South Virginia Complete Project / Rapid Extension

by Mike Van Houten / Sep 3, 2010

- Behold! Revitalization news! Revita-what, you say? Yeah I know it's been a long time since we've had any kind of hint of development, redevelopment or revitalization, but a major project slated for central Reno is still moving forward, and much like the downtown Virginia Street Beautification Project and the Wells Avenue beautification project, this will have a profound impact for the area.

There will be a Public Open House on Tuesday, September 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Reno City Council Chambers to review the designs for prettying up South Virginia Street between Liberty and Kietzke. This includes preparation for a light rail, furniture and decor, candy cane lighting, redoing all the street corners with landscaping, and more.

Here's a preview of what will be presented at the Open House in case you can't make it...

They have been busily working to develop a series of “best fit” prototypes for the South Virginia streetscape. Their analysis of the South Virginia corridor includes all of sidewalk and street widths from California Avenue to Kietzke Lane. A block by block analysis was prepared that provides the basis for the exhibits shown below . The analysis establishes three (3) priorities based on the available sidewalk widths that will be available, pending the elimination of on-street parking on South Virginia. The priorities are:


Priority 1: 5-foot sidewalk width; decorative streetlights; stamped concrete strip provided at streetlight locations.

Priority 2: 7 to 12-foot sidewalk width; decorative streetlights; stamped concrete strip provided at streetlight location; street trees in tree grate provided between streetlights; bench and trash receptacle provided.

Priority 3: 12 to 18 foot sidewalk width; decorative streetlights; stamped concrete strip provided at streetlight locations; street trees provided in 5-foot wide parkway strip with trees, shrubs, seasonal color plantings; bench and trash receptacle provided.

It should be noted that the above priorities are directed to areas where existing building limit the amount of additional sidewalk area. For new developments within the corridor, the requirement, per the City of Reno’s Municipal Code, would be to provide the full 18-feet with the standards established in Priority 3.

Four options have been provided for street furniture palettes within the corridor, which you can see in the first image below. These thematic palettes are characterized as “Organic”, “Traditional”, “Modern”, and “Contemporary”. They need your help in determining which is best fit for South Virginia. Please comment on which street furniture group you prefer.

South Virginia Street Preliminary Concepts

Post your comments
  • September 3, 2010 - 10:43:41 AM

    I prefer the organic and I like alternative A or B for the lamp posts...the copper colors are nice.

  • September 3, 2010 - 12:00:17 PM

    Where are the bike lanes?

  • September 3, 2010 - 11:21:31 PM

    I'll be there! This is quite a neat opportunity!

  • September 4, 2010 - 10:06:14 AM

    I like them all, but probably the traditional one slightly better than the rest. @Tom: These look like plans for the sidewalks and crosswalks. Bike lanes are part of street design...

  • September 4, 2010 - 11:47:41 AM

    Bike lines next to light rail tracks is probably not a good idea.

  • September 5, 2010 - 3:01:29 PM

    Perhaps with an 18' sidewalk we could have separated bike lane?

  • September 10, 2010 - 3:03:18 PM

    I realize that the meeting already happened, but I still wanted to say that I think the organic one is the best. It has the most visually distinct style, in my opinion.

  • October 7, 2010 - 6:32:05 PM

    Why eliminate parking? There are so many businesses that rely on street parking. It would be devastating to many.

MENU