The Urban Blog

Reno: Urban Market Moving Forward

The Reno Redevelopment Agency meeting today (January 30, 2008) focused on two major subjects:  The so-called "Urban Market" and the relocation of Fire Station #1.  We'll get to that, and more, here.

Overlooked: Holland Finds New Home

This just in from Sagebrush:  The Holland Project has found a new home, at 30 Cheney Street, across from Maytan Music.  The new space is "temporary" and not suitable for rock shows, but at least they have some digs.

Reno needs a sustainable, long-term, community oriented, all-ages art and music venue - and Holland has strived to be that project.  All has not gone well for the group.  A noise complaint from a nearby neighbor led to a red flag on a fire code violation in the space the group was occupying - a space handed them by the City of Reno, of all things.

It's been awhile since councilman Aiazzi suggested the City bring all its real estate holdings up to code to help Holland get back into the groove, among other things (also reassuring would be the notion that the agency responsible for the fire codes keeps all its facilities up to those standards... but I guess that would be an unrealistic or somehow unattainable goal)

At any rate a win for The Holland Project.  This effort could well have faded into the ether completely suffering such a setback.  Instead they continue to work on it and continue to maintain their blog, which is a fun little art-school read to be sure and is full of festive diversions.

Community-based and community-oriented efforts which work to weather on and continue to grow despite setbacks and with little regard to profit or material gain, are the fabric of a community's cultural offerings.  If Holland can succeed in their efforts, they will truly transform Reno's all-ages scene.  It's worth keeping an eye on and supporting in any way you can.

Reno: Slot machines in a drugstore...

Downtown Makeover got a report from someone who attended a recent Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting in Reno.  One topic of discussion that came up was around what is going on with the Long's Drugs that is supposed to be opening downtown, at the corner of Second and Sierra, in the former Riverboat Casino.

The regular reader knows that store is ready to be loaded with product and staff and have its doors open any day now.  But it won't be opening anytime soon, if Long's is not able to get its license approved by whatever agency it is that does the approving for a row of slot machines in a drug store.

Previously, Long's was taken to task here for holding Reno hostage over 15 slot machines.  Now, DTM's person who attended the meeting tells us, Long's might walk away from the deal altogether. 

And so it's time to take Long's side here.  When this came up in September at a CAC meeting, reports from inside that meeting suggested there were no good answers then.  At at least one city council meeting, there was a cryptic series of conversations between city legal staff and council which shed no light on the subject.  The subject has not been discussed in any great detail in any media outlet.

Who is dragging their feet here, and why?  So Long's wants slots - what's the big deal?  Has anyone visited a major chain drugstore in the state of Nevada that did not have slots?  Does Reno's government, or the state GCB, enjoy leaving money on the table?  It's time to get someone on the record about this.

Reno: Farmer's Market Plan

An RGJ article today outlines plans for the permanent farmer's market that has been discussed for downtown Reno after the trial run of the Friday markets last summer.

The proposed project would convert the mid-block section of West Street between First and Second into the permanent market.  This would include the old carriage houses for Ross Manor, which would be opened back up and turned into vendor stalls.  Adjacent vacant brick buildings would join in.

At first glance this looks like a great project.  I have some serious concerns about the future of the Green Room.  The Green Room has been a great bullwark in downtown's music scene - with a liberal booking policy that benefits the artists directly, great bartenders, and a great vibe, they have been a driving force in the turnaround of the kind of denizen the nightlife on that corner attracts.

Butcher's, Baker's, Candlestick-maker's Alley

From watching Seattle for so long I can say that something is truly lost from a city when gentrification and nightlife interests find themselves at odds.  Nobody from the Green Room is on the record in the RGJ article.

There are plenty of other buildings downtown which would make a great location for a new Green Room.  In fact, the acoustics in their current space are not particularly great - the cavernous nature of the former garage which serves as their performance space, is its primary selling point. 

The City must show that quality nightlife attractions are first-class citizens in its downtown redevelopment plans and work with the developer, the Green Room, and other downtown landlords to assure that this great advance in one area does not turn into a setback in another.