Redevelopment panel OKs funds for Nolan Inn, children’s museum

The Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee on Monday approved $25,000 for work being done at the Nolan Inn on Carson Street.

Jacob Nolan, the property owner, applied for the money through the Facade Improvement Program, which provides a match up to $25,000 for half the cost of projects to rehab building facades in Carson City’s redevelopment areas.

The building at 801. N. Carson St. is the former Back On Track, which was inspected in 2017 as part of the city’s push to oversee extended stay motels.

The motel was purchased earlier this year by Nolan and his father Gary, who have been working with the city to bring it into compliance. One of the conditions of the RACC approval for facade improvement funds states the applicant won’t receive the money until all corrections are made based on its most recent inspection in March.

The owners plan to redo the facade on the building fronts facing Carson and Washington streets and to repaint the entire building exterior.

The Nolans are painting contractors and will do the painting themselves and have contracted for the facade work with Nevada Western Construction, which submitted a bid of $32,000. The entire project estimate is $72,400.

There was some discussion by the committee whether to provide a match for the facade portion done by Nevada Western, which would be $16,000, rather than for the entire project, which is partially being done by the owner.

Ronni Hannaman, RACC vice chair, said the program had already set a precedent in awarding money to owner-contractors so the committee put it on it next agenda to discuss possibly redoing the policy to address it.

RACC also voted to approve $43,200 for the The Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada project to redo the front of the building.

The project originally called for a gate, fencing, and playground area, but the museum was informed by the State Historic Preservation Office it couldn’t add the fencing and gate so the plans have changed and will add picnic tables and landscaping but no longer include a playground.

The committee also voted to recommend to the Redevelopment Authority $1,443,237 in spending for fiscal year 2020, which includes $30,000 for EPIC Rides mountain bike event, $200,000 for downtown street improvements, $137,794 for Bob Boldrick Theater upgrades, and $190,000 for 3rd Street parking lot rehabilitation.

The Michael Hohl Inc., auto dealer incentive, which was paid for with redevelopment funds, is winding down so redevelopment will have more money to spend going forward.

As a result, RACC also voted to direct staff to develop an application for funds city departments could apply for capital improvement and public infrastructure projects.