Well, this is what you've been waiting for!
Some renderings and plans revealed for Jacobs Entertainment's Reno Neon Line. Click here to view a project map!
The plans call for a $1 billion mixed-use development in downtown Reno, Nev. This urban mixed-use master planned district is one of the largest redevelopment projects of its kind proposed, according to the developer. The area encompasses 20 city blocks that will be known as Reno’s Neon Line District. Jacobs Entertainment has already invested more than $100 million in the acquisition of over 50 separate properties. The district stretches from downtown Reno’s West Street to Keystone Avenue, and from Interstate 80 South to West Second Street.
The centerpiece of the district is the creation of a $25 million, half-mile-long installation of public art along West Fourth Street, that will be known as Reno’s Neon Line. Currently under construction, Reno’s Neon Line will host rotating artwork, with the initial artwork of the series to include sculptures formerly exhibited at Burning Man.
• The vision is a cultural epicenter for the arts, entertainment, hospitality and lodging.
• Jacobs’ goal is to create a streetscape that will change perceptions of what the downtown Reno experience entails
• According to Jacobs, The Reno Neon Line will be a half-mile long ribbon of color, light, sound, art, entertainment and experiences that will focus national attention on a revitalized urban environment
• They will add public space to the existing sidewalk (approx. 10—20 feet additional width)
• The Reno Neon Line will contain 8-10 sculptures over the course of two years. Five will be in place by the end of the summer and the remaining after that.
• The sculptures will be rotating – they are all leased. Every two years or so they will rotate out and new sculptures will be coming in. Here are photos of the first two sculptures being installed. First is the warrior (Desert Guard, built by the Beijing Burner Club, and is a giant steel Mongolian warrior that stood guard over all the playa. Displayed on the playa in 2018, this was the group’s first year at Burning Man. Next is the lantern tree (Artist Charles Gadeken’s 50ft LED sculpture “SQUARED”)
• There will be a software brain – fiber connecting from Keystone to West Street – a lot of things with color and sound. A lot of interactive things are coming to the Reno Neon Line that will blend with the sculptures to make a really cool experience for the community and visitors, all controlled by a central computer system.
• One of the art pieces will be a “wind wall” - The surface of a façade will change intensity and color with intensity of winds coming in and out of Reno
The initial sculptures include:
Desert Guard built by Lu Ming, a giant steel Mongolian warrior that stood guard over the playa in 2018
SQUARED built by industrial artist Charles Gadeken, a 50-foot tree-like LED lantern sculpture
Bloom built by Michael Christian, a large interactive lights and steel sculpture
Rearing Horse built by Elko artist and inventor, Barry Crawford, a kinetic horse sculpture made of found objects
This phase of sculpture installation will be completed this summer. The space will be pedestrian-friendly and allows local and national artists alike to showcase their work. Construction on the entirety of Reno’s Neon Line will be completed in summer 2021.
Reno’s Neon Line District will also include new and redeveloped residential units on 10 sites recently acquired by Jacobs Entertainment. Jacobs Entertainment envisions more than 2,000 residential units to be developed within Reno’s Neon Line District, which will include projects undertaken by Jacobs Entertainment as well as other developers. There's no timeline yet on the residential development.
Jacobs Entertainment’s current commercial properties located in the district include the Gold Dust West Casino and the Sands Regency Hotel Casino. The Sands Regency recently initiated a $50 million phase one remodel as part of a $250 million complete restoration of the 800-room hotel casino.
The Sands remodel will include:
• The new Buffet, already complete, and includes a complete remodel and the addition of state-of-the-art kitchen upgrades
• Remodel of the 225-room West Tower with new kitchen amenities for extended stays
• 12 new elevators
• New modern gaming machines on 60% of the floor
• Overall facility improvements including new carpet and paint
• Electronic upgrades for TVs and AV equipment
• New central heating and cooling plant
Look below for renderings and construction photos of the Sands and Reno Neon Line statues being put in place, plus photos of the completed Sands Buffet, and photos of Renova Flats, the first residential project to come online in the Reno Neon Line.
Very excited to see this. I live in Arlington Towers and ride to work through the heart of this zone every day.. What will be the disposition of existing new construction within the district (Northern Nevada Hopes complex and other new construction)? What will be the disposition of the homes and other buildings that still dot the landscape within the project? The 50 lots are going to be developed at different times. It would be nice to convert the concrete parking lots that will be developed to grass in the interim to get more green space in downtown Reno. The parking lots will be ripped up anyway, right? These could take years to actually have development activity take place on them.