Today Diane and I attended a luncheon and presentation hosted by the Reno Tahoe Chapter of the American Marketing Association. The presentation was titled “’Extreme Make-Over’: Reno Downtown Edition” and featured guest speakers Charles McNeely, Reno’s City Manager, and Chris Nelson, Principal and Co-Founder of Capstone Partners, LLC. Capstone Partners is the entity responsible for developing The Village at Idlewild Park, and most recently, Arterra.
Mr. McNeely, who has served as Reno City Manager since 1996, was first on the agenda. He began his presentation by asking the audience how many of them have moved to Reno within the last 15 years. Over half the audience (of 150) raised their hands. His point was well taken. Reno has been and is undergoing tremendous growth. And it is this growth that makes long-range as well as short-range city planning absolutely imperative.
Mr. McNeely said that the city’s goal is to make Reno the “most livable city in Nevada” – all of Nevada, not just Northern Nevada. He went on to define ‘most livable city’ as the cultural/commercial/art and entertainment center of Nevada. And Downtown Reno is the focus of the city’s efforts to achieve this goal.
The following points are from Mr. McNeely’s presentation:
The city owns two miles of property along the ReTRAC Corridor and is creating a plan to develop the corridor with a mix of new retail and residential opportunities. However the city wants to ensure consistent development according to a long range plan, and not a “hodgepodge” of new construction.
The City Council has approved $2 Million a year to be spent on downtown beautification. Downtown beautification includes changing building facades and signage; installing new street and sidewalk lighting; and planting trees.
The next public space to undergo substantial changes is 10 N. Virginia, where the ice rink is located. Plans include: a canopy over the ice rink to keep the ice from melting during season and also to provide shade for summer events; and a restaurant to be added.
Speaking of restaurants, a new restaurant, called the Wind River Grille, is going in the space formerly occupied by EJs Jazz Cafe.
The city has a few priority projects including: The Freighthouse, the Pioneer site, the Pavillion, the Onslow block. [Perhaps Diane can provide additional info on these.]
Also planned is beautifying the gateway to UNR.
Following the City Manager’s presentation, Chris Nelson from Capstone Partners, LLC spoke. Mr. Nelson was on the agenda to answer the question why would a Portland based developer buy the old Porsche building, a former drinking water treatment plant next to Idlewild Park and build Arterra in downtown Reno.
The following are some of the reasons he gave:
• Strong population growth – Reno has grown 3% annually over the past several years; 3.5% in 2005 (the last year with available data).
• Strong employment growth – Reno has some of the strongest employment levels in the country.
• Quality of life – Lake Tahoe, world class golf, culture
• Diversified economy – no longer casino dominated; no longer exclusively tourism-based
• Tax climate – for business “as good as it gets”
• Excellent University
• Great Weather – 300+ days of sunshine annually
• Improving mix of retail and services – Reno’s trade area is growing; as such we’ll see more higher-end retailers moving in.
• Good housing base and mix
In addressing “why Downtown specifically”, Mr. Nelson noted the following:
• city of Reno’s commitment to and investment in downtown development
• the amount of private investment
• supportive political climate – the pro-development stance of the city is a huge positive.
• strong marketing campaign – nationwide
• Nevada Museum of Art – one downtown’s greatest asset
• number of new retail, restaurant and entertainment businesses
• commercial rents are up 15%
• commercial vacancies are down
In listening to Mr. Nelson’s presentation it was apparent he sincerely believes in Reno and downtown’s long term viability.
By the way, the Arterra models should be completed in July.
Reno Ignoramus
For those of us who have lived in Reno for a lot longer than 15 years, it is sometimes difficult to not laugh at the latest report on how downtown Reno is on the verge of Resurection.
Do you really think that a canopy over the ice rink and some new trees are going to reconstitute downtown? New signage is the Cure?
Virginia Street from south of Circus Circus to the bridge over the Truckee looks like a carnival show. As long as Reno’s main downtown street has nothing more than rundown shops selling cheap tee shirts and grind joint casinos low on recent upkeep, scattered in between vacant and deteriorating buildings, it will continue to look like the carnival is in town for the weekend. How many plastic chair restaurants selling generic Asian food can we put on Second Street?
Other than overpriced condos, what meaningful capital investment has been put into downtown Reno? Yes there is a new internet cafe on Second Street. Boy I’ll bet that has brought throngs to downtown. Yes there are some new restaurants and bars going in to replace the former retsurants and bars that went broke. Yawn.
Tell me again what reason those of us, being 99.9% of Reno’s population, have to go downtown? To go to the movies? Gosh, I believe there are movie theaters with much easier parking closer to home. To get a taco or an ice cream cone, or a piece of pizza? Why on earth would we go downtown for that? To eat at a restaurant? Well, ok. We might be willing to do that once every six months or so.
Apparently the now agreed upon solution to downtown’s woes is to fill it up with $550 a square foot condos. Just exactly where all the people ready willing and able to pay $429,000 for a 710 sq. ft apartment are going to come from somewhat baffles me. But what do I know. I am just an Ignoramus.
Lindie
This must be Luncheon #768 in the past 25 years about how downtown’s renovaton is at hand. I can even remember when they called it RENOvation.
I applaud anyone who tries to make downtown better. It is a challenging problem. It needs help.
It would be nice, though, if we could have a bit more staighttalk and a little less hype about how things are looking so good now downtown that you ought to come down here and buy an absurdly priced condo.
The fact is that much of downtown Reno still looks like hell. Seedy, old, unattended. The fact is that much of Reno is still scarier than hell at night. I’m sorry, downtown cheerleaders, but I think only a fool would walk at night on Second Street between Lake Street and Center Street. Maybe if I was a big man with a big dog, I would feel differently, but I’m not. I think most women would be terrified to be downtown at night.
Mike
* Oh come on Reno Ignoramous you can do better than that. Reno’s main downtown street doesn’t look like a Carnival; a carnival at least is interesting to look at and has blinky lights. Reno’s main strip looks like what it is; a burnt-out remnant of a bygone casino era. The Virginian and Nevadan and what’s left of Golden Phoenix and Horse-shoe Club magnify that affect. I don’t argue with you there. It needs help. * I find things downtown to entertain me every single weekend with my friends and family. You obviously don’t look at any local publications or calendars for stuff to do.
* Lindie, you’re right. People have been TALKING about renovating downtown for a long time, at least now it’s beginning to happen. And you mentioned one solitary DARK block in downtown, I tend to avoid that area too because guess what? There’s nothing but empty lots and a couple of Asian restaurants on that block. I also avoid any block around Lakemill Lodge, and Lake and Evans street in general.
* There’s no doubt about overpriced condos downtown, see my newest post on my site. I have the same concerns all of you do, perhaps to a lesser degree.
There. I didnt do any cheerleading. Happy? LOL
BanteringBear
“’Extreme Make-Over’: Reno Downtown Edition”
LOL! That’s hysterical but appropriate. Downtown Reno is in dire need of help. And hideously overpriced “luxury” condos are not the answer. I’m with Lindie and RI. The area looks like hell, and is dangerous as hell. Just take a look at the recent problems with the Lakemill Lodge. Downtown Reno is a magnet for the homeless, as well as scumbags and drifters. And, unless the casinos disappear, it always will be. That’s why it’s never going to be a highly desirable place to live. Mixing condos and casinos is just plain stupid, in my opinion. And beyond that, the developers price points are laughable. Unless they can pawn them off on some “investors” or second home buyers, they’re gonna lose their rear ends. While I would love to see downtown become a destination for locals to live and play, I don’t think it will ever happen. It’s by and large a place for tourists and the dregs of society to go drink, gamble, and be stupid.
SkrapGuy
Does City Manager McNeely live downtown?
Does Mayor Cashell live downtown?
Does Mr. Nelson live downtown?
Does Mr. Leal, the developer of the Montage, live downtown?
I understand the developer of the Palladio is in receivership, lives out of state, and so I know he does not live downtown.
Do any of the City Council members live downtown?
Just wondering.
Guy Johnson
Reno Ignoramus,
You ask a good question, “Just exactly where all the people ready, willing and able to pay $429,000 for a 710 sq. ft apartment are going to come from?”
Though I don’t have an answer to that question, during the Q&A session following Mr. Nelson’s presentation Diane asked, “Now that condo prices have hit $400 – $500 / square foot and sales have slowed are you, as a developer spending millions of dollars, concerned about slowing sales.”
Mr. Nelson’s response was that he wasn’t that concerned. He believed the “buyer’s psychology” was improving, and that many of those buyer’s who have been sitting on the fence will make the decision to buy soon. Regarding the square foot costs he responded that in actuality downtown Reno’s condo prices are $100 / sq. ft. less than in other urban areas, where income levels are lower than Reno’s.
BanteringBear
“Diane asked, “Now that condo prices have hit $400 – $500 / square foot and sales have slowed are you, as a developer spending millions of dollars, concerned about slowing sales.”
Mr. Nelson’s response was that he wasn’t that concerned. He believed the “buyer’s psychology” was improving, and that many of those buyer’s who have been sitting on the fence will make the decision to buy soon. Regarding the square foot costs he responded that in actuality downtown Reno’s condo prices are $100 / sq. ft. less than in other urban areas, where income levels are lower than Reno’s.”
It’s easy to see through guys like Mr. Nelson. Their whole strategy was to ride the bubble for every penny it was worth until it exploded. Much of the profits made throughout the past several years have already landed in their personal bank accounts, so when the writing is on the wall (soon), they’ll just BK the company, and head off to the Caribbean where they can laugh and rejoice at the expense of the individuals and cities they left in ruin.
GreenNV
I’m only posting to keep your average over Diane’s! I’m working up a pithy and on-the-money response to that one!
Arterra will not happen. I’ll take 12:1 odds on that one at Baldini’s. It takes a 30-50% margin for a develper to move forward on a project. There is a lot of market resistance to the $/SF prices downtown right now in the new and renovated developments.
It is really important that you go to the latest Downtown Reno Makeover blog and respond. Mike’s list of downtown priority projects needs your input. We locals are the market Monday’s thru Thursday’s, so let’s speak up.
Mike
In between everyone bashing me, I just noticed the title of the presentation you attended…..I thought it sounded awfully familiar, like the title of my 2006 site perhaps? http://web.archive.org/web/20060519153826/http://www.downtownmakeover.com/
No points for originality, but hey at least they go online and read blogs.
For those of you wishing you could see some of Diane’s posts earlier than six months ago, the Way Back Machine has a February 2006 snapshot of some of her posts http://web.archive.org/web/20060207042113/http://dianecohn.blogs.com/
Reno Ignoramus
“a burnt-out remnant of a bygone casino era.”
Mike, you absolutely nailed it. That is the most accurate description of Virginia Street I have ever heard.
There is a possibility that it may soon also describe Center Street.
Consider this. If the deal to take Harrah’s private goes through, we could witness the closing down of Harrah’s downtown. Harrah’s Reno already contibutes so little to the bottom line operations of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. that it does not even report revenues from the Reno property separately on it’s quarterly reports. It just lumps Reno in with Harrah’s Laughlin. The Reno property, while still maintaining some icon status as the location where it all started, has become a backwater operation compared to many of Harrah’s Entertainment’s more marquee properties. The new owner will be stradled with so much debt, that icon status may not count for much. On a sink or swim basis, the calcualtion may be that Harrah’s Reno sinks.
Imagine everything on Center Street north of Second shuttered up.
Diane Cohn
Geez, how did you all get to be so cynical? You think changing an entire downtown takes just a few years? It can take more than a generation. South of Market San Francisco, South Beach Miami, Downtown San Jose, Harlem New York… urban transformations take time.
Chris Nelson aptly pointed out that a lot of little details make redevelopment happen. Public and private partnerships are the key, and that’s what’s been happening here in Reno for many years.
The city’s job is to provide infrastructure and serve as a catalyst for attracting private investment. And that they have done. The Montage, Riverwalk, Palladio, Grand Sierra, Arterra and all the new businesses opening downtown are proof of that.
Over 17 new businesses have opened since 2004 according to Nelson, downtown and around California Avenue. There has been a dramatic decrease in office vacancies downtown, and rents have increased 15% since 2004. A lot of people are pouring a lot of money into our downtown, and it will take time to see the results.
But the results are there. One of my favorite weekend activities is to bring the family downtown, have lunch at the Silver Peak, see a movie, and meander down the riverwalk checking out the kayakers. I love lunching at the Cheese & Wine Board, meeting friends at the Chocolate Bar, stopping for tea at Se7en, and my personal downtown favorite… dinner at Beaujolais. If I were younger and cooler I would have already checked out the new clubs. My favorite piece of downtown are those two blocks on First Street between Arlington and Sierra. So much character, so much potential.
Sure, parts of Virgina Street are cheesy beyond reason, but in time this will change. So many seeds have been planted and are starting to grow in this town, how can you not see the positive signs of change?
Thank goodness people still move here from other places. Fresh energy, new blood and vision are morphing this city into a more diverse, more interesting place.
Lynne Black
Downtown is just downright ugly and nasty. It hasn’t changed much since I moved here in 1999. Unfortunately since the Syufy monopoly took over the theater from Regal, any reason I ever had for driving down there to go see a movie is gone. If anyone was even half-serious about revitalizing downtown Reno, they might look at helping organize and initially subsidize open markets every weekend that the weather permits. Ever been to Portland’s Saturday Market? Affordable student housing might help change the character of the area, i.e 6th street in Tempe. I think part of problem is the greed of the downtown casino owners; I bet they have a big voice in redevelopment planning, and oppose anything that might pull someone out of their shlocky casinos.
BanteringBear
“Geez, how did you all get to be so cynical? You think changing an entire downtown takes just a few years? It can take more than a generation.”
I think it’s easy to become cynical about downtown Reno when one has lived here a long time. The redevelopment dream has been alive as long as I can remember. But it’s never really come to fruition. Maybe it does take a generation or more, but downtown is as dangerous and seedy as ever. Yes, it does look a little better around first street as you mention, but the blight remains.
With a 24 hour lifestyle, you cannot tell the undesirables to quit coming here. So come they will, and in droves. It’s always been an issue and always will be unless the casinos disappear. While a few seem to be on track to do just that, not every one will. So the vagrants, drifters, druggies and alcoholics are here to stay. It just does not translate into a location where people are going to choose to live. And, aside from a lucky few, bars and restaurants come and go like the wind. Here today, gone tomorrow. This always translates into vacancy, and shuttered properties. As for all the new specialty boutiques, well, we’ll see how they fare in a recession.
Aside from the big name chain corporations, Reno has had a hard time supporting small restaurants, stores, and shops long term. Hopefully that’s changed. I agree with you Diane, Reno does need, and will benefit greatly from, new blood. It has a history of being a little too conservative. A fresh perspective is always nice. But a ton of overpriced luxury condos are not the answer. I have a sneaking suspicion that a large portion of the sales were to investors and not end users, the same thing that happened in Las Vegas and other cities. A lot of these projects will end up being total disasters.
Hopefully, for the cities sake, I’m wrong. But these builders and developers have totally miscalculated. They all concentrated on the high end, and forgot where the bread and butter is. They shot for the moon because as the speculators stretched for the highest profit properties, the builders obliged. But the buyers are simply not there in the numbers needed. Unfortunately, this translates into even more shuttered properties for downtown Reno.
Revi Slessinger
I have lived in Park Tower since 1990. I am single, 35 years old, female, professional, no dog, no kids. This is my neighborhood, and has been for 17 years. Most of your comments regarding downtown are laughable at best. I have a feeling Bantering Bear, Lindie, and the other commenters who still have AOL email addresses are probably over 50, have never had an interest in urban living nor will they ever have an interest in downtown no matter what is developed. Diane is right, anyone who can’t see the changes downtown is an idiot.
Let’s compare, since I have a daily view of downtown.
In 1990: There was no whitewater park, no way to enjoy the Truckee River, few people actually hung out downtown, retail spots in Arlington Towers were completely empty, I had only the drug-and-sex-filled Grenada theater, no retail block on Sierra or First or West, the entire downtown area was dimly lit, I felt afraid walking around, there were twice as many run down casinos, three times as many drug dealers, prostitutes everywhere, and half a riverwalk. There were no hip bars, three times as many weekly motels, no restaurants outside of casinos. I couldn’t get my family to come and visit and stay here because there was nothing to do. I had to meet them in Tahoe.
Skip to present: Hundreds of people and sometimes thousands enjoy the banks of the Truckee River on a daily basis, I see all the families picnic in Wingfield from my deck. Nearly every retail spot in Arlington Towers is filled, we have a shopping district on First Street, and shopping on Sierra Street, a nice movie theater, a Longs Drugs opening soon, a major furniture retailer is interested in the 3rd floor of 100 North Sierra, and a national fitness chain is interested in the lower level. I talk to these business owners on almost a daily basis on my shopping rounds. Business is good. We have newer brighter lighting in both the major streets and alleyways now, which you numbskulls seems to forget is an essential element to help tourists feel safer at night. We have a wide choice of lounges and bars and restaurants that were not there 10 years ago. We have major events from May to October downtown, we have ice skating. Now, my sister’s family makes it point to stay overnight downtown to go ice skating with me and do a show at the Pioneer.
So as for non-condo capital investment into downtown? Let’s talk about Basin Street Properties buying up half of our financial district for over $160,000,000. Let’s talk about Fernando Leal buying the Fitzgeralds with non-condo plans for it. Let’s talk about the recent purchases of 100 North Sierra and the Woolworths Building with plans to renovate both and for the first time a serious push to get national retailers interested in downtown. Let’s talk about the retail project going in across from the Pioneer.
It’s a joke you people mention how long you have lived here, yet you don’t get economics 101. Nobody gave downtown Reno the time of day until the train trench was completed. Nobody was interested in investing private money in downtown until the city proved it was committed to rehabilitating the area as much as they can to their power, which included the train trench, and streetscape improvements, the Downtown Regional Master Plan, which I participated in and took years to create.
It’s sad I had to spend 20 minutes of my professional time pointing out the obvious to a bunch of suburbanites who really don’t get the point that all these added shopping, restaurants and amenities downtown aren’t just to try to convince you to drive into town to enjoy them, they are for the residents that live downtown, future downtown residents, and the hundreds of thousands of tourists that attend downtown events. Not only that, but you’re not taking into account national trends of people paying more to live downtown and enjoy the active lifestyle a downtown has to offer, like all of the things I listed above. Not everyone likes quiet, suburban streets. I enjoy the sound of traffic, I enjoy walking to whatever type of entertainment I want, whether it’s opera at the Pioneer or off-Broadway musicals at Bruka.
If you haven’t found what downtown has to offer, then you probably haven’t been there in 15 years or so. Sounds about right for a suburbanite. Of course you wouldn’t think about selling your house in Northwest to purcahse a condo downtown, because you cannot, have not, and will not ever relate to the urban mindset. Your lack or knowledge in how urban folk think prove that.
SkrapGuy
How did we all get to be so cynical?
You want to talk about how long we been talking about downtown Reno?
Let me tell you a story.
My mother has lived in Reno a long time. My mother loves to decorate her house at Christmas. Every year, at the end of the season, she takes down her decorations and wraps them back up in the same newspaper she has been wrapping them up for years. This year, I went to her house to help her take down her decorations and wrap them up until next year. As I was wrapping up her window candles (purchased probably in 1975 for $1.39), I noticed that the newspaper used to annualy wrap them was the January 7, 1981, edition of the Nevada State Journal. (The forerunner of the current RGJ). I started to read. Guess what was the story?
The story was coverage of a luncheon meeting held at the Hof Brau resturant on Center Street a day or two before. Guess what? The Reno City Manager had talked about the need to improve the downtown section of town. He talked about deteriorating conditions on Fourth Street. He talked about recent problems with the Mapes and Riverside. He talked about the aging properties on Virginia Street. The City Manager, however, said he was optimistic because Reno had a great investment climate, and people were willing to invest in downtown, as witnessed by the new Fitzgeralds at Virginia and Commercial Row. (We can talk about why that place was built, but that is another story).
He did say, however, that unless the City developed a long range downtown revitalization program, there could be clouds on the horizon.
That was 26 years ago!! Downtown Reno looked a hell of a lot better 26 years ago than it does today. Back then, most of the now shuttered buildings were still open and looked pretty decent. Of course, Reno never did develop a long range plan. And today, it appears the long range plan is to plant some new trees. Put up some new signage. Maybe build a canopy over a rink.
There is a difference between cynicsm and skepticism borne of decades of observation. With all due respect, I would suggest that the perspective of somebody who has lived in Reno for all of five years, maybe is not quite as informed as that of others with decades experience of living in Reno. It is interesting how the newcomer rolls into town and becomes the expert. There is a story, a long story well beyond the scope of this post and this blog, as to why Reno never developed its long range plan, and why to this day is still does not have one. To somebody who hasn’t been here long enough to understand, it might seem like cynicsm. To those of us who have been here and seen city managers and mayors come and go, and luncheons upon luncheons, upon luncheons, with nothing much to show for it, it is something else.
Justin
Wow, some of you are REALLY negative. Sure, downtown still needs help, but it’s not quite as dire as some of you naysayers would have us belive. No reason to go downtown you say? Well, I beg to differ.
Just off the top of my head, I compilled a list of things you can do downtown (many of which can’t be found anywhere else in Reno/Sparks):
-Catch a show/concert at the Reno Events Center, Pioneer Center or Bruka Theatre (or Eldorado’s & Harrah’s for that matter)
-Dance and socialize at 210 North or Divine Ultra Lounge
-Eat, drink & be merry at Sierra Tap House, Imperial Bar & Lounge, Se7en Tea House, Beaujolais Bistro, Chocolate Bar, Sierra Tap House, etc.
-Kayak/swim at the Whitewater Park or if you prefer, “cop a squat” and enjoy a picnic in the park
-View amazing artwork by many well-known artists at the Nevada Museum of Art
-Shop at various boutiques around 1st Street or Cal Ave
-Go ice skating at 10 North Virginia St. in the winter
-Catch a live performance, free movie at Wingfield Park or other art-related activity during the entire month of July (Artown)
-View thousands of classic cars during Hot August Nights
-Browse numerous booths and enjoy some great Italian Food during The Great Italian Festival (usually the first week of October)
-Watch a movie at Century Riverside (not because it’s the ONLY place to catch a movie, but because it’s the BEST place to catch a movie in the city. (Comfy seats, clean, and the only theatre in the region that showcases independent and foreign films)
Yeah, there really isn’t ANYTHING to do in downtown Reno.
Justin
As for the crime & safety comments concerning downtown, I’m sorry, but I just have to laugh. Have any of you guys actually stepped outside the confines of your sterilized suburban environments and actually visited an urban center? I know I have, and downtown Reno is no worse than many other cities I’ve visited. You want unsafe? Try some areas of downtown S.F. & Seattle or even Sacramento after dark. All very nice cities and all suffer from a large homeless population, many with some form of mental illness. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people on the street in S.F. or Seattle get in my face and pretty much demand money and scream at and/or attempt to follow me if I didn’t oblige. I actually find the homeless population in Reno quite passive by comparison.
As for overall crime, I haven’t read anywhere that crime is going up in the downtown area. In fact, I believe it’s declining slightly. Please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
Lindie
Well, Revi has ended the debate. It is a clash of cultures.
Downtown is for cool, hip, YOUNG people with accounts on YOU TUBE and MY SPACE and YAHOO email addresses.
The dreaded suburbs are for the uncool, unhip, over 50 geriatric crowd with AOL addresses.
How simple.
Now we know who will be buying all those condos at the Palladio and the Arterra.
Time to close down this thread.
BanteringBear
Revi posted:
“Most of your comments regarding downtown are laughable at best. I have a feeling Bantering Bear, Lindie, and the other commenters who still have AOL email addresses are probably over 50, have never had an interest in urban living nor will they ever have an interest in downtown no matter what is developed. Diane is right, anyone who can’t see the changes downtown is an idiot.”
What does an e-mail address have to do with anything? And, over 50? Sorry, but I’m your age. Furthermore, having worked a job parking cars in the heart of downtown Reno for 7 years while putting myself through college, I am more than qualified to talk about its problems. You’re dead wrong when you talk about it being safer than it used to be. The crime index in Reno is 497.2 and rising, as compared to 382.8 back in 2000. The national average is 325.2. A higher number means more crime. FYI San Francisco is 450.6. So, your assertions that there USED to be 3 times the criminal activity is laughable, possibly delusional, and totally false. Check your facts.
You’re right about one thing, I have never had an interest in urban living. I like big dogs, barbeques, and gardening. None of these activites could I enjoy from the confines of a glorified apartment. But never did I say there was nothing to do downtown. I go there on occasion myself. I just don’t ever see it as a very desirable place to live.
We can agree to disagree, but let’s stick to the subject matter, and not resort to namecalling, and ridicule. We all know very little about each other, and it’s easy to make false assumptions. After all, from your post, I would have you pegged as an angry, undersexed, materialistic, homely single woman and that just wouldn’t be fair.
Revi Slessinger
I really don’t care what your crime numbers say, of course a crime index is going to increase as the population of a city grows. I go by what I experience. What is laughable is you taking Reno’s overall crime index and applying it to just downtown. Also, you spending 7 years parking cars downtown doesn’t quite compare to me living downtown for 17 years, sorry. Have you ever been shot at downtown? Mugged? Anything happen to you more than maybe a homeless person coming up to you asking for change? That’s what I thought.
Angry? You bet, especially after reading this thread. Homely? Hardly, or else I wouldn’t be out enjoying downtown every weekend with family and friends. Single? Yes I think I mentioned that in my last post, hence why I can’t understand you people are so afraid of downtown when I walk alone at night weekly and NEVER experienced a problem other than a couple of whistles, which I take as a compliment, and a homeless person here and there asking me for change. Materialistic? Sure I am, and not afraid to admit it. Undersexed? Maybe but that’s not such a bad thing in this day and age. Agree to disagree? Sure, but not when you people spew out facts about downtown that simply aren’t true.
MikeZ
“I can’t understand you people are so afraid of downtown when I walk alone at night weekly and NEVER experienced a problem other than a couple of whistles, which I take as a compliment, and a homeless person here and there asking me for change.”
Revi, I’ve been downtown only four times this year so far but in those few, short visits I somehow managed to get panhandled and offered drugs for sale.
It’s very saddening just how bad the downtown area is. Personally, I wouldn’t want to live there.
Toby
I live near California and Nixon ave. For exercise, I take a walk to downtown almost everyday. I’m talking about walking up and down every street in the downtown area. I have been asked for change only one time and I have never been asked to buy drugs. MikeZ, maybe that tear drop tattoo next to your eye makes you stand out? I don’t know…but I do know that downtown is growing and getting better everyday.
Justin
Since we are sharing purely anecdotal evidence, I might as well chime in.
I go downtown at least 2-3 times a month and I’ve NEVER been offered drugs. I have been asked for change on occasion, but that’s also happened to me well outside of downtown at Trader Joe’s and Barnes & Noble, so go figure.
I’ve lived in Reno my whole life (approx. 30 years) and I’ve never known downtown to be better than it is today. Judging by the amount of new businesses that have opened up in the past 10 years and the fact that many of these places are literally bursting at the seams with people, I think they’re doing something right.
DERRICK
I think downtown reno is changing for the better I have only lived here for 5 years and in just that short amount of time of noticed new business coming downtown on a monthly basis, ive noticed cleaner streets, a great expanded riverwalk, beautifull theatre, white water park, kayaking, some really cool and exciting clubs and lounges. the new museum, a downtown economy less dependant on casino revenues and slowly moving towards a more culturally enjoyable downtown. I would say I go downtown about 3 or 4 times a month and yes ive been asked for spare change a few times. then again I cant remember any city where that hasnt happened to me. Im not going to write a book here all im saying is that in the short amount of time ive lived in reno (5 years) I have seen downtown reno only get better. just my opinion
Usdating
Great done and keep posted. Looking forward to reading more from you.
SkrapGuy
“By the way, the AQrtera models should be completed by July.”
I am not sure who Usdating is or why the comment on this old thread. However, it is quite interesting to review this thread from back in 2007 when the kool aid was still flowing on this blog, at least by some people. Charless McNeeley is long gone. Arterra was always a bubble joke, and the Village at Idlewild converted half to rentals as it crashed and burned.
Yet again, the “doom and gloomers” on the RRB had it right.