DAYTON - The first multi-million dollar commercial development along Dayton Valley Road is expected to be open for tenants in spring 2007, according to the developer.
River Vista Commercial Center is located near the airport and the largest cluster of homes in this town of about 10,000.
River Vista Properties Inc. will invest from $8 million to $9 million in the 8.5-acre project that abuts the Carson River, said company president Phil Cowee. It has developed large industrial centers, but this will be its first commercial/retail center.
River Vista is the second development announced for the area, but the first to secure all the necessary financing and water rights. The development has secured its special use permit to build storage units on the property.
Como Gardens, a development proposed for about nine acres across the street, ran out of money and was not able to meet the construction demands required by Lyon County. Land owner Mike Walker announced this week that he was pulling the project. He also owns the Dayton Valley Floral & Nursery, which is the only other business on Dayton Valley Road other than a fitness center.
A vet hospital is being built across from the nursery, along with office/commercial buildings.
Cowee said Wednesday that there is a need in this area for commercial and office property, because Dayton's commercial activity is located along Highway 50.
"It's going to take some work to get people from the other side of the river to find out about us and come over to our side," he said.
Cowee expects to secure the building permits by the end of the month and then break ground.
"We have a lot of business dealings in Dayton and I've gown up there in the area and I think it's an area of Dayton that's been underserved by commercial business," he said.
Cowee and his father, John Cowee, and builder Bill Miles are members of the corporation. The Cowees own Dayton Secure Storage on Fortune Drive and are involved in the Traditions master plan community, a partnership with Landmark Homes and land owner John Serpa.
The River Vista contractor is Miles Brothers Construction and the architect is Rob Darney.
Commercial real estate agent Bruce Robertson said the center is in a high-traffic area of Dayton.
"It's centrally located with the residential area of Dayton, plus it's close to the Dayton industrial area," he said.
• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
River Vista Commercial Center
Where: The west side of Dayton Valley Road, just north of Como Road
Features: The first phase contains two retail buildings, about 8,000 square feet each; a 10,000-square-foot office building; and three buildings totaling 26,000-square feet that will contain 210 storage units.
Phase two includes a 5,000-square-foot restaurant, another retail building and four storage buildings.
Cost: $4.5 million for phase one and about $4 million for phase two.
- Source: Phil Cowee