Get ready for the first full contact city council meeting tomorrow. It is available live on Charter channel 213, or streaming HERE. The big issues will be the refinancing deal with the Aces. You can go HERE to download the staff reports and back up information.
I reluctantly support this deal, and laud the current council for shit-canning the earlier deal Mayor Bob signed off on and making a better one. There is a lot to hate on all sides on this deal, but approving the deal is in the best interest of Reno. The cost over the first 5 years is pretty minimal, though I worry a lot about years 5-10, when the assumed Fire Station Bond payments go away and become a general fund obligation.
From moi point of view, the Aces Stadium has had ZERO impact so far as a catalyst for economic development in the area. Salvage the deal, but don’t give anything else away.
Also up tomorrow is the rezoning of a portion of the University Farms holdings along McCarran for commercial / industrial use. This one is a no brainer, but will be debated endlessly. UNR wants to be able to develop their holdings along McCarran, and has agreed that Wolf Pack Meats can stay.
Watch and get involved. It’s your town, and your voice really does make an impact.
Derrick said:
Quick question : In your opinion the stadium has had Zero affect on economic development in the surrounding area. What do you base this theory off?
I was under the impression that it had bolstered many of the businesses that surround it during baseball season. It also played an important role in me buying property and subsequently rehabbing it very near the stadium as well.
Also, what about all the blight the existed before the stadium was built?
REreno said:
There hasn’t been any new construction in the area directly attributable to the ballpark. The private improvements happening in the area, like your State Street project, are more a result of the success of Midtown moving north.
Matthew said:
Is the blight cleaned up around the stadium, Derrick? As I recall, it is surrounded on all sides by dirty, poorly lit, unsavory and potentially unsafe areas.
Sara Lee said:
I frequent Louis’ & the Hub Coffee Roasters, and that area is not only rundown but it’s sketchy as well. The Aces Stadium exists in its own little world and is nowhere near the economic or social catalyst that some people would have you believe.
I agree with your assessment of trying to salvage the deal – but don’t shortchange the entirety of Reno and its future by giving any more concessions here.
skeptical said:
Mike,
You reluctantly support the Aces deal? You gotta be shitting me. There ought to be demonstrations in the streets. The multi-billionaire of Westfield Malls owns the Aces and is sucking Reno for every penny he can get. $1M per year from the City of Reno to keep the Aces in town!?
It’s all bullshit. We could do alot with that money besides financial welfare for a billionaire. What is the economic benefit of the Aces? When you have to pay $8 for a beer, and $6 for an Oscar Meyer weiner, I’m sure local restaurants and breweries would love that kinda dough directed at their establishment in the absence of the Aces.
And what if they left? Who cares? You know an enterprising AA or AAA team would take that stadium within a year or two.
Why should the people of Reno and Washoe County to made to transfer $1M/year to the pocket of a billionaire that gives a rat’s ass about Northern Nevada?
I’d love to hear anybody justify this corruption, bribery, and criminal corporate welfare.
Rory said:
The Aces owners, while hardly sympathetic figures as wealthy carpet baggers, are only asking the City of Reno to keep it’s promises they made to secure the original deal for the stadium and franchise. How is that out of line?
Alfred said:
Didn’t take Councilman Delgado long to get bought and sold. A sad day for the citizens of Reno. I also cannot see one significant piece of redevelopment that has accrued to downtown Reno because of this ballpark. A pizza joint renting space in an already existing structure is not redevelopment.
Derrick said:
Actually the result of my state st property and other property I own in the area was attributed to the baseball stadium not midtown moving north.
Infact I knew very little about midtown when I purchased the properties. I for one am happy that baseball may hopefully stay in reno. I don’t think you can expect redevelopment to happen over night either. I realize the area is still quite sketchy but it is already WAY better than it was just 5 years ago.
geopower said:
Results? for those of us who didn’t attend or watch, and are too impatient for the minutes.
miscreant said:
Read the RGJ, or just click over to it, dumbass.
And, the next time you wonder, gee, what will this bunch of politicians do? Will they do what’s right? Will they do what’s right for them? Just follow the money. Follow the money. And you will not err, ever…
Rory said:
You are a prick.
miscreant said:
And YOU are a GOD who, sadly, can only express his irrelevant nonsensical idiocies on somebody else’s blog, whilst you suffer the slings and errors of your own miserable existence in quiet, stifling solitude.
Follow the money.
Rory said:
Your maniacal demented ramblings aside, the original comment you posted was dickish. You should work on that, Dick.