RENO, Nev. - Downtown Reno will be getting a casino implosion no matter what happens in the dispute over the future of the Mapes. And it will come well before Super Bowl Sunday.
Harrah's Reno said on Tuesday that explosives will level the seven-story Quinn Building Dec. 15.
It's all that's left of the complex that once included Harolds Club and the Nevada Club. They're both gone.
The demolition contractor hired by Harrah's to clear the block has decided that the building can be demolished safely and more quickly by explosives than by the traditional razing methods that were used on the shorter buildings.
''We feel that the imploding process will be less disruptive overall to the downtown Reno business community,'' said Michael Silberling, vice president of casino operations at Harrah's Reno.
Harrah's purchased the adjoining properties in June and said in October it would raze the buildings and build a temporary plaza until further plans are developed for the site.
The demoliton has moved ahead without any of the commotion surrounding the planned implosion of the historic Mapes hotel-casino a few blocks south on Virginia Street.
Local and national historic preservationists are urging the Reno City Council to reverse its decision to demolish the 12-story hotel Jan. 30.
A trial is set to begin the day after the Quinn Building demolition that will give opponents an opportunity to present their claims that the city secretly approved the Mapes implosion.
