Work on south Carson condos starts next month

Developers will start building 36 condominiums next month on a south Carson City lot that has been vacant for 20 years.

In January 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved work for Eagle Village gated luxury condos, 250 Eagle Station Lane. However, some officials, such as Supervisor Richard Staub, said the property could have been used for a business, which would have brought in more taxes.

"The project's approved, and I'll live with it," Staub said. "But I still have concerns."

The sound from surrounding businesses such as Mervyn's, JC Penney Co. Inc. and Southwest Gas could also be a problem, according to Staub. He said trucks regularly come and go, which could bother residents. For people who live near Wal-Mart, he said, this has been a problem.

"Any time you put residential right on the heels of commercial, or vice versa, you're going to run into what I consider to be friction," he said.

Because of these concerns, property owner Suzi Warren said she will have an 8-foot, $150,000 sound-proof wall built around the condos.

"I have walked through every single negative (city supervisors) have thrown at me to make this community sound-proof and elegant - absolutely elegant - so the city can be proud of it."

Warren said she understood the city's concern and Staub said he respects property rights.

She added she did go to the site and record the sound to show noise won't be a problem.

Whatever the noise will be, people buying the condo will probably be "quite aware" of what it is, said Supervisor Pete Livermore.

Residents, most of whom will be retirees, have wanted something like this in the city for a long time, Warren said. Safe, gated, no stairs, near downtown.

"This, you feel like you're hugged," she said. "How I'm advertising this is like an oasis in the middle of Carson City."

The condos, she added, will help the downtown area "to just really pop."

Work on the units selling for $329,000 to $359,000 is expected to be finished in February. Warren said she already has 10 units reserved, and has spent $2 million getting the property ready for construction.

• Contact Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.