The Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada will be able to complete its new building in east Carson City if a $1.7 million land sale goes through as planned.
The board of directors was hesitant to sell some of its land to a developer, said Buzz Fitzpatrick, vice president of the club's board of directors. But the land sale means "we can complete our current construction phase and have a good start toward the completion of the gym."
So far the organization has raised $2.5 million and it needs $8 million to complete the first phase, which includes a 12,500-square-foot building, 12,500-square-foot gym and a grass field. The club owns 15 acres at Northridge Drive and Russell Way.
"The sale of the property and the donation is needed to complete the phase currently under construction," Fitzpatrick said Wednesday. "The sale of this property is not the end of our funding problems. We still need additional funds to make it a 100 percent functioning Boys & Girls Club."
The sale to Canddle Development, based in Reno, will close after the developer's senior citizen apartment complex project clears the city's permitting process.
Fitzpatrick said Canddle Development will also give a $75,000 donation to the club's capital fund as part of the sale. He said the board of directors had wanted to use this land for future growth, but it decided to ask for bids on the four acres in January because of the rising costs of construction and the need for a new building.
The nonprofit organization has been raising funds for a new club for more than five years. The organization has leased space from the state at 673 S. Stewart St. for the last 13 years, but will need to vacate by early next year, he said. The club has provided summer activities for about 550 children daily.
Canddle Development plans to build a 250-unit apartment complex for senior citizens on the four acres southeast of the future Boys & Girls Club.
Canddle Development will need to secure a zone change from single-family housing to multi-family apartment and a density change for the four acres, said Walt Sullivan, city director of planning and community development.
"They didn't have the necessary materials in on time, so neither the zone change nor variance are going to the planning commission this month or in September either," he said. Sullivan expects the company to be ready in October.
Vintage at Carson City will be four stories and have a social center with rooms for exercising, activities, computers, a TV theater, library and indoor pool, according to plans submitted to the city planning and community development office. Company President Chris Santoro could not be reached for comment.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
By the numbers
The Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada building
project:
Phase 1: a 12,500-square-foot building, 12,500-square-foot building gym and a grass area
Phase 2: an east addition that will house classrooms
Phase 3: a west addition that will house the cafeteria and administrative offices
Total cost: $12.4 million
Raised so far: $2.5 million
Source: Boys & Girls Club
vice president of the board