Carson City approves financial plan for $87 million downtown renewal project
Carson City’s Board of Supervisors signed off on a financial plan to fund an $87 million downtown renewal project late Thursday night that would turn eight acres of parking lots into a technology plaza. Proponents say the area will attract entrepreneurial companies to Nevada’s capital city and provide high-paying jobs.
The financial plan, which could eventually include a 0.125 percent increase in sales tax, would include $46.4 million in private-sector funding and $40.9 million from public sources. Although the sales-tax hike is part of the proposal, supervisors did not approve that tax hike Thursday.
“Isn’t this exciting for our community?” Supervisor Robin Williamson said. “My question is, how can we afford not to do this?”
Key components include a $17.5 million Knowledge and Discovery Library, a $3 million business and technology incubator and a $2 million digital media lab that planners said could bring television and movie production to the capital city.
The project also includes a $3 million public plaza, residential property, parking garage and possible IMAX theater.
Most of the public parking lots surrounding the Carson Nugget, including one currently used by state government workers, would be used for the project.
If all goes well, construction could begin in a year. Planners announced a tentative completion date of November 2015 to a packed house at the Carson City Community Center. Read full story:
