Sneak Peek: Renaissance Reveals Room Renderings

Stpping by the Renaissance Hotel today downtown, which pulled a demo permit and will begin construction soon, I noticed a new sign in the building with renderings of the rooms. Check them out! 

The Projects That Never Were

In the 10 years that I have been doing DowntownMakeover, I've written about a lot of projects that never came to fruition. For some of these projects, that's probably a good thing. For others, well let's just say I still wish some of them would happen. 

Number One on my list would be the Facade Improvement Program on Virginia Street. It was an awesome collaboration of private businesses and the City of Reno, but ultimately the funding just wasn't there to do it. What was amazing about this project, is that for the most part all of the building owners on this block came to a consensus on the building improvements proposed. Check it out below, it's one of many projects that maybe should be given a second look.

3rd Street Flats Update, University District Details, 4th Street and much more!

University District, 3rd Street Flats, 4th Street Project, Virgnia Street Bridge Update, ReTRAC Cover Update, an action plan for downtown, and more. 

ReTRAC Covers Back in Play

The ReTrac train trench covers, located downtown between Commercial Row and Third Street, and between Virginia Street and Arlington Avenue, are back in play after a Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board meeting.

Midtown Lofts - Reno

Check out details, renderings, elevations and the site plan for a new project planned for the corner of SInclair and Center Street.

Midtown VIrginia Street Project Update

Read what happened in last Wednesday's city council meeting, and which option they prefer for the reconfiuration of Virginia Street through MidTown.

Siegel Group to Present Plans for West Street Plaza July 29

Coming up at the July 29th City Council and Redevelopment Agency Board meeting, Siegel Group will present the long-awaited plans for West Street, with a possible sale or lease as the preferred outcome.

El Cortez Rooftop Sign to Change, Add Street Level Signs

Historic Resources Commission meeting:

1. YESCO lighting is working on a 'modified' version of the rooftop El Cortez sign that will read 'Siegel's El Cortez' and be green, according to renderings presented.

2. Retail street-level signage will be similar to the old historic retail signs. Retail tenants at the El Cortez weren't fond of the font proposed, and the HRC proposed several fonts that would work better, and Siegel Group is supposed to make some modifications.

3. Graffiti will be removed from Stewart Park rock wall, how is not yet to be determined.

Get Creative With A Local Urban Planning Competition

How Would You Redevelop 260 Winter Street? Get creative and win some $$$ with this local urban planning competition.

Renderings for Maytan Music Building

Check out a couple renderings of what the Maytan Music building may look like post-renovation!

Restoring Downtown: The Hudson Project

I've been writing this blog for close to 9 years now. During that time, we've seen projects of all sizes sweep through downtown and midtown. The project graveyard includes Arterra, Wingfield Towers, Waterfront Towers, various forms of the Kings Inn being redeveloped, and many more that didn't make it. The ones that did make it, though perhaps premature, undeniably transformed downtown. Having the Sundowner, Golden Phoenix, and Comstock converted to condos in conjunction with the Palladio, provided just enough new living spaces to initiate a gradual increase in residents from 2007 through today.

At the same point in time, striking changes were occurring in the Wells Avenue Conservation District and Midtown, on a more organic level, stabilizing a neighborhood once though of as undesirable. Marmot Properties amassed dozens of properties in the neighborhood, spending millions acquiring and renovating the properties then renting them out fairly quickly. I've covered many of their renovations and you can check out some before-and-afters on their project page. Between downtown and the Wells Avenue Conservation District, however, was a neighborhood not seeing a lot of movement or development, with many properties such as the ones owned by Ryder Homes stuck in limbo. That's is all changing, however, with the Hudson Project....

Siri's Casino Posts Renderings

Siri's Casino has released some initial renderings of what the renovated casino, formerly Golden Phoenix, might look like.