We’ve been working endlessly and tirelessy for the past 6 months on getting Holland up and running, in its own home, as soon as possible. We thought it was time for an update for you all.
The City Council voted to try to allocate funding for fixing the sprinkler system at the current Holland location housed at 265 Keystone Avenue–the fix is quoted at roughly $40,000, the City trying to take on $35,000. In getting the sprinklers, we’d also need a heating system to protect the pipes. the building currently has no heat, and no way of holding heat without a major construction effort. Additionally, Holland would need to further update the building to meet strict fire and building codes, in addition to securing the building. A lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of money for maybe another 2-3 years. And then there’s the noise issue–something that’s no further along now as it was in May, and something that looks to be unfixable from everything the Reno PD and various attorneys tell us. We can’t be Holland if we can’t have music, and so it seems we’ll have to close the door on the Keystone location for good (unless we can get an army of people to help donate heating, drywall, contractor services, etc…and someone to figure out the noise issue once and for all).
The other option presented to us by the City and the County was a temporary location on Edison and Mill, but was denied today by the Flood Project Coordinating Committee in a decision lead by Jessica Sferrazza and Robert Larkin who deemed both Holland and the Children’s Cabinet (who hoped to house its Drop-In Teen Center–which had been phased out some time ago–next to Holland) as not fitting “the highest economic purpose” for the location.
We’re plunging ahead on other potential spaces and would love any suggestions/ideas any of you have. We refuse to accept that Reno’s not ready for this kind of project and we’ll continue to work hard until we can say we’ve found a place.
Thanks of course for all your patience and love.
Holland
Anonymous
Oct 9, 2007 -
“The City Downtown Master Plan already had a new fire station plan for over by Keystone in the large parcel West of Keystone and 2nd Street they acquired from the Retrac Project.”
Not sure if you knew about this, but it looks like the fire station and the police station will be moved to the Holland site within the next two years.
Bummer about the noise for the neighbors… I mean, fire trucks and police cars and all.
holland
Oct 10, 2007 -
yes, we do know about this…we always knew this particular location was temporary, hence our hesitation to put a lot of funds into it. last we heard, action on the space was still about 3 years away, so we were hoping to use it during that time. again though, in order to use it, we’d have to fix it. and amount to fix it for 3 years (or less) of use, is really too high. gah!
eelke
Oct 12, 2007 -
I can suggest three “brick” buildings all downtown and close to the railway:
1) “the mission” on the intersection of west street and the railway. It used to be a homeless shelter which I think the city owns. Its closed down and there are no direct neighbours.
2) “the freighthouse” on the intersection of evans and the railway. Looks like a nice building. is closed down as I can see and had a gallery in it so it might be fire regulations compliant, or not but it’s not a problem since its next to the fire station. I don’t know if the city owns this.
3) a big white building on sierra & again close to the tracks and next to the vino’s. Don’t know who owns that but i can imagine it has a nice soundproof basement.