Work began this week on a $400,000 project to create 71 paved parking spaces at the Minden Inn.
The goal of the project is to provide parking for county employees at the Minden Inn and more on-street parking for downtown businesses.
County Manager T. Michael Brown said Wednesday the contract with V&C Construction of Gardnerville calls for the project to be complete in 90-120 days.
A temporary ramp was installed in front of the Minden Inn to provide handicapped access to the building while the parking lot is under construction.
The parking lot comes on the heels of a multiyear effort to build a parking garage on the site that was abandoned due to escalating costs.
While designed for county employees, the lot is public and can be used by anyone.
"If we can't have the parking garage we were promised, this is wonderful," said Minden business owner Roxanne Stangle. "We appreciate any help they can give us.
"The problem is there is not enough room for county employees, and they park on the street. That leaves no room for our customers. This will have a big impact on our businesses," she said.
County employees will be required to park in the lot once the project is finished, Brown said.
Some cottonwood trees that front Mono and Fourth Street are to be removed because they are causing curb and gutter problems, Brown said.
Power lines behind the Minden Inn are to be put underground.
"The whole project is designed to combine existing and unimproved parking to serve the Minden Inn," Brown said. "Our intent is to make it very nice. We will redo the whole area and create a landscaped gathering area on the south side next to the Minden Inn."
He said the gathering area would complement the downtown Minden streetscapes.
"We want to create comfortable spaces for employees for outside breaks that can be used by anyone," Brown said.
He said lighting is designed to have minimum impact on Mono Avenue residents across from the parking lot.
County commissioners approved the project Sept. 18.
Nine applicants sought the job with bids from V&C Construction's $399,247.50 to a high of $614,444 submitted by Spanish Springs Construction of Sparks.
