News 6-26-08 Waterfront Property
Post your commentsPosted by: Mark W. - 6/26/2008 10:58:50 AM
Mike, do you have an address for the developer/owner? I'd send a letter voicing my concern if you can provide such information! That piece of property is a dump in an otherwise pretty decent-looking part of town, and I'm surprised that there's not been any effort to maintain it whatsoever. If there was anything standing in there it would be coated an inch thick with grafitti...
Posted by: Mike Van H - 6/26/2008 11:58:13 AM
Hey Mark! Well that would probably be a little extreme, then dozens of people would be writing him...I dont know the business address. A more politically correct method would be to call Reno Direct, to see if the property is breaking any code such as excessive weeds etc., and then see what we can do from there. Take the Kings Inn for example, as fugly as it is, the property owners are keeping it up to city code, so for the most part the City is powerless to do anything. The thing thats ugly about the Waterfront Property is the abandoned street and sidewalks...if it were just a dirt lot with some weeds in it, it wouldnt be so bad. But ripping the street out would cost a lot of money, money I bet they dont have right now given the economy and real estate vibe. So Id be happy with some weed-wacking and then fixing the green tarp things on the fences so we cant see into the lot. That includes the intersection of 1st and Lake Streets, where the traffic light is. They do a good job replacing the constantly-graffitied coming-soon signs that line that block, so lets continue that attention to the rest of the property. And why not finish the interior of that great looking sales office on 2nd and Lake and utilize it as an art gallery until they are ready to proceed with the project?
Posted by: LordJames - 6/26/2008 1:12:07 PM
Haha DTM you are to nice. You phrased that much more delicately than I would have. If a property in Caughlin Ranch or any other $500K+ club burbs was in this condition, the entire neighborhood would be in an uproar about it. the issue is no one lives over in that area, so there is no neighborhood to be in an uproar over it. By the way, what the heck is being painted on the side of that tower next to the lot we're talking about? It is hip, pretty different. I think I like it.
Posted by: Crystal - 6/26/2008 1:49:16 PM
Well it's only 6 months until 2009 so if they are really going to break ground then I can wait for that. I just looked at the new renderings, it's stunning concept.
Posted by: Mark W. - 6/26/2008 3:06:12 PM
Well, I don't know if this is just my personal experience, but I've found that "politically correct" often ends up meaning "largely ineffective." I imagine that the developer is maintaining the maintenance requirements here, but I for one don't accept it as being "the least they can do." A letter-writing campaign and the intended reader's response would be very revealing with regard to the developer's attitude toward Renoites and the developer's sense of civic responsibility, which has so far not been terribly impressive. Regardless, thank you for the update and keep up your tireless work!
Posted by: homey - 6/26/2008 3:19:31 PM
same with the thoma loft guys...have you seen that lot?
Posted by: Gene - 6/26/2008 3:23:35 PM
I agree with you all. That looks terrible. There are city ordinances i'm sure they are violating. Call City Hall folks and don't let up until they clean up the area.
Posted by: chad - 6/26/2008 3:45:31 PM
good for you i think there is alot of property owners that should clean up there propertys. what about rockys,cal neva , the nugget and the old golden phonix on virgina street. thats what all the people that come to reno see!
Posted by: Greg Pachio - 6/26/2008 3:50:22 PM
I read a while back somewhere in the Reno Gazette Journal in an article about the baseball stadium that the city was flying in retailers to tour the area and get them signed on for the retail part of the ballpark. This lot would be the sour spot on that tour.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 6/26/2008 3:54:30 PM
I agree with you all, and Chad you will be happy to know that nearly all of the properties you listed (Nugget, Rockys, that old Horsehoe place now-turned convenience store, the Golden Phoenix etc, with the exception fo Cal Neva) are either participating in the facade improvement program for that block of Virginia Street, or they have their own plans to spice up their property. In the future that entire block will look very different! I believe they are working with the Historic Resources Commission to bring the old look back to these buildings, back to their original designs but with a slightly modern edge to them.
Posted by: Mattlo - 6/26/2008 7:58:22 PM
Mike, and other Reno locals who can't stand the look of this property, go onto verodevelopment.com, isin't that the developer of this project? And click on the Contact Us link, maybe that would so some good? Just a thought
Posted by: Mike Van H - 6/26/2008 10:18:20 PM
Thanks Matt! That web site is new, they were previously using their Specialty Financial web site to connect their real estate division. Perhaps a separate web site for Vero Development means the company is stepping it up a bit. I hope so! If this is ever built it will be a great project.
Posted by: Mattlo - 6/27/2008 3:33:30 PM
Yourwelcome Mike, I'm with you. I want this project built more than anything and surely it will.
Posted by: Brian - 6/27/2008 7:34:28 PM
Thanks Mike for posting this. It should be one of the developers first priorities to make sure their project site is clean, collected and classed up. Everyone should be concerned about this property, as it is across the street from the ballpark. Mike, you made a great decision to let the developer know that citizens are unhappy. Now. Lets see some action. Please!!!
Posted by: BUGSY - 6/28/2008 12:35:17 AM
since its across the street from the new ballpark, why dont they make it into a temperary parking lot for the ball park and make a little money untill they start construction on the site.