjoy a high-style lobby. That's about it.

But the retail spaces below may more than make up for this. Starbucks has leased the corner unit on Sierra and First, and Mikuni, an extremely popular Sacramento sushi bar plans to occupy the back side of the building facing the river, potentially offering up to 3000 square feet of outdoor dining. Port of Subs and The Melting Pot are also looking at possible locations there.

So with the movie theaters across the street, Coldstone Creamery, Taco Del Mar, that new lounge going in and the Silver Peak Brewery all right there, plus that little art gallery turned downtown market up the street and the big new nightclub going in on Second and Sierra... pretty much this project is at the epicenter of our slowly emerging, soon-to-be-cool, new downtown.

According to the developer, the people buying here are well-to-do locals and some out-of-towners. Many plan to live there full time, while some will keep them as second homes. There are a couple of one-bedroom units available facing First Street in the mid threes, a wonderful one-bedroom with a huge private terrace on the pool level in the mid fours, and a gorgeous two bedroom with a curved wall of windows overlooking the Truckee River for $800,000 that just fell out of escrow. There are other units available as well, but these are the ones I remember.

The penthouse views are incredible, but sorry, all four are sold. The best one, at a little over 3000 square feet, went for about $1.7 million. The Montage, however, still has a few left, and the views from there are arguably more magnificent.

More info. on the Wingfield Towers project:

-Building will be LEED Silver Certified
-Parking for up to700 cars and 500 bikes
-Towers are quite narrow and designed to cast a minimal shadow on the nearby Truckee River & Wingfield Park. The towers will cover only 41% of the lot, with 48% going to patio/plaza space and 11% for landscaping
-Lower floor designed to be water tight in the event of a flood

For the complete article go here:

http://www.renodiscontent.com/2006/10/10/wingfield-towers-update-2/

[jwaters943]

News of a much smaller scale. The tacky Fitzgerald's pedestrian bridge near the Reno arch is biting the dust. It will be torn down to make way for the new train trench cover/public plaza.



Here's to hoping the demolition crew somehow manages to take out the pawn shops and discount gift shops across the street as well.

[kenratboy]

Hey - don't hate on the discount gift shop - this town was built on $.99 shot glasses and clear dice with tequila worms in the middle!

:p

On 10/3, I posted a link to a local new story saying Wingfield was still moving along and had passed some city approval meetings. The article is gone, but this was only a week ago - things are moving...slowly.

However, a 28 and 40-story building in Reno are worth waiting for.

[jwaters943]

The website for Arterra has just been updated. There is a wide array of floorplans and sizes (from around 640-3500 square feet, not including the large balconies). The interior appliances/fixtures seem high-end. I'm somewhat suprised to see no mention of a pool. Given the expected pricing, one might expect a pool.

Either way, it looks pretty impressive. Check it out!
http://www.arterra-home.com/

[Ronin]

That pedestrian bridge is the stupidest thing ever! No wonder they are tearing it down. Take an elevator up to walk over to the otherside, when you could have done the same thing on the street level.

Also, wow, so they really did gut out all of the interior on the Golden Phoenix. I thought they would just be remodeling the rooms. It looks like something to take into consideration.

[jwaters943]

The pedestrian bridge was needed to get tourists to the other side of the train tracks before they were lowered. Quite a few trains roll through Reno each day. Downtown used to be a nightmare certain times of day and it created a real problem for Ambulance and Police vehicles. You would not believe the amount of controversy it caused locally when City Council decided to lower the train tracks. It was during the height of downtown's "depression" in the 90's. People said it would bankrupt the city and how it was a waste of money. Now it's being credited, along with the Whitewater Park, with helping revitalize downtown and everyone loves it. It has even been referred to as Reno's "Big Dig".

As for the Montage (formerly Golden Phoenix), they always intended from the start to give it a "true" redo by stripping it all the way down to the metal framing. By the time it's done it should be unrecognizable which is a great thing IMO. Even the demo at the Belvedere Towers (former Sundowner Hotel) is fairly extensive. The outside will be spruced up with new paint, windows and details around the roof as well as the addition of a couple floors in certain spots. The interior has been completely gutted.

I'm just glad they're not doing it half-assed like the former Comstock, which is now The Residences at Riverwalk. The interior of those units are quite nice, but the exterior lacks any architectural definition whatsoever. Aside from new paint and removal of neon, it looks largely the same, which is to say, like many other buildings of it's time period (60's-70's).

[kenratboy]

Yeah, the bridge was for when the train would block people - it served its purpose, now it is time for it to go.

And the trench was a great idea - yes, it was expensive, but in the long run, a great idea.

[Ronin]

BTW, anyone know what happened to the pawn shop owned by that one dude who killed his wife?

[fflint]

The pedestrian bridge is outdated and unnecessary today, but it served its purpose, as others have noted. It was fairly cool inside--initially lined with a center aisle of slot machines, later (at least on one of my visits) featuring an exhibit of historic photos of downtown Reno from the city's founding until about the 1950s. Needless to say that caught my attention.

I liked being able to gamble while trainspotting, but I like the trench a lot better and the plaza will be gravy.

[fflint]

Reno city officials negotiate details of Fitzgeralds deal

Susan Voyles and Scott Sady
Reno Gazette-Journal
10/12/2006




An artist’s rendering of what the plaza would look like

One more piece in building a landmark plaza in downtown Reno is falling into place as city officials negotiate the final details for a land swap with Fitzgeralds Casino-Hotel.

Fitzgeralds would gain the city-owned Old Reno Casino in exchange for giving up small strips of land on both sides of the train trench. The city wants to build a two-block plaza over the year-old railroad trench.

The Reno City Council authorized negotiations on Wednesday to complete the deal.

Fitzgeralds would agree to demolish the Rainbow Bridge that crosses the trench at Virginia Street. It would be in the way of the plaza.

The City Council on Wednesday also took the first step to authorize the sale of $15 million in bonds, backed by leases from 77 properties along the trench inherited from Union Pacific Railroad.

Finance director Andy Green said those funds could be used for a variety of projects. This could include helping pay for the last $2 million needed to build the $16 million plaza.

Steve Varela, Reno public works director, said he expects to bring a final design for the two-block plaza to the City Council for approval in November. The plaza, also fronting the Montage condominium development at what was former the Golden Phoenix Hotel Casino & Resort, would include a series of giant trellises. They would be arched over the plaza for shade and hanging lights.

Fitzgeralds' Rainbow Bridge opened in January 1998, serving as a pedestrian overpass while the trench was under construction and a temporary track was laid to keep trains moving. Union Pacific gave Fitzgeralds $800,000 to build it.

With the trench opening last year, Varela said there's no need for the bridge.

Final details to be negotiated include arranging for Fitzgeralds to retain some valet parking spaces on Commercial Row near its hotel entrance.

How it would work

The city would give up the Old Reno Casino, a 4,225 square-foot parcel between Fitzgeralds and the Old Masonic building on Commercial Row. With the small parcel and its ownership of the Masonic building, Fitzgeralds would own the entire block on Commercial Row.

Bud Hicks, Fitzgeralds lawyer, said the company has no plans for either property for now. Fitzgeralds is in bankruptcy and controlled by a court-appointed supervisor.

Looking inside the windows, the interior of the Old Reno Casino has been trashed and exterior signs ripped off the wall.

Hicks said the Masonic Lodge building, the oldest building in Reno, probably can't be restored.

"The structure is not sound. It has a rubble foundation," said Jerry Priddy, Fitzgeralds' general manager. And he said the foundation is disintegrating.

In 2003, Reno condemned the property and bought it for $1. The condemnation allowed a company owned by Harvey Whittemore to retain the unlimited gaming license and use it elsewhere without having to build 200 hotel rooms.

The city agreed to that deal to avoid a lawsuit from Old Reno Casino over lost business while the trench was under construction.

Whittemore and the Peppermill later considered using that gaming license to open the Lazy 8 casino project in Spanish Springs. Then they decided to build the 200 hotel rooms.

[jwaters943]

From http://www.ktvn.com:

Another downtown bridge’s days are numbered. But there’s not much fuss from historic preservationists since it’s only been around a decade.
The City of Reno is moving forward on a deal that would allow them to tear down the old Fitzgeralds pedestrian bridge parallel to Virginia Street. In turn, the casino would take ownership of the shuttered Old Reno casino property which sits next door.
The city says the reason behind all of this is what will be the focal point of the area, a new plaza that will cover the train trench from Virginia to Sierra Streets.

This article pretty much confirms what fflint posted above. It's also worth noting that on KTVN's newscast this morning they stated the City Council anticipates the demolition to be completed before the end of the year. It seems they are putting the train trench plaza on the fast track. It's too bad the ice rink canopy near the river isn't getting the same prioritization.

The canopy and retail building pictured below were supossed to be done by now. Supposedly, there will be further discussion of the canopy of the 25th. I hope concerns over cost don't create a major revision. I for one like the design.....it's different and interesting.

[jwaters943]

Many more pics of downtown Reno can be found in my Photo thread here:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=2387577#post2387577

[jwaters943]

New Hyatt Place Hotel @ the Reno/Tahoe International Airport:



Hyatt near airport could open by summer
RYAN RANDAZZO
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 11/9/2006

A 127-room Hyatt all-suite hotel could be open at Reno-Tahoe International Airport by summer, officials said Wednesday, touting the project as a crucial component in attracting business travelers to the region.

The Hyatt Place is a prototype for the company. The lease on airport land is fully executed and plans for the six-story hotel are nearly ready to submit to the city, airport Executive Director Krys Bart said. Work could start this year, and the property could open next summer.

"At the gateway to the city from the airport, it will give travelers a good first impression of the city," Bart said.

The hotel is planned for the south side of Plumb Lane just west of the main entrance to the airport. It does not include a casino, but will have meeting space to cater to business travelers, particularly those going between Northern and Southern Nevada.

The approximately $15 million Hyatt will be managed by Intermountain Management of Monroe, La., and it is their fourth property in the region, said Dewey Struble, senior adviser with Sperry Van Ness real estate in Reno.

The project is one of just three Hyatt Place hotels being built from the ground up, he said, with the rest of the 120 planned Hyatt Places across the country being converted from AmeriSuites hotels that the Hyatt chain purchased. That gives the builders the opportunity to customize the Reno project with stone, wood and a mountain decor, he said.

The airport also is working with a confidential developer to build three-story offices with underground parking, retail and a restaurant on the remaining acreage surrounding the Hyatt, Bart said.

The upscale plans for the hotel include granite counter tops and flat-screen televisions for the rooms.

"Right outside the airport we'll have a national hotel chain with a points program," Bart said. "That is important to business travelers."

Other officials have suggested the lack of a major hotel brand in the region following the transformation of the Reno Hilton into Grand Sierra Resort is a weakness for efforts to increase tourism.

"Right now, there are no traditional hotels in Reno that travelers know," said Ellen Oppenheim, president and chief executive of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. "Long term, we need more national flags here."

The airport will generate $170,000 in rent from the property annually in a contract that raises the rate over time, Bart said, adding that the more money the facility earns from nonaviation operations, the less expensive it is for airlines to fly to Reno and more likely they'll maintain or increase flights.

The project has been in negotiations for years, Bart said.

"We were really concentrating on the high end," she said. "It came down to Hilton and Hyatt."

http://www.hyattplace.com

I'm not sure what they mean by a lack of name-brand "traditional hotels", maybe they were referring to high-end hotels? Either way, I can think of quite a few "traditional" name-brand hotels in Reno, such as Hampton Inn, Marriot Courtyard & Residence Inn, Travelodge, Extended Stay America, Best Western, Holiday Inn, etc. There are also two Hilton Hotels planned for South Reno, one of which is currently under construction.


Cedar Dwellings (new Live/Work Lofts project in downtown):



-Italian Designer Kitchen—Scavolini™ kitchen, Miele™ and Bosch™ appliances. Striking design and lifetime hardware are a Scavolini hallmark while meeting ISO14001 environmental standards. The components for Miele appliances are designed to last for 40 years!

-Walk in closet— Panelite™ A lightweight opaque sliding wall separates the extensive dressing area and laundry facilities are incorporated. Directly connected to the bathroom and well lit.

-Toto™ and Kohler™ bathroom fixtures.

-Ceiling to floor mosaic tile shower and exterior french door.

-Harvested bamboo flooring. Bamboo flooring is a superior replacement for traditional rain-forrest derived hardwood floors.

-Two decks—Step directly from the kitchen to a balcony—a personal space for that morning laté as you read the blogs. The larger rear deck has ample of room for sun chairs and and a barbecue, a great place to entertain many guests.

-Heat recovery ventilator (HRV) — fresh air drawn into the house passes through a heat exchanger keeping up-to 80% of the heat from the stale exhaust air. You get to have filtered fresh air and maintain the comfort.
Designer Interior Lighting—balancing natural lighting, supplemental lighting and full nighttime illumination is an integral aspect of good contemporary design.

-Loft-like open floor plan and 17 foot ceiling makes the interior truly a living space.

-QuietRock® Soundproof Drywall

-Super-Insulated—sound and temperature control.

-The building envelope is the single most important factor in sustainable design. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) combined with a Sarnafil EnergySmart Roof® and commercial-grade low-E profile windows actually reduce the required size of the heating and cooling system by around 40%. The insulated concrete walls provide R-50 equivalency while providing fantastic sound insulation, fire, high wind and seismic resistance. Most stick built tract homes around Reno are lucky to achieve an effective R-19! ICFs are the wall of choice for million dollar homes in south-west Reno as well as Habitat for Humanity homes in Stead.

-Geothermal Heat—the most reliable and cheapest heating and cooling.
Geothermal heat pumps deliver high efficiency and reliability with the lowest operating cost. No volatile fuels, exhaust fumes or dangerous carbon monoxide. According to the EPA, geothermal heat pumps can save homeowners 30 to 70 percent on heating and 20 to 50 percent on cooling costs over conventional systems, occupy less space and run quieter and more reliably. Heating and cooling savings can range between $358 and $1,475 annually.

-Live/Work—multi-purpose design for mixed-use zoning.
The first floor layout is specifically designed for dual-use. You can keep it 100% residential or it can become the ideal consulting office/design studio! No matter what you choose the upper floors maintain their residential privacy and security. Mixed-use zoning combined with Cedar Dwellings' dual-use design provides the modern professional with a live-work experience unseen in Reno.

-Urban in-fill project—using what we have and not sacrificing more open space. The myriad of new developments (usually miles away from where you need to be) all have one thing in common; they bulldoze away the very essence of Washoe Valley life. Cedar Dwellings is an urban in-fill project that helps reduce the impact of growth by using and improving the existing infrastructure on previously developed land. For example, we use pervious concrete paving that allows rainwater to replenish the groundwater while reducing the impact of storm-water runoff.

http://www.cedardwellings.com

[jwaters943]

On a more somber note, some of you may have heard on the National News about a fire in downtown Reno on Halloween. The Mizpah, one of downtown Reno's oldest structures, was badly damaged in a fire started by an angry resident of the hotel who set a mattress on fire in a hallway. Twelve people died and over 30 were injured. The hotel was so badly damaged that a section of it will have to be demolished. There are several small businesses, including a very good pizza place (The Blind Onion), that sustained water damage. What's so frustrating and sad about the whole thing is the lady who started this was convicted of murder in the late 80's and released on parole in 2005! Not only that, but 2 years before being parolled, she was convicted of selling drugs inside prison! How the hell does that even happen?!? She should fry IMHO.

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl...3JtEiPH0lexSLCMdeW7jP280NGR21iZw8ODIM%3D



In better days:

[kenratboy]

Great posts.

Yeah, 12 dead at the Mizpah now, very sad event. Shows just how safe modern buildings are in comparison to the older stuff. Looks like there were no code violations, just a old building and bad events.

As for the Hyatt, 6 stores isn't tall...but its sure going to be nice. Its the little stuff that 'fills in' the area.

[jwaters943]

Below is an interesting report on the financial problems plaguing the developers of the Palladio. At least it explains why construction on the project has taking so long. I still find it odd that the developer, BCN Development, didn't budget for a pitched roof design when that is what they submitted to the city and were approved for. I still remember a few months back when they came to the city and were denied approval to build the tower with a flat roof. I hope they don't run all their developments this way. Last I heard they had some pretty big plans for Sacramento. Anybody know how the Aura & Epic towers are coming together?

http://www.bcndevelopment.com/

Anyway, check out the video:

http://ww2.kolotv.com/global/video/popup...ttp%3A//www.kolotv.com/video&rnd=9464240

[Web]

Any new news on BCN's development here in Reno?

[jwaters943]

Well, their only project in Reno is the Palladio and it's nearing completion. The roof is going on now. Here's the newest pic I could find online.