Divided over redevelopment By Sumita Louis, Outpost staff In this package: Locals may shun downtown, but they still care. Residents oppose theater development   During the past year, a debate has been raging in Reno over what to do with the downtown area. It's a scene that's been re-enacted year after year for decades as the city struggles to revive what was once its focal point. "Years ago, downtown used to be a place where the locals could go," says Reno native Warren Lerude, former publisher of the Reno-Gazette Journal. "They could hang out, shop, eat dinner in the small cafes, walk around and relax in the park. But after the mall was built, the people started going to the outlying suburbs for their shopping and so left downtown to be swallowed up by the casinos and the tourists." This year, the debate over reviving downtown came to a head on Sept. 8, when the Reno City Council approved a plan to redevelop certain blocks of the downtown district along the Truckee River into a movie theater complex. Along with the Reno Redevelopment Agency, the council aimed to revive the heart of downtown so that more locals would be encouraged to go there. But the plan backfired. The proposal and the news that San Diego developer Oliver McMillan had already been hired sparked a controversy. City Council members did not realize that while most local residents were for some kind of redevelopment, they were divided over how to do it. Residents wanted their opinions to be taken into account on what should be done for downtown. While some groups expressed support for the project, many more came out against the plan. So the council gave Oliver McMillan time to work out a proposal that would be acceptable to both the city and the opposition. Lee Dazey, director of Citizen Alert's Northern Nevada Association, expressed concern that the council initially went ahead with a proposal when members themselves were not very clear on the details. "When the contract was signed, even some of the city council members weren't aware of the 13-movie theater complex." The complex is slated to be built in a 56,000-square-foot building at the intersection of First and Sierra streets. The plans include setting up 12 theaters as well as a giant-screen IMAX theater. The theater complex was to be the main focus of the council's $6.5 billion redevelopment plan designed to bring people and business back to the riverfront. The redevelopment issue has brought the locals' community pride out in the open, Lerude says. "I think Reno needs to preserve the integrity of its Truckee River heritage through development that will attract families -- both townsfolk and tourists." The Truckee-Meadows Regional Planning Agency says it supports the city council's plans. "As long as the developer's plans are consistent with the regional planning stipulations and allows for easy access to the river, we will certainly support it. And as long as the project doesn't inhibit, but enhances the existing environment of the riverfront, it is satisfactory," said Scott Nebesky, an associate regional planner with the agency. Pat Klos, president of the Historic Reno Preservation Society, also supports the riverfront theater complex. "Oliver McMillan, the developer chosen for this project, is very receptive to the needs of Reno," Klos says. "The company has sought input from the local residents, encouraged design workshops, and in general, tried to take residents' suggestions into account. I know the redevelopment will work. I have seen downtowns in Dallas, Portland and Cleveland transformed by these kind of projects. Today all these cities have revitalized downtowns. The city council hopes for this kind of process for Reno." Recently, the developers' came up with another design for the project incorporating most of the changes requested by the residents. Critics of the theater project say the new design incorporates an old Reno look, brick buildings with a variety of lighting, windows and detail. Many agree it is a definite improvement over the ultra-modern design it replaces. Klos is optimistic about the proposed project and its effect on Reno. "Definitely, I will be there when the movie theater is built, drinking latte before I see a good film. My husband and I love to watch movies." But she may find herself in a minority. Most locals say the movie theater will be more of a hindrance than a cure. As Warne put it, "The Truckee river is our lifeline, it's where we get our water from. It's important we do something to preserve it and not endanger it." copyright 11/15/97 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost Related sites: Reno City Council Redevelopment Agency Citizens Advisory Committee Citizen Alert Wingfield Park