Hotel and more in works for downtown

A hotel, mid-sized convention center and commercial walking mall are envisioned downtown near the Nugget Casino and State Capitol, according to multiple reports Monday.

Supervisor Jim Shirk, who alluded to possible downtown development last week as he tried to promote Curry Street improvements and put off those on Carson Street, identified Hyatt Place as the hotel nameplate Monday. He said he was working from a short report that had been on the Northern Nevada Development Authority website for a while.

“It’s going to be huge,” Shirk predicted, saying it would change things so much he wanted to wait on decisions affecting streetscape and the number of traffic lanes on Carson Street. Currently Carson Street is four lanes, with two north and two south, but plans have been drafted to cut the number to one north and one south with wider sidewalks. Shirk said such work should await more information on the development plans.

“It’s going to change the demographics completely,” said Shirk.

He sent along what he said was the website language under the heading, Northern Nevada, a Regional Perspective. It read this way:

“On the real estate development side, the city center of Carson City is about to see a major transformation where eight city blocks adjacent to the Capitol building are being developed to include a hotel carrying the Hyatt Place Flag a mid sized convention/conference center, a mixed commercial and retail walking mall with abundant outdoor public space.” There also was a reference to a new home for the casino.

Rob Hooper, NNDA executive director, would not confirm the development but acknowledged something had gotten onto the authority website inadvertently. He said nothing was yet set in stone.

“You’ll be the first to know,” he told the Nevada Appeal. “There are no contracts for anybody to do anything.”

He said, however, NNDA is always promoting development.

“There’s no secret that NNDA over the last number of years has sought opportunities to help revitalize downtown Carson City,” he said. “We believe that’s essential for the economy of the entire region.”

Andie Wilson of NAI Alliance Carson City, a commercial real estate broker who works with NNDA, said she had to sign a confidentiality agreement and couldn’t confirm.

Ronni Hannaman, executive director at the Chamber of Commerce, knew about the matter and said a meeting with Hyatt officials involving the Chamber, Mayor Robert Crowell and top city staff is planned in August.

“I’m very excited,” she said. She also was especially pleased with the convention-conference center idea.

“I think the small convention side of it is awesome,” she said. Currently there isn’t a place for conventions or conferences in the city that can accommodate more than 500 people.

Editor’s note: This story was changed from its original print version.