Here is a great article on the train trench cover, and other redevelopment in downtown as a result of acquiring 120 acres from the railroad.
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS/802030358/1002
A greenbelt loop tying together the Truckee River, Idlewild Park and Reno's central gaming district is proposed by city consultants to provide a new identity for downtown Reno as well as serve as an anchor for building new residential neighborhoods.
New neighborhoods along the proposed greenbelt on Third Street and the railroad trench, pockets of retail, a possible business park and narrow shop-lined streets and alleys in the heart of downtown are proposed as ways to transform downtown's "rough-looking" areas into a place where residents and visitors would want to congregate.
The plans are contained in a $500,000 study by Freedman, Tung and Bottomley, an urban design firm in San Francisco that prepared the "blueprint" for downtown Reno in 1991 that still is in use.
The design firm was asked to find ways to make the best use of more than 120 acres the city inherited along the tracks when the $282 million railroad trench was completed in 2005.
And in so doing, the study lays out a scheme for revitalizing much of downtown -- a two-mile swath from Keystone to Sutro streets. Now in a public review stage, the study is expected to go to the Reno City Planning Commission and the City Council over the next two months.
"It's an excellent road map to stitch together a new east-west corridor and stitch downtown back together," said Jim Hunting, president of the Downtown Improvement Association.
Much of the land is dotted with rundown warehouses, old boarding houses, older homes or vacant lots, as well as a few well-kept businesses. "For years, the existence of the railroad created an environment for disinvestment," Hunting said.
If the council accepts the new plan, Reno redevelopment director Mark Lewis believes some of the concepts, such as incorporating new design standards for development, could be put into practice quickly.
But with none of the engineering work done, Lewis said he has no cost estimates for the public improvements. More detailed plans would follow.
The consultants acknowledge the vision is a long-term plan. But the City Council recently revamped its downtown priorities and approved construction for a two-block plaza over the tracks in front of Fitzgeralds Casino-Hotel and the Montage condominiums, now under construction. The plaza would then connect with the proposed greenbelt on Third Street.
To revitalize land along the trench, east of downtown, the consultants had an easy job. Construction is expected to start in late February on a new Triple-A baseball park and a new entertainment/shopping zone. The council approved redevelopment plans for the project in record time last fall.
In laying out its plans for downtown, the Freedman group projects 2,742 residential units could be built, three-quarters of which would be built west of Virginia Street. In all, about 20 blocks are identified for potential mid-rise residential buildings.
Of 1 million square feet of new commercial buildings, most of the new shops would be built in neighborhood or town centers on Fourth Street, according to the study.
A new pedestrian bridge linking Idlewild Park to Fourth Street could serve as a draw in creating a new office park on West Fourth Street. The bridge would cross the Truckee River and the railroad tracks.
The centerpiece of the plan is a proposed greenway along Third Street and the trench. With "spectacular" views of the mountains, the consultants say the greenway could become "the second-greatest view corridor after the Truckee River."
Trees would be planted to create a canopy over Third Street. Wave-like artistic walls would bring in a river theme to dress up the trench, towers would be built at the street bridge crossings, and other touches would reflect the city's "trembling leaves" theme.
With a new bridge at Idlewild Park and the Sutro underpass at the other end, the greenbelt would link to the Truckee River bikeway and create a 3.8-mile long walking and bike loop.
"The loop would enhance livability for both downtown residents and visitors and tie together downtown entertainment and neighborhoods," the study said. "But more importantly, it would impart a new dimension of place and downtown Reno identity."
Along Third Street, residential buildings would line the 9-block grand boulevard and side streets. With the trains running below ground, they are no longer a bother. Having the river within close walking distance is another draw.
While calling it a great plan, Reno architect Jon Dewey said the 230-page study needs a companion volume on how to get the community involved in getting the job done. "I'm sure other communities tackled this same problem. We need to know how they do it," he said.
Hunting agreed a playbook is needed. He also believes the Reno Redevelopment Agency should play a strong role overseeing the plan and working with property owners and developers to make it happen.
If done all at once, Dewey said it would be the biggest project the city has ever attempted. But he said the city could create the partnerships needed to bring about the changes. He said there's more openness at City Hall than he's seen in the past 20 years.
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