Tentative Map Submitted for 28-unit Condo Project on Ralston Downtown

by Mike Van Houten / Feb 20, 2016

A tentative map has been submitted to the planning department for a 28-unit condominium project on Ralston on a vacant unused lot. The tentative map also includes two commercial spaces on the ground floor as well. 

235 Ralston is a mixed-use, urban infill project. It will consist of residential con-do unit ranging in size from 717 square feet to 2,156 square feet. The building's other features include secure ground-level parking, an outdoor recreation area, a second-level terrace and community room, private outdoor balconies for every unit, and the use of energy-efficient construction materials and finishes. 

It looks to be five stories tall and designed by Cathexis. 

A tentative map is submitted to the City of Reno Planning Department when a developer who owns a large piece of land want to split the land up or divide it somehow. For example, if you own a large multi-acre piece of property out in Spanish Springs and you decide you want to build a sub-division there, you're going to need to split up the property into multiple parcels. A tentative map explains how the project/lot division conforms to zoning, traffic, and parking requirements, as well as sewer system impact, water usage, and any special zoning overlay districts (such as the Downtown Regional Plan.) If the project falls outside of the scope of these requirements, then usual special use permits are required, and the project enters a whole different track. Otherwise, I believe it then goes to the Planning Commission for approval, and ultimately the City Council, but don't quote me on that. 

So in this case, because they're condos being built and will be individually owned, the vacant lot this will be built on, will need to be divided. 

Also as part of this project, an alley abandonment is being requested. 

Post your comments
  • February 21, 2016 - 9:08:48 AM

    thanks Mike. What about theose abandonded pads in that 2007 project which is over by the ball park area?

  • February 21, 2016 - 10:51:40 AM

    Nice photo image grab from Google Street View. This parcel lies on the railroad "trench" and is immediately north of the Cathexes office building, no functional alley is there but it must have the alley plat anyway. It was subject to a design exercise by the City a few months or year ago. Five stories high is ambitious, but this is downtown needing a makeover.

  • February 21, 2016 - 2:09:22 PM

    Can the city sign a contract to hand over the deed to the alley along with the certificate of occupancy? The project sounds good, but as No-Valleys pointed out, like at the first street abandonment, a development proposal is not a commitment. Ceding public land to private developers based on promises with no recourse if they don't follow through is no way to spur redevelopment. Otherwise we'd have a box store at the Robb exit instead of a trashed drainage.

  • March 5, 2016 - 7:42:08 PM

    Mike, you were dead-on about the process and the reason behind a tentative map. However, the MU/DRRC zoning overlay allows a mixed-use development like this, by right. So, if they weren't mapping this out, it could go straight to building permit. Definitely a good project for this block.

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