There has been a lot in the media about the proposed $1.2 billion “West 2nd Street Redevelopment Project”.
OLLI@UNR members need to be concerned and actively engaged in the public process. Phase 1 of the project would require that the Nelson Building, our main home, be taken down. Development projects like this are often proposed and then never fully materialize, but this one looks for real and we need to protect our interests.
According to the agreement between UNR and Osher, the University is required to provide us with building space. But so far no one has been able to identify where that replacement space might be! We need a comparable facility with inexpensive parking, a Laxalt-type auditorium plus classroom space, and access to public transit. We get incredible support from University President Mark Johnson and his staff … but even if the developers throw a lot of money at UNR, there is no other space for us right now. And those developers somehow expect us to vacate the Nelson Building within the next year.
Points to consider: This is a Redevelopment Project, which includes proposals that
- the developer receive back substantial portions of the tax back as an incentive.
- the Redevelopment Agency (aka the City) receive monies to pay down debt on the ball park, the Downtown Events Center and the depressed train way.
Redevelopment Agencies were created to promote revitalization and were given the duty to assist those impacted by redevelopment. Although Laxalt is part of a UNR facility, it is really a community facility that the City needs for its cultural base. In addition to OLLI it is used by the Historical Society, Senior Outreach Services, Artown and other groups. At a minimum the Agency should replace it at Agency cost and then turn it over to UNR for operations.
I have appointed a committee to spearhead our concerns to the developer and the City Council / Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors. Our OLLI committee is chaired by past president Warren Ronsheimer and includes myself, June Kelly, Frank Partlow and vice president Lynne Gray. We are putting together our case and will work with the University to ensure the Developer and the City understand the impact of this project and what needs to be done to make us whole.
What you can do:
- Get involved and talk it up in the community, particularly if you know City Council folks.
- Attend the developers' walks and open houses (see schedule below) and ask the hard questions – where is OLLI going to go, what is the parking situation, how/what will replace Laxalt Auditorium, what is the City being asked to do for the programs and people displaced by the proposed development , etc.
The developer's interests are different than ours – he wants to build and make money & is on a tight timeline, while we have 2000 members to provide programs for. The Curriculum Committee already has over 100 classes scheduled for fall 2016 in Nelson; we need to know that we will have a place to hold those classes in. - Please remember and promote the interests of others in the Nelson Building who will be displaced -- Senior Outreach Service, Head start, the Autism program and others -- they don’t have 2000 members to speak for them.
- Join the discussion at http://ollireno.org/olli-discussion/ Please go to this site to post your questions, concerns, suggestions. A new turnkey location for us would be good. We will post links to the newspaper stories, maps and other information.
Public Open Houses at 250 Bell St. (Cathexes) on Thursdays, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.:
- May 5: Design
- May 12: Infrastructure
- May 19: Community
- May 26: Technology
- June 2: West 2nd Life
More info from RGJ.com:
- http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2016/04/27/downtown-reno-redevelopment-vision-revealed-explained/83547432/
- http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2016/04/27/developers-ask-100-million-tax-subsidy-help-redevelop-downtown-reno/83567322/
posted on May 3, 2016