When we first heard that Harrah's, the legendary Reno casino for 83 years was going to be a residence, office, shop and entertainment center, it was hard to picture. How could they do it? The pictures we received from the developer show the possibilities. Brent Lovett, CAI Director of Designing and Construction told me, "The Virginia Street side of the project, that will all become bars and restaurants. The Center Street side of the project will be more of the amenities for your tenants."

The first step, and it's a painful one for longtime locals, involves taking down the memories. The signs are gone. Anything else that says 'casino', gone. Soon will the covered walkway from the building to Virginia Street will be dismantled. The famed escalator on the casino floor will stay, and they tell me that 42-former Harrah’s employees were kept on the staff, to continue in their IT and security jobs, and to help the project retain as much history as it can.

The outdoors courtyard with stay, but with a whole new look: a park-like setting with a lot of activity. Chris Beavor, CEO of  CAI Development calls it "A promenade plaza, with food and beverage and outdoor seating."

Many have been asking if any Harrah’s memorabilia will be for sale here. Surprisingly, no. They tell me former owner Caesars took most of it already. Things like furniture go into storage until they decide what to do with it all. Their only priority now is just to get this dramatic project finished as soon as they can.

Today, the hotel corridors look like something from The Shining. But in the floors above that corridor, 230 workers were taking part in a delicate and meticulous removal. Lovett told me, "We're probably going to spend about $20 million alone just on abatement issues to take the asbestos out and deal with any mold we find, or lead paint…things that were used in the 1960's."

What you're looking at used to be 2 hotel rooms…they seem much smaller now. 2 rooms will become one apartment, 528 of them. Beavor says, "We're not taking existing hotel rooms and putting new paint on them for multi-family units. Each floor is going to be completely gutted."

As he told me, “peeled off like a can”. Balconies will be installed for future residents, who will start to move in after 14 months. He says “The rent ranges are going to be around $1275 to $1700 a month."

But it’s adios to history…and long live the soon to be Reno City Center, all 1.4 million square feet of it at Virginia and Commercial Street.