Congratulations to my friends and clients at the Marmot Companies for being named to the RGJs list of Entrepreneurs of the Year in the Small Business category. They have made huge contributions to the renaissance of Midtown and beyond. For those of you too tech savvy or just plain cheap to subscribe to the print version of the RGJ, you can find the article HERE. Well, 99% of it, due to the limitations of my scanner.
The article is an interview with Eric Raydon aka “Smart(ass) Marmot” who handles the big picture financials (and who finally gave up on his “geography is destiny” self quote). Bryon handles the down and dirty construction, while Gary handles the real estate transactions and cash flow modelling. I’m sure glad that they haven’t asked me about their nicknames!
Being a bit on the inside, all I can tell you is that these guys are for real. They are funded, aggressive and progressive. And they are looking to take their vision beyond Midtown into unexpected niche markets all around Reno. Stay tuned.
Eric Raydon said:
THANKS!!!
Steve Herschbach said:
I like that article and I like these guys even though I have never met them. I share their optimism about Reno’s future. It will not be easy. The casino era is passing and there are many challenges ahead. But as long as there are people like this in Reno the challenges will be met. Good work guys!
Steve Herschbach
Walter said:
Hey Steve, nothing to worry about. The proprietor of this blog has assured us all that:
1. Reno’s entire economy is going to be radically transformed by tech assembly with in the next 24 months. Which is now down, actually, to within the next 22 months.
2. Downtown Reno’s Virginia Street is about to be rapidly renovated into something quite spectacular. The proprietor has been equivocal as to how rapid, exactly, this rapid renovation is going to occur. But no doubt it is about to happen any day now.
So all is well.
Steve Jobs said:
I thought the Apple data center has already saved this entire region. Did I miss something?
Steve Herschbach said:
Hi Walter,
I am thinking progress over the next 10 – 20 years myself. Stuff takes time. Boundless optimism makes as much sense as boundless pessimism. Reality is probably in between somewhere.
Walter said:
Oh Steve,
You must be new to Reno. How long have you lived here? 2 years? 3 years? “Stuff takes time.” You obviously have no idea how true those words are when it comes to downtown Reno. I have been here long enough to witness two generations of so-called “planners” and “renovators” pontificate about what Reno needs, all the while accomplishing basically nothing. The downtown alleys still reek of urine. Pawn shops, tee shirts shops, dive bars, decaying casinos. 30 years ago the “visionaries” were talking about what downtown needed to renovate itself. Now the sons of those visionaries are having the same conversation with themselves.
10 years? No doubt the Kings Inn will still be there, decaying. Marking its fourth decade of progress.
Steve Herschbach said:
Well no doubt you know better, as I do not live in Reno at all! Got a house and moving there in May though, and looking forward to it. I am not totally ignorant of the place and my wife and I decided we like it enough to move there. I like what Reno has done with the downtown river area in the years I have been visiting so not all looks to be in vain. I admit that being a life-long Alaskan that my judgement may be in question, however. Frozen brains and all that, leading Alaskans to say remarkably stupid things.
Why do you live there Walter? Sounds like you do not like Reno.
Steve Herschbach
BanteringBear said:
Simply putting lipstick on a pig is pointless, and all of this house-flipping and building renovation is doing nothing to benefit the long term health of Reno. Sure, all of these people making money selling buildings to one another want you to believe Reno is the second coming of Silicon Valley, but if you want to see Reno’s future go take a stroll along the urine-soaked streets of downtown, and chat with the pimps, hos, and down-and-outs. That’s where you will get religion. If you truly want to save the town, you will need to pry it out of the cold, dead hands of the old monied power structures who hold it hostage, and who like it just the way it is.
Steve Herschbach said:
Same question Banteringbear. If Reno sucks so bad, why do you live there? Why not pack up and find a place more to your liking? I am curious why people live in places they despise.
Steve Watts said:
I don’t think they “despise” it Steve, just some cold water in the face reality that’s needed now & then. Like most newcomers, you see an idealized Reno…nothing wrong with that…we need folks to pay more than these homes are worth.
Steve Herschbach said:
Hi Steve,
I do not think I have an idealized view of Reno. I just do not think staring at a few blocks of the worst it has to offer reflects the totality of the place. I see some guys investing in property, helping make a place ever so slightly better. Or at least trying and in the process maybe making a buck. Others see people putting lipstick on pigs. Whatever, I it just reflects different outlooks on life. Mine tends to be upbeat, others not so much. If it is a requisite of this blog that positive comments be met with cold water in the face then I will just shut up and leave you guys to it. Life’s too short.
Sara Lee said:
Hey Steve H.,
Welcome to Reno and good luck with all your projects! I’ve been in Reno off and on for over 30 years. It’s a good town and the majority of problems it faces are no different than what most towns in this country go through at one time or another, namely an industry in decline. Thankfully the quality of life is pretty good here, there is some interesting synergy happening with regards to live/work/play neighborhoods which Reno has never really had before, and if Reno ever really gets to you just drive 30 minutes any direction and you’ll be at a great outdoor destination.
As for the negativity on this blog, and others that also deal with (re)development in Reno, I wouldn’t pay any more attention to it than I do some of the wildly unrealistic pie-in-the-sky stuff that also gets said. As with most things in life, the reality is definitely somewhere in the middle and if anything a little closer to positive than negative in Reno right now.
-S
Matthew said:
Am I the only one who things the city should foreclose on tax liens for dilapidated properties and demolish them? How many properties downtown are “untouchable” because the costs to renovate them and deal with environmental and structural problems is too great? Demolishing and removing blight should be a priority if the city wants to change the image of downtown….
Sully said:
Matthew – Quite true, however it takes money. The city doesn’t have any; the residents are stuck in some ancient mode that deems the taxes they pay should show some results via city services. The new companies that come here to add their presence want tax relief for a decade. So we are stuck in a vicious cycle that won’t stop until the financial balance is corrected.
In the meantime the city is bogged down with the Aces stadium and if that’s not enough it has to concern itself with the lifetime Greek pensions they managed to promise city employees. Of course they can go the California way and raise taxes, saying “its for the children” whom never actually see a penny of it anyway……….
Matthew said:
Sully — You may remember that we got a bunch of “free” stimulus money and we used it for art installations and redundant freeway ramps… These windfalls are (unfortunately) not that rare. Alternatively, a tax fund can accumulate for a somewhat regular schedule of this sort of work.
This area loves to pass bonds and then constantly renew them, perhaps renew a bond and say “no new taxes!” and use the money for “cleaning the slate” downtown rather than stamping concrete patterns into freeway walls or decorative but unreadable plate metal freeway signs….
Steve Herschbach said:
Hey back at you Sara,
Thanks for the welcome. And yes, I look forward to hoofing it all over the surrounding area. If the worst that ever gets said about me is I have an idealized view of life I can live with that. Reno looks pretty darn good from where I am sitting right now.
Bryan said:
Well put Steve. Reno is a nice place that has just experienced a “hard reset” in my opinion. If we all walked around with the attitude that Reno sucks, live with it, nothing positive would ever happen. I believe that the momentum and energy around Midtown is evidence that a lot of people think that Reno is a great place to live.
Elston said:
Reno’s “hard reset” has been going for 35 years. You can mark this time by how long the Kings Inn has been decaying/rotting downtown.
But if you have been for Reno for 2 years or are 35 years old, I guess you wouldn’ t
have much sense of historical perspective. You also wouldn’t know what you are talking about.
Steve Herschbach said:
Yeah, gol darn young whippersnappers and johnny-come-lately types! No historical perspective, think they know something! Gol darn fools should just keep their mouths shut!
Sully said:
Steve, are you a young whippersnapper? I think what Elston was trying to say was that these projects take forever to complete.
The Ormsby House in Carson City has been undergoing renovation for around 20 years, I can’t remember when it was last open but it was a long time ago. The reason I mentioned this one is because this was a very popular place for locals back in the day.
Another one is the 580 freeway to Carson City. For an 81/2 mile freeway to take almost ten years to complete has to be a new world record. Granted they had to change contractors mid stream but still they haven’t even finished it yet.
The final phase of freeway construction between Fairview Drive and US 50 west has been postponed several times with an uncertain completion date. And that is par for the course!
Steve Herschbach said:
Hi Sully,
Hmmmm – “if you have been for Reno for 2 years or are 35 years old, I guess you wouldn’ t have much sense of historical perspective. You also wouldn’t know what you are talking about.”
Seems fairly straight forward to me. I read it and imagined some old fart tapping his cane at me! No offense meant, just my sense of humor.
For the record I am 56 years old. I do understand things take time so it does not surprise me when simple things take way more time and effort than they should. Especially if government gets involved; then you are lucky if it can even get done ever.
I guess even though I do not quite live there yet I am already a bit defensive about the place. I tend to be that way about places I choose to live. I take things too personally – I really need to work on that.
I am litrally packing up getting ready to move to Reno so best get back on it. You guys and gals have a great one!
Gary Raydon said:
People who say it can’t be done should stop interrupting those that are doing it.
Eric said:
The Man in the Arena.