Downtown Carson City businesses concerned redevelopment project will damage them

More than 40 downtown Carson City business and property owners crowded the Ormsby Room at the Sheriff’s Office Thursday seeking assurances the Carson Street redevelopment project won’t shut them down.

Project Manager Danny Rotter and Will Morgan of Q&D Construction told them they are planning every possible step to minimize the disruption, which begins Monday by tearing up the centerline of the street to replace the old water main that serves the corridor.

Morgan said even as water and sewer work and the reconstruction of the sidewalks begins, there would be one lane in each direction open throughout most of the nine month project. The exception is going to be the 10-day period at the end when Carson Street is actually repaved and that asphalt paving is allowed to cure for three or four days.

Maxine Nietz asked whether that tight schedule — the work must be completed before Nevada Day — takes bad weather into account.

Morgan said there are weather days built into the schedule.

Jim Phalen of Firkin and Fox said his concern was simply when the reconstruction turning 3rd Street into an events plaza would start.

“After St. Patrick’s Day,” said Rotter.

“Thank you very much,” said Phalen. St. Paddy’s Day is one of Firkin’s most profitable days.

Charlie Abowd, co-owner of Café at Adele’s, said his concern was how long gas and water would be out at different businesses, which could cause major issues especially for restaurant properties such as his, Garibaldi’s, Thai Basil and Firkin.

He and other restaurateurs at the meeting were assured the work doesn’t involve gas lines and businesses would be told when their water would be off and for how long.

June Joplin, owner of Comma Coffee, asked whether detour signs throughout could help guide customers how to get to different businesses including hers — by name. Morgan said they were trying to do just that and they would try contact businesses to find out what time of the day would be best to shut down water to connect the new lines.

Rotter told business owners there are numerous ways to keep up on what’s happening and the city is planning a weekly report on what streets and accesses are closed along with a live map of what’s happening in the corridor. He said those interested should go to carsonproud.com to check the “cone zone” for restrictions, look at the map and see what’s happening. He said they can sign up for email updates or ask a question by email. They can also text questions to carsonproud at 31996 or call the hotline at 283-7056. The cone zone also will appear Sundays in the Appeal and online at www.nevadaappeal.com.

Rotter also said they can ask any questions about anything in the city at carson.org, then click the “Carson Connect” button in the top right corner.

The $8.1 million project will turn the downtown Carson Street corridor into a single traffic lane in each direction with a left turn lane in the middle, wider sidewalks and bike lanes from Fifth Street to William Street.

There will be more trees, benches and other amenities to make downtown pedestrian friendly and help revitalize downtown businesses.