Crews are tearing down the Bourbon Square Casino, three years after the building closed. It has been vacant ever since.
"Nobody wants a vacant building down here and a large vacant building," Randy Kennedy, Director of Marketing Communications said. "So, we're really excited for the future and just what's happening in downtown Sparks."
The demolition of the 111,372 square-foot building is the latest in the redevelopment of downtown Sparks. Over the past few years, apartments have been built, Galaxy reopened the movie theater, and the old Silver Club hotel has been converted into living spaces. Kennedy says razing the Bourbon Street Casino will revitalize Victorian Square even more.
"It's something that needs to be redeveloped, something new to kind of fit in with all the other things that are going on down here," Kennedy said.
The demolition is expected to take about four weeks. Cleaning up the debris could take another three to four weeks, clearing the nearly two-acre property as early as January. Plans for the land are still being finalized.
"We've talked about entertainment venues, we've talked about just more space for events on the street, and I think it'll be some kind of marriage like that," Kennedy said.
Marnell Gaming owns the building, as well as the Nugget. The group is working with the City of Sparks to get through the regulatory process, finalizing the necessary infrastructure and permitting before breaking ground on a new project. Kennedy says he wants Victorian Square to be a destination for people, and that the land gives them flexibility to use the space.
"It's gonna give us an area to do more offerings, different entertainment, and really just open things up for a lot more possibilities down the road," Kennedy said.
Downtown Sparks has been a central location for special events like Hot August Nights, Start Spangled Sparks and the Rib Cook-off. Kennedy says their plans will improve those special events.
"I think everything is going to retain that hometown fell but there's going to be a lot more shops and more dynamic stuff happening down there," Kennedy said.
Demolition of the building is being done carefully and slowly. Scrap metal and other items are getting recycled.
"We obviously want to do the best and have the least impact that we can," Kennedy said. "Some of it obviously can't be recycled or saved but we're doing our best to make it work the right way."
Kennedy says Bourbon Square is a piece of Sparks history but says demolishing the building is the best way to improve the area in the future.
"I think another two years, really it's going to be a whole new ballgame for anybody that grew up in the area like I did," Kennedy said. "You're not gonna recognize it and it's all gonna be good stuff."
