Carson City’s Capitol Mall news: ‘Impressive’ and ‘exciting’

Reactions ranging from “impressive” to “super-excited” came after the unveiling of various details regarding plans for a privately-funded Carson City Capitol Mall project.

“I think what’s impressive to me about the Capitol Mall project,” said Mayor Robert Crowell, “is there’s a lot of private capital that’s coming to Carson City now.”

He said such a mixed use project fits in with zoning downtown and will enhance the city’s core for years to come when it is done, which would be 2017 or 2018 if developers can meet their timeline.

The project, several details of which were unveiled in Sunday’s Nevada Appeal, would include a hotel with on-site parking, a companion technology conference center, office structures, retailing and two parking garages — one west of the Carson Nugget casino with a skywalk connection to the gaming facility, another larger one near Stewart Street.

“I think it’s just a wonderful addition to downtown,” said the mayor. He also said the community is ready for this and related growth, both here and in the region. “I just think we’re well-positioned now.”

“Super-excited” was the reaction of Supervisor Lori Bagwell, and Supervisor Karen Abowd called it “all very exciting” to see matters moving forward in a coordinated fashion.

“I’m super-excited for Carson City to have the opportunity to change the footprint and to add different and dynamic jobs,” said Bagwell. “I think it’s a good branding for Carson City.” By that, she said, she meant an orientation toward info-tech, med-tech or other technological innovations available because of the hotel/conference center combination and other matters developing in the state capital.

Bagwell also joined the mayor in praising new investment the plan would bring to the community, though no precise numbers are yet available, calling that prospect “phenomenal.”

Abowd, meanwhile, expressed joy over the momentum it means for the development — merely on the radar screen until now — and for the entire community.

“It’s great,” she said. “I’m very glad to see that they continue to move froward energetically.”

Supervisor Jim Shirk, who previously voiced support for the project despite sketchy details, now is sticking with that stance and said he isn’t opposed even though he has a couple of questions. He wondered about the small amounts of state and city land in the multi-block project footprint and whether there would be any problem with the proposed skywalk bridge connecting the casino parking garage with the casino over Carson Street.

Bruce Robertson of NAI Alliance commercial real estate, the broker lining up tenants, indicated there have been discussions with officials about footprint questions but none yet on the skywalk. He and the development managing partners made it clear as they unveiled details they could before heading to the city Planning Commission that some things are yet to be worked out before ground breaking.

Rob Hooper of the Northern Nevada Development Authority and Matt MacRitchie, head man at MacCompany’s in the Chicago area, are the limited liability development company managing partners. MacRitchie says he hopes for a 26 month buildout of much of the project after it is approved and work begins.

Miya MacKenzie of the Hop and Mae Adams Foundation added her own comment that progress seems “really exciting,” though she made it clear the foundation just owns much of the land involved. She said, however, the plan fits with the vision Carson City previously put together for downtown. “All of these things are dead-on with the master plan,” she said.