RE: "V"-day for historic Mapes Hotel, Reno, NV
 
Listers-
 
Many of you have been following the effort to save the historic Mapes
hotel in Reno, Nevada.  The art deco hotel is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and was featured as one of the 11 Most
Endangered Historic Sites in the United States.  The City of Reno
Redevelopment Agency announced that the hotel has been saved.
 
While the preservation effort has been intense, and sometimes intersected
with ugly conflict, the future of the hotel seems to have been secured.
The city's redevelopment agency, in partnership with their master
riverfront redeveloper (OliverMcMillan LLC) and a Sparks, Nevada,
timeshare company (QM Resorts) held a press conference today to announce
their confidence in the new business plan.  NO CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED
AT THIS POINT, but officials are so confident that they have begun
jocking for political credit for the success of the project.
 
While there is enough credit to go around, several agents deserve special
recognition.  In short-  OliverMcMillan and its representative Chuck Davis
took a lot of political heat during the past year.  The company did not
walk away, despite harsh public criticism.  City staff and leaders,
(always eager to rush into progress, even if progress meant demolition)
worked very hard with all concerned parties to facilitate this resolution,
several citizens have been and continue to be constant supporters.  Jon
Dewey (chair of the city's historic commission) and Toni Harsh (president
of the Truckee Meadows Heritage Trust) deserve special recognition.
Without the researched arguments in favor of preservation, the Mapes would
now be a pile of rubble.  The greatest accolades are due Foster Mullen and
his staff at QM Resorts, Inc.  From their first involvement, they have
been honest, dedicated, and sincere.  They have invested tremendous effort
and monies in this new business plan.
 
Perhaps this can be summarized as a victory for the forces of good...
 
Tim Scarlett
[log in to unmask]