In need of serious repairs, the Cal-Neva parking structure on East First Street in downtown Reno might be getting a facelift and new owner soon.
Wednesday afternoon, the Reno City Council voted to move forward with a deal to explore a possible sale of the garage.
City hall employees have been the primary users of the parking garage for the last 10 years, but the City of Reno doesn't think it's in the best shape and now the city council is discussing possibly buying it out. "We don't have many casino guests that park in the garage anymore. So it's kinda just a natural thing for the City to take control and possession of the garage,” says Club Cal-Neva Executive Director Jeff Siri.
The City has a parking agreement with the current owners of the garage, but now they want to take things into their own hands. And after 50 years of wear and tear they say there needs to be immediate repairs. Cracks in the concrete and damage from the weather make it difficult to drive in - and the City wants it to be secure, safe, and clean for their employees and customers.
Club Cal-Neva is offering to sell it for $10,000 and they think that's a fair price. "If the City built a new parking garage like this now, they probably would spend $5-$7 million."
