The University of Nevada is looking to expand south towards the downtown area, but the plan could be in jeopardy because of historic homes.
Both sides met on Thursday to discuss 19-century Victorian homes - between Eighth and Ninth Streets - and Virginia Street and Evans Avenue.
The Nevada Board of Regents approved a new master plan in December 2014 which includes a new business school on the southern end of the campus.
The city council is considering whether or not to adopt the gateway portion of the UNR master plan into the city's master plan.
President Marc Johnson said they want the business school to be on the edge of campus, facing the community.
“They want to be accessible to the community, rather than being in the heart of the campus with no parking around it,” says Johnson.
The Historic Resources Commission is opposed to the idea of demolishing the 19th-century homes though.
Realtor Barrie Lynn says that most of the old homes were lost when Interstate 80 was built, and this area is the last of the old neighborhood.
Lynn said she thinks there is room for both expansion and preservation in the neighborhood.
"I think that there's definitely room for the university to grow, and for the preservation of the home. I don't think it's a matter of one over the other,” says Lynn.
"I think that there were definitely some good to come out of this, but I think that still a lot of work that needs to be done."
No decision was made at Thursday’s meeting.
Both sides agreed to continue their collaborative discussions. But a date has not yet been set for a future meeting.
