Genoa Historic District brochure hot off the press

For such a cool color, the painting of a commercial building bright blue during the coronavirus outbreak generated a lot of heat in Nevada’s oldest town.

In 2020, the Genoa Business Center, which housed the Genoa Station Bar & Grille at the time, was repainted prompting questions about what was allowed in the Genoa Historic District.

Those questions may be answered by the completion and approval of a brochure providing examples of colors and architectural elements deemed appropriate by the Genoa Historic District Commission, providing needed guidance to business operators in the district.

Copies of the brochure have been printed and are available at the Genoa Town Offices.

Founded in 1974, after Genoa was added to the National Register of Historic Places, the district commission was established to preserve the appearance of Nevada’s oldest commercial district.

District commissioners don’t have jurisdiction over properties zoned residential, like the Kinsey House, the town’s first two-story brick structure built in 1855-56. However, it does affect homes on property that is zoned commercial.

At the Sept. 28, 2020, meeting of the Genoa Historic District Commission, neighbor Brendan Riley suggested the need for a color palette showing appropriate colors after the building was repainted bright blue by the new owners.

Historic District commissioners began work with the county to revise its ordinance the following spring.

One of the key provisions was to shift the application process to Community Development, but another was to formalize the use of what had been referred to as the “Little Brown Book,” which contained suggestions for what was appropriate in the district.

Historic commissioners approved provisions in the new ordinance in April 2023 and forwarded it to the Douglas County Planning Commission and county commissioners.

In August 2023, the new ordinance was approved by county commissioners and the historic commission started work on the brochure. That same month, the historic commission blocked an effort by Verizon to erect a 5G cell tower behind the fire department on the grounds it wasn’t appropriate in the town.

A year later, on Aug. 6, the brochure setting out what was appropriate in town was adopted by Historic District Commissioners.

This summer, the Business Center was repainted a color deemed appropriate by the Historic Commission, as was a new sign for the businesses. Replacing the Genoa Station Grill is Flutter & Buzz Café and O’Brien Co., a remodel and construction company. The building also houses the Genoa Wellness Spa.