Earlier this month, the Reno City Council met to discuss the Reno Station Casino. Originally, the Station Casino's plans to build a gaming facility near the Reno-Sparks Convention Center were approved. However, Monarch Casino and Resort (parent company to the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa) filed an appeal to reconsider these plans. On November 3rd, 2016, the council rejected the appeal and gave the Reno Station Casino the go ahead.
Reno Station Casino Appeal
What was the Monarch Casino's reason for their appeal? They felt the approval of a gaming facility without hotel rooms so close to the convention center went against the City's master plan for the area. Until now, the plan required any new gaming facilities to include a minimum hotel room count. The thought behind this was that it would bring more people (and money) into the City. It would also entice more businesses and organizations to utilize the Reno-Sparks Convention Center since there would be rooms to put them up at nearby.
Back in 2005, Las Vegas-based Station Casino submitted plans for a hotel/casino that included 500 hotel rooms. The City approved the project at that time. However, before ground could be broken, the recession hit. This put Station's plans on hold. They felt the added expense of building hotel rooms wasn't worth it at that time. In the interim, Station Casino obtained a gaming license for the Turf Club in downtown Reno. The Turf Club did not have any hotel rooms at its establishment. Station Casino argued that, since the previous organization didn't have any hotel rooms, they shouldn't have to either.
Outcome of Reno Station Casino Appeal
In a vote of 5-2, the City Council gave the go head for the Reno Station Casino. While initial plans do not include lodging of any kind, the casino has not ruled it out in future plans. They want to see if the business warrants the expense first. Even though they gained approval, Station Casino has not given a definitive timeline on when construction would begin on their Reno facility.
What do you think about a gaming only facility so close to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center? Are you for or against? Why? Please let me know in the comments below.
Charlene Hamilton, Your Reno Real Estate Specialist
Originally posted on my Reno real estate blog here: http://www.relocationtoreno.com/2016/11/14/reno-station-casino-gets-the-go-ahead/.
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