Reno City Council refuses to reconsider demolition of Mapes Hotel

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 11:27 a.m.

Despite pleas from local preservationists to let a San Francisco developer make a new proposal, council members said Tuesday the city already has awarded a demolition contract for the 52-year-old landmark hotel and would not revisit the matter.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation says the Mapes is one of the most endangered historic buildings in the country. Built in 1947, it was the first place to house a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

After listening to a three-minute speech Tuesday by Nationwide Capital Services president Karl Diaz-Hoffmann, the council said it had no interest in letting the developer make a more detailed proposal or discussing it at another meeting.

"At this point, I'm not willing to open the whole thing up again," Councilman Bill Newberg said.

Even Councilman Dave Aiazzi, who opposed demolition when the council voted for it Sept. 13, said he didn't want to hear the new proposal. He said it would obligate the city to accept proposals from any of the developers who first submitted plans to save the Mapes.

That brought an instant reaction from foes of the demolition plan and at least two veiled threats of lawsuit.

"I'm going to give this entire matter to my attorney for review," Diaz-Hoffmann said. "We have done our best to work with the community.

He said his company is willing to buy the Mapes, pay off the city's $2.5 million debt to the former submit plans in four months and begin construction in nine.

The council first rejected Nationwide's proposal to convert the Mapes into a $22 million old-age home last month, along with two other proposals for saving the building.

"The facts are just not getting out," said Jon Dewey, a member of the Truckee Meadows Heritage Trust. "A lot of information never got to the council."

He said Nationwide's proposal would take less time and put more money into city coffers than the plan to implode the building and sell the property.

Vacant since 1982, the Mapes site is a cornerstone in the city's riverfront redevelopment project, which will include art galleries, restaurants and a multi-screen movie theater. An implosion is scheduled for February.