Home Depot planned for northeast Carson near Wal-Mart

Another big-box retailer is moving into North Carson City, on the coat tails of Wal-Mart, and setting up shop for home-improvement enthusiasts.

The city planning department reviewed plans Tuesday for the 132,290-square-foot Home Depot store at East College Parkway and Retail Drive. This review is the first step in the building approval process for the national retailer's first Carson City store.

Tom Brewster, of Mound House, said this will save him the long drive to the home-improvement store in north Douglas County.

"I'm refurbishing an older manufactured home in Mound House, and this will be more convenient," said Brewster, before entering the Wal-Mart Supercenter at North Carson Crossing.

Sean Morey, of Carson City, lives near the supercenter and is "constantly" doing home improvements.

"I love Home Depot," he said. "It would be nice if it were a whole lot closer."

North Carson Crossing, a burgeoning shopping center near the new freeway, has added several new businesses in the last six months. Starbucks, Game Stop and Round Table Pizza are recent additions. A Chili's Grill & Bar is also planned for the center.

Wal-Mart General Manager Scott Yoder said he's looking forward to seeing development on the 24 acres of vacant land beside the supercenter.

"I think it's going to help by bringing some more business into the general area," he said.

Other retailers may have a different take. Lowe's has operated in South Carson City since 2001.

"Seventy-seven percent of our stores operate within a 10-mile radius of our competition, and we compete successfully across the U.S. with them," said Chris Ahearn, spokeswoman for Lowe's. "We expect that to continue in Carson City."

Lowe's matches competing prices and adds a 10 percent discount onto the item.

Kent Witt, of North Carson Crossing LLC and owner of the 24 acres where the Home Depot will be built, could not be reached for comment.

Witt and partner George Karadanis bought the land from Shaheen Business Parks in 2004 for $7 million. The 203,000 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter opened October 2005.

Juan Negrete said he's selling his home, located in the Northridge subdivision just behind the supercenter's east parking lot, partly because of the noise of teens playing in its parking lot late at night.

His warning to those down the street: The construction is loud and sometimes it doesn't get better after that.

"I'm going to try and choose the right place now," said Negrete. He's moving to Minden.

Marco Saenz, a welder, lives in a Northridge cul-de-sac and has a view from his back yard of the 24 vacant acres and the freeway in the distance. He doesn't mind the new construction.

"But it probably will be louder," he said.

Since it's zoned for the area, Home Depot shouldn't have many construction obstacles. Walt Sullivan, city director of planning and community development, said Home Depot will need a special-use permit, which involves a public hearing, if its loading docks are within 250 feet of a residential area.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) had $81.5 billion in sales in 2005, with 2,042 stores nationwide, according to its Web site. A company representative said it was too early to release project details.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.