The city of Reno unanimously approved a plan that the council hopes will increase affordable housing options and economic opportunities within the downtown core.
Reno Public Radio's Noah Glick reports.
The nearly 180-page plan document outlines several short- and long-term implementation strategies for the city. But perhaps more importantly, city council also voted to create a plan for a private-sector led downtown management organization, which would employ downtown ambassadors and case workers to monitor streets and help homeless individuals find services.
Listen to an interview of Noah Glick as he breaks down what the plan means for the city of Reno.
City of Reno Downtown Action Plan by KUNR Reno Public Radio on Scribd
Councilmember Paul McKenzie says while the overall plan is a step forward, the city is not focusing enough on creating more housing and mental health services for those in need.
"How these ambassadors are going to move people who are problematic downtown to a resource that's going to assist them, that isn't addressed in the plan,” he says. “And until that's resolved, I don't think we're going to have any better results in downtown than we're having now."
The plan recommends the city condense two downtown special assessment districts into one, managed by the DMO, while providing 850-thousand dollars to fund for the addition of ambassadors, case workers and DMO staff.
