UNR South: What’s Disappearing, What’s Being Built

An update on the changes to the southern part of UNR campus as part of the Gateway Precinct.

Bibo Coffee Co. on Record Street has already closed, and students are getting ready to say goodbye to more of their favorite places. Buildings between UNR and interstate 80 such as Jimmy John’s, the Union bar, Sundance Motel, Textbook Brokers, COED Lodge and historic Reno houses on Center and Lake Street will all be gone before next summer.

The southern part of the University of Nevada, Reno campus just past Manzanita Lake is getting a makeover, but with new and exciting advancements come the loss of the businesses and buildings currently residing there.

The eye-catching bright orange Sundance Motel is already permanently closed, with vacant and “No Trespassing” signs on every door inside. (Artwork: Jillian Briare)

The whole area is being replaced as part of UNR’s Gateway Precinct. The school and Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) plan to build a new multi-modal bus station, parking garage, business building and life sciences building in the blocks between Eighth Street, Ninth Street, Lake Street and Virginia. The parking garage is the first structure to be constructed starting early 2021, and will cost $29.5 million. The vice president of administration and finance at UNR explained that as the City of Reno expands north, the university is expanding south to meet in the middle, creating structures and vendors that benefit the student population and the city as a whole.

Young adults share spirits and good times in the remaining weeks that the Union is open. It is the closest bar to UNR campus and has been there for years under various owners, becoming known to current students as “The U” after previous names of “The Corkscroo” and “The Breakaway.” (Artwork: Jillian Briare)

There have been multiple forms of opposition to these new developments. A petition was created by students to save the U, which is set to close Dec. 21. The building that now houses both the bar and Textbook Brokers has been around for many generations of students. Additionally, many people, including a local community historian, have spoken out against the removal of the historic Gateway District houses in the area.

The Gateway Precinct is a multi-million dollar project that is already in the works. One of the historic houses on Eighth Street has already been moved, and three more are set to move in the next month. The remaining eight houses in the Gateway District will be demolished.

House on the corner of Center Street set on planks to be relocated soon. It is one of the 12 houses built between the 1890s and 1970s in the area. (Artwork: Jillian Briare)

The Jimmy John’s at 58 E Ninth St will move across the freeway to a location on Seventh Street, near the Walgreens.

Nearby construction projects have affected other businesses as well. Bibo Coffee Co.’s Record Street location closed Oct. 10 to make way for a new student living complex as a part of Capstone Development, a community building company.

Concept map for the Gateway Precinct of what will be built for students in the next few years. (Photo: UNR)