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Reno Redevelopment Agency outlines $7.6 million in near‑term projects, seeks Fourth Street plan and property acquisitions
Summary
The city’s Redevelopment Agency presented an operating plan on May 5 that shows RDA 1 beginning to generate increment after debt obligations, and RDA 2 with more than $6.6 million available for projects. The agency proposed tactical grants, a restoration program, a Fourth Street revitalization plan and targeted property purchases.
The Reno Redevelopment Agency presented its FY26 operating plan to the Reno City Council on May 5 and won council direction to advance the budget. Revitalization Manager Brian McCarter told the council that Redevelopment Area 1 (downtown) and Redevelopment Area 2 (non‑contiguous districts including the Baseball District and parts of Fourth Street) together produce increment that now allows the agency to fund near‑term capital work.
McCarter said RDA 1 is beginning to produce increment above longstanding debt obligations and expects about $4,600,000 of new increment next year; RDA 2 is producing roughly $10,200,000 annually. He outlined proposed FY26 capital and operating uses totaling about $7,600,000 across both districts, including a restore grant program, tactical vandalism‑response grants, public‑art wall funding, downtown banners and a $350,000 starter investment for the historic rail depot to advance reactivation and tenanting. McCarter said the agency would split a proposed $1,000,000 restore program evenly between the two RDAs.
Nut graf: The RDA presentation shifts the agency from planning to execution in the near term, asking council approval to purchase selected city‑owned properties for future redevelopment, to fund area master planning (notably a Fourth Street revitalization), and to buy equipment for event downtown safety and activation.
RDA staff proposed buying several city properties adjacent to the trench and retrack corridor for $4,500,000 to create development sites and pushed for a Fourth Street revitalization plan to guide investments in the 10‑year window remaining for RDA 2. The agency also proposed purchasing modular event barricades to support safer street closures for special events and activation activities.
McCarter noted statutory limits and obligations: an 18 percent allocation to the Washoe County School District applies to RDA 1 increment when funds are available above debt service, and redevelopment law constrains where increment may be used. He said the agency will pursue a five‑year capital improvement plan as part of the FY26 professional services budget and bring more detailed project lists and funding sources to the council over the next year.
Ending: Council approved the RDA budget direction unanimously and asked staff to return with five‑year CIP scenarios and clearer project sequencing so elected officials can weigh tradeoffs, including potential property acquisitions and the timing of the Fourth Street planning work.
