A memo to the Reno City Council has outlined the physical status of the Lear Theater in downtown Reno, assessing its safety to the public.
Based on the report's findings, risk management officials are recommending that no one access the building at this time.
The report on the building, which was built in 1939 and served as a church for around 60 years before becoming a community center and performing arts theater, outlines seven major safety issues with the interior of the Lear.
The safety issues include:
- Presumed asbestos-containing materials including plaster, floor and ceiling tiles
- Presumed lead paint in various areas throughout the building
- Structural stability issues with floors and stairwells
- Water infiltration, including standing water and a high likelihood of mold
- Electrical hazards - even though the building is not currently powered, reinstating power would present "critical danger to both occupants and structure"
- Chemical hazards, as multiple containers of liquid flammable and corrosive chemicals are present
- Fall hazards including two empty elevator shafts and uneven floors and stairwells
The risk management team recommends that further structural evaluation and industrial hygiene sampling should be performed before allowing anyone back into the building.
Those interested in reading the full report can find it online on the City of Reno website.
