PROJECT BACKGROUND:

The Reno Redevelopment Agency had designated an entire city block, in the heart of downtown and within walking distance to the city’s

biggest casinos, as the most desirable location for construction of a large, new Events Center—a project deemed critical to the ongoing

revitalization of Reno. Neighborhoods surrounding this underused city block had poverty rates of 20 percent, with income levels nearly

40 percent lower than the citywide average. Standing in the way of redevelopment, however, were certain parcels of this city block that

were known to have been host to gas stations and auto repair facilities; one gas station on the property had operated for more than 70

years. The Reno Redevelopment Agency applied for and received approximately $150,000 in assessment funding from the Nevada

Brownfields Program, to determine where the most severe areas of contamination were located. Following assessments, a $200,000

Hazardous Substances Cleanup Grant from EPA—used to remediate a 0.16-acre, contaminated parcel on the property’s Southeast

corner (most recently used for motel storage)—was instrumental in allowing the overall project to proceed.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Performed soil sampling that revealed scattered areas of Petroleum Hydrocarbon

contamination on suspected parcels.

• Installed ground water monitoring wells.

• Cleanup and redevelopment activities leveraged 25 temporary jobs.

• Grand opening for the new Events Center took place on January 1, 2005.

OUTCOME:

Following cleanup, this underused city block, with its long-contaminated parcels, has become one of Reno’s premiere entertainment

venues, and the economic status of the surrounding area has improved. The new Events Center has been home to concerts, sporting

events, comedy shows, conferences, conventions, and trade shows. With its prime, downtown location, this 118,000 square-foot,

$28.5 million facility features a 40’x 60’ stage and 56,000 square feet of floor space, making it one of Reno’s most sought after locations

for major events.

Built on a Former Brownfield, Reno’s New Events Center

is a Major Venue for Downtown Entertainment

brownfields at-a-glance

FORMER SAGE MOTEL PARCEL

Reno Redevelopment Agency, NV

Cleanup Grant

EPA-560-F-06-226

August 2006

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the EPA Brownfields Web site at http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ or call EPA Region 9 at (415) 972-3092

ADDRESS: A 0.16-acre parcel on the Southeastern corner of a

city block between East 4th-5th Streets & Center and

North Lake Streets, Reno, Nevada

PROPERTY SIZE: 0.16 acres

FORMER USES: Gas stations, motel storage, motorcycle and

auto maintenance facilities

CURRENT USE: Multipurpose Events Center (the entire city block)

EPA GRANT RECIPIENT: PROJECT PARTNERS:

The Reno Redevelopment Agency received a

$200,000 Brownfields Hazardous Substances

Cleanup Grant.

Nevada Division of Environmental

Protection (NV DEP), Nevada

Brownfields Program

For additional data and geographic

information for this and other

Brownfields Grants, please visit EPA’s:

Envirofacts -

www.epa.gov/enviro/html/bms/bms_query.html

Enviromapper - www.epa.gov/enviro/bf

The completed Reno Events Center.