Posted: 11:28 PM Mar 22, 2012
Reporter: Chris Buckley

Reno’s Midtown area has seen a lot of new development in the past few years. The business community is a supportive one. And at Thursday night’s mixer at Craft, local merchants got a glimpse of what the future could hold.

“This is the first time we’re presenting to the public the project we’re developing at 734 South Virginia street,” Bernie Carter of 701 S. Virginia LLC said. “We’re going to be building 17 small business buildings all between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet, all designed effectually for mom-and-pop operations.

And there are a lot of restrictions on just what type of businesses can go there. The community doesn’t want any more package liquor stores or smoke shops.

“The criteria is that basically I want to be able to take my 4-year-old granddaughter down there, be able to shop, to eat, feet absolutely safe and have an enjoyable experience,” Carter said.

The first building permits have already been submitted and the project will be built in stages based on demand. If it goes well, it could mean up to 25 new businesses and 150 new jobs.

“It makes no sense to build it all at one time, to spend the money and make compromises on what type of business goes in there,” Carter said. “If they fill up as we go along then we’ll roll along and complete the project. We’re doing it all with private money because our intent is to do this as a community and that’s what we’ve embraced and done so far.”

A familiar sign will soon hang in Midtown. Paul Doege is opening up a Recycled Records store there this summer.

“Recycled Records is very excited to be moving to Midtown,” Doege said. “The difference between this kind of place and your basic strip mall is worlds different; here it’s much more of a sense of community, a sense of getting involved with the people who are your customers.”

Hillary Schieve owns two Midtown businesses and says the area is flourishing.

“The streets are vibrant, people are talking, businesses are connecting and we have to continue to do that because this economy has been hard for people but our part of town is thriving,” Schieve said. “We’ve really put a lot of effort and energy into it and made businesses feel welcome to be here.”

Doege says he already feels it.

“I’m really excited about the move because this is the kind of place our business can settle in and have a nice long life,” he said.

Midtown supporters have also talked to the City Council about issues like parking, crime and sidewalks in the area.

“Midtown is the face of Reno and Reno’s got a great smile, we’re just missing a few teeth,” supporter Troy Harsh said. “We just need to fill those in. We’re not going to have empty parking lots, we’re gong to have businesses, we’re going to have parks and open spaces, a lot of people are coming back down to Midtown and we’re going to bring in safety, we’re going to bring in parking. If we build it, people will come, that’s what I believe in.”

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