Marmots Complete Renovations on Two More Properties

Most cities that have a lot of brightly neon painted older houses are places like Detroit and Buffalo, places that have neighborhoods that have been largely abandoned and disinvested. These bright colors are a signal, a sign of hope, that there is some reinvestment happening. It's the equivalent of throwing out a flare to draw attention to the activity in an abandoned neighborhood. It is something that is typically seen in very very low income neighborhoods. I'm not sure why the Marmots choose these bright colors, but I can only assume it is to draw attention to their "work" in the neighborhood. The Wells Avenue Neighborhood is nothing like these destitute neighborhoods in the Midwest. Property values are up, a lot of people are renovating, restoring and taking pride in their homes, it is an officially designated Conservation District with a diverse palette of historic homes. This is not a poor neglected neighborhood that needs saving. The Marmots' choice to paint architecturally significant homes inappropriate neon colors tells me that they have the wrong attitude about their role in the neighborhood. Clearly it is to draw attention to their holdings and renovations. They are not the only ones investing in the Wells Avenue Neighborhood and Midtown. Everyone else who is improving and investing is choosing color schemes that respect the history and architectural integrity of the neighborhood. Eckmeyer Insurance at 504 Holcomb is a perfect example of a tasteful restoration. If the Marmots want to unleash their gawdy neon paint schemes in a historic neighborhood, I suggest they try their luck in Detroit. As a person who has dedicated the last ten years of my life to the improvement of the Wells Avenue Neighborhood, a neon orange bungalow in the middle of my neighborhood is a huge insult.

At least the neon bungalow doesn't look as wack as the "art-piece" (haha, please) painted on the Sinclair fence. What a joke -- both in execution and message. Anyway, good on Marmot for renovating properties at a profit. And good on them for having Downtown Makeover function as their unofficial press page. Gives their work a real air of importance.

Sorry Sara Lee disagreeing with you a bit on this one. What they do is very important when you live across the street from their largest property assemblage like I do. They have made a significant positive impact on this neighborhood...to notice the difference between being surrounded by drug dens or being surrounded by college kids and tech entrepreneurs. Im not saying they were the only factor, but they contributed to the state my neighborhood is in today...take a look at the sex offender map of my hood, the reduction is mostly due to them. Ask my neighbors on Thoma and Wheeler, who have lived in their same house for decades, how much happier they are not being surrounded by crack dens. When they do something significant such as renovate a neglected 8-plex, Ill post about it. Duh, this is what this site has been about for a decade now. They dont need me to be their PR person, all their units are rented. To Barrie, it might be that the Marmots simply like bright colors and lack the knowledge you have of color palettes. Considering how much they have raised base rental rates in this hood, I doubt their intention was to use the house color as a beacon of how poor our neighborhood is. I keep tuned to what they are up to, as it makes me just as nervous as you and the rest of the WOW gang that they own so much property in one neighborhood and am fully aware that one misstep or sell-off by them could be catastrophic if their portfolio of property ends up in the wrong hands.

I live on Roberts street in this area and I think Marmot should be commended for their renovations. In the short 3 1/2 years that I've lived in the area, I've seen a drastic improvement. I see the bright colors as an extension on the Midtown revival and welcome it with open arms. Sure, it's bright and attracts attention, but it draws attention away from the older homes with crappy lawns and junk cars in the back of the homes. Keep it up, Marmot! Your work is only a sign that others will continue to renovate and make this area even cooler than it already is.

I'm the guy who manages to show up in 4 bright colors while following any dress code so might not be the fairest to weigh in. Long term, the urban renovation movement will mature and I expect to see more aesthetic principles follow.

I already gave my two cents worth, but if I can give two more, I would like to. I don't have anything bad to say about the people behind Marmot REOF. They are nice guys. Their marketing campaign, however, is a little dishonest. Marmot REOF isn't really doing anything more special than what residential investors do every day. They just have a PR campaign that portrays them as saviors of forgotten Reno neighborhoods. This house on Roberts they just bought was not abandoned or damaged to a point where nobody wanted it. It looked fine. In fact, it had an original Craftsman door that has now been replaced with a Home Depot door. Can I get the old door for my house please? The idea that the Marmots are doing all this great work by "saving" all these houses is not an accurate portrayal. There are a lot of people, including owner occupants, who would love to own this property. The Marmots are not getting their properties at deep discounts. They're paying market value and in many cases outbidding potential owner occupants. Any buyer of residential investment property is expected to maintain it. That's all they're doing, but they're making a really big deal about it. Maybe the next time I paint one of my Wells Avenue Neighborhood houses, plant a new tree or replace a toilet, I'll call the RGJ or Northern Nevada Business Weekly and see if they'll run a story on what a great property owner I am. Marmot REOF calls themselves developers, but as far as I know, in the 7 years they've been in Reno, they haven't built anything. They have only bought real estate and made the improvements that any responsible property owner would make. These guys are fully aware that the majority of property owners in this neighborhood take great pride in the historic appearance and integrity of the neighborhood. If you like bright Carribbean colors, buy a new wardrobe, paint your car electric purple, but don't make your neighbors suffer by painting a historic home neon orange.

All good points, Barrie. Thanks for the comments and sharing your thoughts on this subject. I've followed your dedication and commitment to the Wells Avenue area for some time now and always come away impressed. Marmot also offers a valuable resource to the area as they fix up properties and maintain them. This is especially valuable in instances where they take a dilapidated property and help "beautify" the area, if you will. I should have had my coffee before posting this morning and not worded my comment the way I did -- apologies for that. I was completely turned off by the mural they decided to add to their project though and stick by that.

I love the gaudy neon, I love the traditional style restorations. I love West of Wells and all those who live here and are working to make it a better neighborhood, no matter how they go about it.

I love the murals going up all around the midtown area. That includes the art on the Holcomb fence. It adds some life to the area and helps deter taggers. I can stand some of these homes in this area that get tagged and then don't bother to paint over it for weeks or months. HAVE SOME PRIDE in where you live!

*can't stand. whoops

Just a quick comment on the murals: We've found that the murals are not only interesting (hey! we're discussing art and aesthetics), but they significantly decrease tagging. I know that WOW has been very active in fighting graffiti (kudos!), but it's still a big problem in our neighborhood. The murals have been very effective in keeping it off of large surfaces.

Mike, Since you have made us a party to this conversation, I think it might be nice if we were able to speak for ourselves. For 45 years we have lived across the street from the building how owned by the Marmots. During this period there have been some colorful characters living there, but I can honestly say that two of the three most objectionable tenants during this time were there during the Marmot ownership. I won't bore you with details, but they weren't gentry! The current tenants are lovely young people, but our experience does not quite justify the Raydons' self congratulatory posturing. Regarding the Roberts street house, as I told Gary at our New Years progressive dinner, it's a little bright. But houses can be repainted. What concerns me far more is the Marmot Spring offensive which includes splitting or dividing 12 lots in our neighborhood ( already in process ) in order to build a dozen cookie cutter, multi-story duplexes with inadequate off street parking. Once inappropriate infill is built, it's there forever, just look at the south side of my block of Thoma Street for an example!

Mike, Sorry, there wasn't room in my previous note, but I wonder if you can tell me if it was bright young college students or high tech entrepreneurs that blew the front off the Raydons' property at 521 Sinclair Street?

Griff, it was mentioned by you in a West of Wells meeting that the duplex on Thoma (who I think was owned by one of the people running for city council but I cant remember his name) was one of the worst properties in the neighborhood, a five-plex crackhouse that you guys were battling for years. In fact wasnt it one of the properties that inspired you to form the beginnings of the West of Wells group in the first place? This is was the perspective I was writing from.

Also, where did you hear about the 12 lot-splittings? I thought the purpose of our neighborhood plan was to prevent this? I would definitely have concerns over that...which is why I mentioned above, were always keeping an eye on them How do you know these duplexes will be cookie cutter? I would love more info. Im a fan of infill projects like the Haberaes, but they have to be done right.

Griff, not to throw stones, but has your house been painted in the last 30 years? What about your son's festering unfinished eyesore project kitty corner from you? Do you approve what the Marmots did next door to you at the norious Cat Pee House? What are YOU doing to improve your neighborhood? Dude, CPH was not part of the Young family portfolio.

Mike, For information on the Raydon lot splits call Planning and ask about "Marmot Parcel Maps Re:PAR14-00017 thru PAR 14- 00028" The problems at Cliff Young's property at 251 Thoma St were indeed one of the primary factors leading to the formation of the Wells Addition Neighborhood Association. It has nothing to do with the Varmint problem.

Doofus, I don't respond to attacks from individuals without the courage to identify themselves.

Check who owns what when, Giff. Marmot had no ownership or property management roll when 521 blew up.

Now, don't pick on Griff so much, he's got good intentions, and it the people who live here, owners and renters alike, that make it better. He is right, we did have an unsavory character at our Wheeler place. When we were made aware of sketchy activity by our neighbors, we quickly took care of it, and that tenant was evicted. I did want to say that I did rent to the guy who blew up the apartment on Sinclair. He was a gulf war vet, struggling with coming home, and was in a program to try and help these men re-enter society. I thought that his service to our country warranted a second chance. Chime in if you disagree, but I would do it again.

Dear marmot G, Thank you for your comments. We seem to be talking past one another and generating a lot more heat than light. I propose we get together for a neighborhood meeting where you could present your plans for our neighborhood and we can discuss them like adults.

Would there be any wine served? Trust me, when there's a plan to share, we will share the plan. In the mean time, we're just focusing on the rehabs we have that need attention. A few more neglected bad neighbors to be fixed up and happy new residents living there soon.

Marmots "renovations" are hideous and if anyone thinks they actually help a neighborhood should actually LOOK at the quality of their work. It is crappy. The "assemblage" has more trailers per capita on the properties than anywhere else in Reno besides Sun Valley. The "art" on the fences. Ridiculous and does not go with the vernacular of the charming cottage residences. This could have been done so much better. Carpetbaggers who came in from another area to MAKE MONEY--not help the neighborhoods.