Lyon County land off Interstate 80 sells for $24 million

A group of real estate investors purchased 20,000 acres in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center for $24 million, a managing member of the limited-liability company said Friday.

Scott Bleazard, a member of NV-Reno Industrial LLC, said the Lyon County land will be developed to suit what residents and the market requires.

"I think we're going to get a good reception because we're looking (to the public) to tell us what they want," he said. "We want to do a mixed-use community and to be a good team player. We recognize the opportunity of tying USA Parkway and Highway 50, and we will do that."

This development will prompt the completion of the 18-mile USA Parkway from Interstate 80 East to Highway 50 East, said Miles Ottenheimer, spokesman for the industrial center.

The 20,000 acres is the portion of the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center that reaches into Lyon County. It's the largest land acquisition so far in the 104,000-acre center, Ottenheimer said.

The USA Parkway will bisect the NV-Reno development. The road construction will be financed by the corporation and the center, which is owned by businessmen Lance Gilman and Roger Norman.

"We hear loud and clear the call for affordable housing in Northern Nevada, and we think this will be the place," Bleazard said in a statement. "We have met with the Lyon County officials and hear their need for a tax base, and not just residential."

Don Ogden, manager of truss-maker Nevada Builders Choice of Silver Springs, was excited to hear about a new development spurring the completion of USA Parkway.

"I think it's going to be great for our business and allow us to get into Reno much faster," he said. "Also we plan on shipping product to California, and now that will take a significant amount of time off the truck route."

The parkway is expected to shave off an hour drive time to Las Vegas.

Bleazard said the six-member group will develop first its master plan with the assistance of Reno consulting firm Wood Rogers and then submit it to Lyon County officials by the end of the year.

NV-Reno Industrial is managed by Western States Management Services, of North Las Vegas, according to Secretary of State documents. Members listed are Wesley Adams, Weston Adams and Bleazard, all of North Las Vegas.

The cost of the development has not yet been determined. The land sale closed in March. This is the group's first project where it's handling development directly.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

FAST FACTS

The Tahoe Reno Industrial Center is located in Storey County about seven miles east of the Reno-Sparks area on Interstate 80. Its main entrances are the Patrick and Tracy interchanges on I-80. A centerpiece is the new Wal-Mart distribution center, which has begun stocking goods.

THE NEW ROAD

USA Parkway will connect Interstate 80 with Highway 50 East. Construction has already begun on the interchange just past the Tracy Clark exit. The four-lane road will traverse about 18 miles across the 104,000 acres of the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.