Council approves two right‑of‑way abandonments for institutional expansions at Our Lady of the Snows and Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony

The Reno City Council on Oct. 8 approved two separate abandonments of city right‑of‑way to support adjacent institutional projects: a narrow strip of Monroe Street at the Our Lady of the Snows campus and a larger segment of Giroux Street adjacent to the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony health center.

Staff recommended both abandonments after reviewing circulation impacts and public amenities; both were approved unanimously. For the Our Lady of the Snows site, the city will receive a public‑use easement preserving pedestrian access; for Giroux Street the city will convey the property to the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony without charge because the parcel will be used for a public purpose under state law.

Jeff Foster, associate planner, told the council the Monroe Street segment (about 239 square feet) had effectively been orphaned by an earlier abandonment of Wright Street and that sidewalks and pedestrian connections would be preserved under a required public‑use easement. Foster noted there were no utilities, bus stops or city owned amenities in the small area and that abandonment would remove city maintenance responsibilities.

For Giroux Street, staff explained the right‑of‑way was dedicated in 1951 and that the Reno‑Sparks Indian Colony is seeking the parcel to expand the tribal health center. Staff recommended conveying the property to the tribe without charge because it will be used for a public purpose; the council approved the request unanimously and accepted staff findings that the public would not be materially injured by either abandonment.

Both abandonments include conditions: a pedestrian easement for the Monroe Street parcel and maintenance responsibility for the tribe on the Giroux parcel. Council expressed support for the projects and for continued coordination with neighbors.