Reno council asks Historic Resources Commission to vet Lear Theater options and backs a public summit

Reno City Council on Sept. 24 asked staff to schedule formal public discussion of the future of the Lear Theater at the Historic Resources Commission and directed preparations for a broader public summit that community members and advocates will help convene.

The Lear Theatre, an architecturally significant 1930s-era building in downtown Reno, has generated renewed attention after a private proposal to lease or redevelop the site drew questions about transparency and long-term stewardship. At the council meeting, multiple community speakers and preservation advocates urged a transparent, inclusive public process rather than a rushed transaction.

Historian and preservation consultant Dr. Alicia Barber and others told the council the city needs a clear, staged process before soliciting proposals or issuing requests for qualifications. “An RFP or RFQ needs basic parameters that I don’t think we can establish at this meeting,” Barber said, recommending the council first identify which of the historic-structure-reports’ preservation options they prefer and then invite an organized, well-publicized community process.

Mayor Hillary Schieve proposed a near-term path forward: ask the Historic Resources Commission to hold a public discussion on the Lear and convene a public “Lear Summit” to gather stakeholders, preservation experts and community members and to help develop funding and reuse options. The motion — which Councilmember Reese seconded — passed unanimously.

At the meeting, community members offered to help organize and staff the summit. Advocate Gina Hassler, who earlier submitted a proposal to the city about the Lear, said she had private donors willing to commit seed money to improve the building’s exterior grounds and help stabilize the site. Dr. Barber offered to engage University of Nevada, Reno students in a public-process classroom exercise to help research stewardship and reuse models.

Council members emphasized urgency: the building has deferred maintenance and exposed roof areas that raise immediate concerns. Several council members supported a fast, but careful, approach that balances preservation, public input and practical steps to stabilize the property and prevent further deterioration.

What the council directed: (1) have staff place the Lear Theater item on the Historic Resources Commission agenda to solicit initial advice and public views; (2) organize a municipally facilitated public summit — to be developed with community partners including preservation professionals and volunteers — to outline preferred preservation options and fundraising pathways; (3) evaluate short-term measures to stabilize the building and its grounds.

Ending: The council’s action signals a pivot to a more public, structured process to decide the Lear’s future, asking preservation commissioners and community volunteers to help shape the options. Council members said they wanted any ultimate stewardship solution to preserve the building’s historic character while creating viable, long-term uses that serve the community.