Nevada council approves second reading to rezone former hospital for proposed 60-unit apartments amid neighborhood opposition

The Nevada City Council voted to approve the second reading of Ordinance 10-64 on April 20 to rezone the former hospital property at 630 Sixth Street from R-3 to R-4, advancing a proposal to convert the building into roughly 60 apartment units.

The rezoning drew a lengthy public hearing that featured residents who opposed the plan because of parking, density and neighborhood impacts and others who urged the city to allow adaptive reuse of the vacant property. After public comment, a council member moved and a second was made for the second reading; the motion passed.

Why it matters: The property has been vacant for years and residents said it poses a public-safety and blight risk if left unused; developers and some community members said the conversion would preserve the historic structure and add housing. The council’s action advances the project through the ordinance-reading process; several residents urged the council to slow down or require more conditions if the rezoning proceeds.

Council and staff said the city and project team have been pursuing state and federal funding to support the redevelopment. At the meeting a local financier and speakers described the total public awards for the…