Introduction Historic buildings in Reno must often be adapted to new uses as time goes on, for many different reasons. Often, our old buildings become too small to serve the growing population and run out of room to continue accommodating a particular use. Sometimes, the original use becomes irrelevant in modern times. In either case, the historic building must respond to the changing needs of the Biggest Little City in order to remain useful to residents and ensure its continued presence in the city. To preserve a historic building that has outlived its original intended use, the Secretary of ..read more

Did you know that Reno is home to just two National Historic Districts? One district encompasses the oldest buildings on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. The other is the Newlands Historic District, encompassing much of what is often referred to as “Old Southwest” Reno. The Newlands District has from its beginnings been one of the most beautiful and desirable neighborhoods in Reno. In the early twentieth century, Reno’s most wealthy and powerful citizens built large homes in the area, following Francis G. Newlands who was the first to build his home on the bluff overlooking the Truckee R ..read more

For the past several decades, urban and community forests in Nevada have experienced a steady decline in number of trees and overall canopy cover. The west was in a severe drought from 2013 – 2017, and many community trees in Nevada died from lack of adequate water. Communities have not fully mitigated these effects. Some communities are just beginning to replace dead trees. In general, Nevada has experienced a trend of declining tree cover in the urban environment. Using trees as a tool for heat mitigation and quality of life improvement can address many social and environmental issues if imp ..read more

The first step to listing your home on the City of Reno Register of Historic Places is to tell your home’s story. Who has lived in the home? When was it built (tip: this is not always when it seems)? What is special about it? Even if you know nothing about your home’s history today, it is easy and fun to investigate these questions, whether to satisfy your own curiosity or to pursue listing on a historic register. Read on to learn about the many free resources available to you to research the history of your home in Reno. There are many approaches to beginning your research. Start with thinkin ..read more

Written by Ward 5 Reno City Councilmember, Kathleen Taylor  When I lived in the quiet, isolated comfort of my home in Caughlin Ranch, homelessness was a topic of debate and spirited discussion centered around social consciousness. I naively thought I knew what needed to be done to solve “the problem.” I was clueless. Living in downtown Reno has opened my eyes, and my heart, to a challenge I cannot fix alone. Some of my new neighbors slept in our parks, streets, and sidewalks. They searched through garbage cans and panhandled. They shouted at no one and carried their belongings in a shoppi ..read more

Artist, Rossitza Todorova, standing in front of Navigating by the Stars, Acrylic on linen, 2023, 30” x 40”. If you’ve been around the Reno art scene, you undoubtedly know Rossitza Todorova. As a long-time Reno resident, professor at TMCC, and outgoing local artist, she seems to know everyone. Todorova has served as Reno City Artist for 2022-2023. The City Artist program was started in 2019 by the Reno Arts & Culture Commission and Public Art Committee as an initiative to support our local visual artists and elevate their work. The mission of this program is to promote visual artists livi ..read more

Heat Pump Pilot Project Assists Reno Residents  What is a heat pump? It sounds like it…pumps heat? Sort of. Heat pumps are an efficient option over furnaces and even air conditioners. Heat pumps transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space – they transfer heat rather than generate it (like a furnace) and keep your home’s temperature comfortable year round. Today’s heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by approximately 50% compared to electric resistance heating such as furnaces and baseboard heaters (energy.nv.gov). Heat pumps are becoming more popular as more ..read more

In recent years, the fashion industry has experienced a significant shift towards fast fashion, characterized by cheap, trendy clothing produced at an alarming rate. Fast fashion has revolutionized the way we consume clothing, offering affordable and constantly changing trends. Some brands quickly produce and distribute new designs, tempting consumers with low prices and a wide variety of options. However, this rapid turnover comes at a steep cost to the environment and the workers in the supply chain. One of the critical issues associated with fast fashion is overproduction. To meet the dema ..read more

Every year on April 22, people around the world celebrate Earth Day as a way to bring awareness to environmental issues and emphasize the importance of protecting the environment. US Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day in spring 1970 to draw attention to the need for legal and regulatory mechanisms to protect the planet. Subsequently, Congress authorized the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December of that year. The City of Reno is committed to create a more sustainable and resilient community. The City’s Sustainability & Climate Action Plan has set numerou ..read more

The City of Reno | Storing Renewable Energy with Advanced Battery Solutions Under the City of Reno Sustainability & Climate Action Plan, Priority 2.3, the City seeks to increase renewable energy generation and encourage storage. What better way than to lead by example. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) chose the City of Reno to collaborate on a research project to create innovative applications for solar energy and other distributed energy resources in unique contexts and locations. The City of Reno team comprised the City Sustainability ..read more