Home / Downtown Revitalization
Posted by: Christian - 3/7/2007 10:12:27 PM
This is the COOLEST design I could have ever thought to have for a large shade structure! I can't WAIT until it is completed!
Posted by: Doug Burnett - 10/28/2007 12:51:36 PM
I think the concept is still valid, however, with all the other construction for this vital area pending ( post office and 2 new bridges for Virginia and Center St ) The area should have a master plan to tie these all together. It would be a shame to spend the type of money we are talking about, and end up with conflicting archetecture when we are all done. Will the Canopy still have the desired appeal with two arched trellis bridges next to it? Will the proposed additional buildings block the open view of the structure? While the structure is striking, I question the functionality. Looking at the renderings posted, there is little shade provided to help keep the ice frozen in mid winter, which was one of the desired functions when these discussions started, for example. Let's not rush to complete this, just to have something there, after all this time.
Posted by: master890 - 9/26/2008 4:54:46 PM
if anyone knows when it will be completed, please email be immediatly at lightball85@yahoo.com Thank you :-)
Posted by: Lynn A. - 1/14/2009 7:56:45 PM
The "wings" are interesting "for a while" only. The building design leaves me cold and disinterested (as in bauhaus). In 5 years after being built, it will look out of date. Actually, the whole concept is boring ala the convention center design down on So. Virginia St. It just isn't for Reno. What is? A design that "enhances," has "continuity," and respect for Reno's history and historical buildings. A hodgepodge of architecture is what we already have, and it's ugly. Continue the ongoing "hodgepodge" architecture and Reno will not have a cohesive looking brand. That's why so many Renoites don't have a full sense of history for downtown...that history is constantly being torn down, and disaffected architecture springs up haphazardly. I hope the City Council will someday understand the branding of Reno, and not shell out hard-earned money for concepts that don't make the "fit."
Posted by: sthomper - 11/10/2009 1:09:07 AM
re: BETTER 10 NORTH VIRGINIA IMAGE very nice design. looks to draw cues from some of the clever older motels in the downtown area.
Posted by: sthomper - 11/15/2009 10:39:25 PM
i recently located here. so i dont have a full sense of the history of the downtown either. as for a hodgepodge of buildings, well there is a large illuminated clown, parallel pink neon lines rising to the sky and a large green rectangles..not to mention the various casino and Motel signs. this is more pronounced at night i suppose. this link http://goodnightraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/fayetteville1_current.jpg sort of provides a dowtown view of the area i am from many years ago. the downtown was pretty much a string of victorian-like facades for a couple of blocks. over the years hodgepodge entered the scene i suppose. like this http://goodnightraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/fayetteville4_current.jpg but i guess there is some effort (in reno) to tie in aesthetics with the remake of a casino/hotel into a green-condo (the montage?) complex along with the new transit center, ball park, river rapids and the above mentioned 10 n. virgina rink-n-drink area. drawing out-of-downtowners to the recreational scene with similar themed structures, i guess. i like some of the motels however, thay have sharp frontages and people congregate on the elevated hallways.
Posted by: vrtx - 9/25/2010 9:13:41 PM
I don't care how many beautiful buildings are built in downtown Reno, I will always miss the OLD Reno, casinos such as Harolds Club, The Nevada Club, bustling tourists 24 hrs a day. I can visit a PRETTY city anywhere but as far as a gambling vacation, Las Vegas is our destination and we prefer the older strip on Freemont St. No plans to visit Reno again, ever.
Posted by: Trent Bale - 9/25/2010 9:34:14 PM
If you love the OLD Reno then that truly shows your age. Reno can't bank on an aging demographic like yourself. If more people like you were around then most of the casinos downtown would still be open and hoppin'. Enjoy Vegas while it lasts. No skin off our back if you don't ever return. And Fremont Street isn't 'old vegas' shows how much you know about the cities you visit. It was completely redeveloped.
Posted by: Toscar - 10/17/2011 10:06:10 AM
Reno should have kept the Mapes. This is very boring. You can see this anywhere. Reno downtown is a mess. Not coming back. ***
10 North Virginia - Ice Rink
This project is located at 10 North Virginia, bordered by Virginia Street on the west, Center Street on the east, 1st Street on the north and the Truckee River to the south.
The majestic Mapes hotel once stood here, and was a spot frequented by many movie stars. However, after the Mapes closed its doors its fate was eventually sealed when no developer wanted to touch the building, which had serious structural and column support problems. Contrary to public belief, the council wanted to save the building, and councilmember Dave Aiazzi even offered up 10% of his net worth to any developer who wanted to buy and resotre the Mapes.
No one wanted the old brick art deco building, so it was imploded. After the dust cleared, the council had to decide what the property would become.
The City decided that the space to replace the Mapes should be a public plaza, and after years of design planning, it happened. We now have a permanent ice rink downtown although the city is still struggling to find uses for the plaza in the summer.
A large iconic canopy was to be built over the ice rink, however it was later decided by the council that money would be better used to finish the train trench cover instead.
John Pappas, a well known developer out of California, has plans for build a restaurant on-site, and has a major Lake Tahoe restaurant in tow. His first designs, shown in 2008, were not well received by the city council. His design team spent another 6 months after that redesigning the retail building into something more iconic, pictured above.
9/15/010 - PROJECT ON HOLD : Project is on hold until developer can acquire funding.
11/15/08 - BETTER 10 NORTH VIRGINIA IMAGE: Someone at RDA was gracious enough to send me a high rez photo of the new 10 North Virginia design. Click the image below for the high rez version.
10/20/2007 - 10 NORTH VIRGINIA UPDATE - Here is the first look for most of the public on the new proposed design for 10 North Virginia, mainly concentrating on the retail aspect (I beleive the canopy will be the last one proposed to the council). What do you think? Keep in mind I will delete any inflammatory comments, let's keep it constructive and professional on here, lol.
I am still adamently against filling in the Virginia St. portion of the property with buildings. From the concept, we lose the amphitheater function entirely without the grassy hills on that side. So far this is still just being referred to as an option. The building itself is modern, although a bit more square than the previous building. The graceful U-shape from the previous building is gone, but I still like the design. The design is by the same architect who designed the canopy, Sheehan Van Woert Bigotti. Click the thumbs below to see.
3/5/07 - UPDATED PICS - NOW ON TOP 3 LIST OF CITY COUNCIL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS - Click above for some updated pics from the document both the City Council and Redevelopment Agency will jointly discuss March 7. Here is the meeting info: Joint City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board Meeting - March 7, 2007 1:30 PM
Reno City Hall Chamber, One East First Street, Reno, Nevada
KEY ITEMS: B.1 Staff Report: Presentation of Priority Redevelopment Projects and potential direction to staff.
B.2 Staff Report: Discussion and Potential Direction to Staff Regarding the Updated Cost Estimate
for the 10 N. Virginia Street Plaza Canopy.
10/25/06 - THE DRAMA CONTINUES, CANOPY DECISION POSTPONED - Well, no progress in store for the 10 NorthVirginia Plaza Canopy. I think the Train Trench Cover will be built before this thing. Both the rink cover and REA building deal were carried over to the first week in December after a lot of contentious bickering about costs on both projects. The council is VERY unhappy over the huge cost escalations on the entire 10 North deal. So, they are going to have two members Gustin and Aiazzi conduct meetings with both parties in coming weeks and hammer away on the details before bringing both issues back to the full council. In the Council's defense, The REA group is really bad at continually going back for more concessions and creating more escape loopholes, and the entire council is livid. We all just want a canopy! Maybe it's time other people enter the bidding process....
- 6/29/06 - COUNCIL QUESTIONS CANOPY FOR ICE RINK - As a designer, I realize that designs are apt to change as time goes on; however, questioning building the very design element that WILL PUT THE ICE RINK ON THE MAP AS A LANDMARK is basically thumbing your nose at the citizens who were behind the project this whole time, like myself. Read the Article here.
Comments:
Post your commentsPosted by: Christian - 3/7/2007 10:12:27 PM
This is the COOLEST design I could have ever thought to have for a large shade structure! I can't WAIT until it is completed!
Posted by: Doug Burnett - 10/28/2007 12:51:36 PM
I think the concept is still valid, however, with all the other construction for this vital area pending ( post office and 2 new bridges for Virginia and Center St ) The area should have a master plan to tie these all together. It would be a shame to spend the type of money we are talking about, and end up with conflicting archetecture when we are all done. Will the Canopy still have the desired appeal with two arched trellis bridges next to it? Will the proposed additional buildings block the open view of the structure? While the structure is striking, I question the functionality. Looking at the renderings posted, there is little shade provided to help keep the ice frozen in mid winter, which was one of the desired functions when these discussions started, for example. Let's not rush to complete this, just to have something there, after all this time.
Posted by: master890 - 9/26/2008 4:54:46 PM
if anyone knows when it will be completed, please email be immediatly at lightball85@yahoo.com Thank you :-)
Posted by: Lynn A. - 1/14/2009 7:56:45 PM
The "wings" are interesting "for a while" only. The building design leaves me cold and disinterested (as in bauhaus). In 5 years after being built, it will look out of date. Actually, the whole concept is boring ala the convention center design down on So. Virginia St. It just isn't for Reno. What is? A design that "enhances," has "continuity," and respect for Reno's history and historical buildings. A hodgepodge of architecture is what we already have, and it's ugly. Continue the ongoing "hodgepodge" architecture and Reno will not have a cohesive looking brand. That's why so many Renoites don't have a full sense of history for downtown...that history is constantly being torn down, and disaffected architecture springs up haphazardly. I hope the City Council will someday understand the branding of Reno, and not shell out hard-earned money for concepts that don't make the "fit."
Posted by: sthomper - 11/10/2009 1:09:07 AM
re: BETTER 10 NORTH VIRGINIA IMAGE very nice design. looks to draw cues from some of the clever older motels in the downtown area.
Posted by: sthomper - 11/15/2009 10:39:25 PM
i recently located here. so i dont have a full sense of the history of the downtown either. as for a hodgepodge of buildings, well there is a large illuminated clown, parallel pink neon lines rising to the sky and a large green rectangles..not to mention the various casino and Motel signs. this is more pronounced at night i suppose. this link http://goodnightraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/fayetteville1_current.jpg sort of provides a dowtown view of the area i am from many years ago. the downtown was pretty much a string of victorian-like facades for a couple of blocks. over the years hodgepodge entered the scene i suppose. like this http://goodnightraleigh.com/wp-content/uploads/fayetteville4_current.jpg but i guess there is some effort (in reno) to tie in aesthetics with the remake of a casino/hotel into a green-condo (the montage?) complex along with the new transit center, ball park, river rapids and the above mentioned 10 n. virgina rink-n-drink area. drawing out-of-downtowners to the recreational scene with similar themed structures, i guess. i like some of the motels however, thay have sharp frontages and people congregate on the elevated hallways.
Posted by: vrtx - 9/25/2010 9:13:41 PM
I don't care how many beautiful buildings are built in downtown Reno, I will always miss the OLD Reno, casinos such as Harolds Club, The Nevada Club, bustling tourists 24 hrs a day. I can visit a PRETTY city anywhere but as far as a gambling vacation, Las Vegas is our destination and we prefer the older strip on Freemont St. No plans to visit Reno again, ever.
Posted by: Trent Bale - 9/25/2010 9:34:14 PM
If you love the OLD Reno then that truly shows your age. Reno can't bank on an aging demographic like yourself. If more people like you were around then most of the casinos downtown would still be open and hoppin'. Enjoy Vegas while it lasts. No skin off our back if you don't ever return. And Fremont Street isn't 'old vegas' shows how much you know about the cities you visit. It was completely redeveloped.
Posted by: Toscar - 10/17/2011 10:06:10 AM
Reno should have kept the Mapes. This is very boring. You can see this anywhere. Reno downtown is a mess. Not coming back. ***