News 11-9-08 Reno Redevelopment Downtown

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Posted by: Anakin-Marc - 11/9/2008 8:08:02 PM
Looking at the comments posted by readers of that article, I honestly find it quite depressing and distressing that there are that many people here who have nothing good to say about the fact that Reno is being redeveloped into a first-class destination. If seems that if those people had their way, Reno would have never gotten much past being what Myron Lake originally created oh so many years ago...

Posted by: Justin - 11/10/2008 7:22:31 AM
That building looks cool. It's very retro modern. And I'm pretty sure that you're right in assuming that's the 10 N. Virginia lot. The round "balls" in the rendering are a giveaway.

Posted by: TahoeTeal - 11/10/2008 8:32:52 AM
I was hoping that is the 10 North Virginia building, really like the design. Unfortunately I've found the majority of posts in the RGJ comments section negative, on most topics. I agree it's very troubling that so many go out of their way to denigrate rather than contribute, or at least appreciate the positive efforts of others.

Posted by: Justin - 11/10/2008 11:58:29 AM
Note to self (and others): Never read the comments at www.rgj.com! They're poison to the soul. :(

Posted by: LoftGirl86 - 11/10/2008 2:01:17 PM
To this blog's credit, it caters to those with an overall higher intelligence level, when you compare comments. I reviewed the comments regarding Reno Gazette's article, and the ignorance and level of imbecilic, simple-minded, doltic comments is frightful. If I follow their logic, a developer is destroying downtown because he converted an aging casino into a new mixed use buildng; Bill Harrah would roll over in his grave because downtown is de-emphasizing gaming even though gaming numbers for Nevada are abysmal and casinos continue to open in California and close in Northern Nevada; any improvement to downtown automatically comes out of tax payer pockets, and a city of 400,000+ in a metro area isn't really a city and we shouldn't have a downtown at all. Moronic, at best. That's why I enjoy this blog.

Posted by: Bugsy - 11/10/2008 9:31:26 PM
hey Tahoe Teal, I bet RGJ only posts the negative comments because, unfortunatly like all other media outlets, they post only the negative because they think that is all what sells. As for me, I love the design plan.

Posted by: scott - 11/11/2008 6:21:48 AM
Perhaps they weren't saying it eloquently, but I believe what they mean is that Reno has a very unique, important history, none of which is reflected by the new age, artsy-fartsy, "make it look wilder than anything else" approach to redevelopment. I can appreciate the developers' willingness to invest in Reno as its blood (gambling) is quickly drying up, but Reno is not San Francisco, not Seattle, not anywhere but Reno, which historically has not been that type of City. As a native Nevadan (and Renoite), it's just seems a little much. I don't presume to know what the answer is, but I, along with many other people, just want to see some of the unique history preserved. I also will agree that the redevelopment projects have been very successful. There's just something more interesting about the Harolds Club than a boutique hotel. Not trying to create arguments, just let everybody know there's a very unique history slowly dying.

Posted by: Bugsy - 11/11/2008 9:55:58 AM
Well said scott, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Posted by: TahoeTeal - 11/11/2008 2:02:00 PM
I know what you mean Bugsy but I don't think they censor posts. I've added quite a few and they're posted immediately with no delay to check content. It's definitely not just the RGJ either. I've noticed the same tendency towards the negative in many other venues as well. Maybe it's the anonymous nature of the internet.

Posted by: DowntownMakeoverDude - 11/11/2008 2:52:11 PM
Hey guys whats up let me weigh in here a bit. For the record, I would say I delete MAYBE one out of 60 comments, because it either had foul language, was way over the top inflammatory toward another commenter, or was spam (i.e. get some viagra blah blah etc). My site/blog is a niche topic, so it naturally attracts people interested in this topic. Judging from comments on this site, and people I run across offline, and my stats, the majority of my readers are interested in urban living, redevelopment in general, downtown Reno specifically, so I get less negativity towards redevelopment downtown than RGJ does because of that narrow readership type. Now, there are definitely critics of certain projects, certain city council decisions, etc, and I let people say whatever they want about that myself included. But even the most negative comments on my site dont come close to some of the things said on larger news sites...but again I think its because I have a topic-specific site. Also, people who DO trash downtown excessively on this site are usually greeted by a slew of upset readers defending downtown...whereas on RGJ, its usually just me, Justin, and AgentJ being the defenders of downtown.

Posted by: Erin - 11/14/2008 12:21:21 PM
Northern Nevada is changing and change scare people. That said, the thing that scares me is the reluctance to change, when anyone with half a brain can see gaming is DOA in Reno. I am 100 percent behind anyone who is trying to make our downtown a better, more safe place. I only wish many of the weekly rent motels would disappear more quickly.

Posted by: Brian - 11/15/2008 8:55:23 AM
It is vital that these changes happen in Reno. I can appreciate our unique history,but, The the only constant is change. WE must move forward to meet a future with open arms to be a city willing to grow into itself. I know that things will work out. Great updates Mike as always.

Posted by: toby - 11/15/2008 2:27:52 PM
Downtown Long Beach used to be a real mess. The place was run down and filled with bum hotels, prostitutes and x-rated theaters. Long Beach spent a fortune trying to clean the place up. They went through a lot of mistakes trying to recapture the foot traffic they had during the 40’s and 50’s. They built a small, unimpressive looking mall that they eventually tore down. And after all these years and millions of dollars spent, they still have not got it right. We can learn from what they did right and from their mistakes. We need to remove most of the low-cost hotel/motels and we need to get rid of the abandoned buildings. The homeless people should be encouraged to stay east of Center st. And, the biggest thing we can learn from LB is to not build anything on the cheap.

Posted by: MikeO - 11/24/2008 11:27:40 AM
Yikes, I'm not so much a fan. It has no character. Looks like another example of Reno playing it safe/cheap. I prefer some of the earlier renderings... http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/images/10_North_Virginia/cover-pillars2-lg.jpg I mean, the huge canopy seems a bit ridiculous at first but i see it as one of those things that people will grow to love and would become a Reno icon of sorts. And I like the above building design better because it looks to retain a bit of the Mapes in its brick looking facade. But then again anything that blocks the hideous pink Cal Neva parking garage is a good design. I think it would be awesome if the city got Jack Hawkins to do it. I love everything that firm does.