Does Downtown Carson City have a parking problem or an attraction problem?

There is a lot of energy in the downtown corridor of Carson City. Great restaurants, shopping, and character. A number of decisions, coming soon, will have an impact on the desirability of Carson City’s downtown, the city as a visitor and business relocation destination, and ultimately property values. A large faction of citizens, seem to think parking is the issue with the vitality of our downtown. Over the course of this article I’d like to uncover whether that’s really the issue or not, and bring up some important points.

The decision makers of this town are in between a rock and a hard place. If they get up and say that there’s not enough quality businesses to attract more people downtown they’re going to lose the support of the downtown business associations. If they spend taxpayer money to make any improvements in Carson City happen, then they upset another demographic that believe government should not be making these types of investments. Frankly, Carson City has not had a great history of leaving these big issue items up to the citizens, as many are under informed. Most just see a tax hike and nothing else. This time though, as a community, we are having these conversations in such a civic manner and the city leaders are open to changing ideas. This is the most wonderful thing of all. There was a time in Carson City when this kind of talk would’ve been shut down immediately. Everyone in the community benefits when creative forces and decision makers sit down at the same table with open minds.

The need to revitalize the downtown area, both on the west and east sides of Carson Street, is agreeable. Not long ago the Carson Nugget proposed building a Carson City library that would include many other things as well, like a plaza, public computer center, and a parking garage. That issue was voted down, but the idea behind building a place where people come and spend their time is the crux of what we’re all talking about. At some point Carson City government and citizens are going to both be players in the revitalization of downtown. Something IS going to happen! Will that improve home values in Carson City as a whole? Will Carson City become a more desirable destination? Will homes on the west side, close to downtown, go up in value or down? How much will traffic increase or decrease? Or will it be redistributed, and how will it affect homes and business in new traffic areas? Will delivery trucks still be able to get to the businesses easily? And will they block traffic? The best way to drive people away from the downtown area and to ensure it slow death is to make the traffic unbearable. Will that happen if the streets are narrowed? Won’t that happen anyway as activity increases even if streets stay the same? Is the freeway going take travelers off the road that come through Carson Street? We won’t know until we take action.

I own a home on Curry Street in the downtown area, and I work at a downtown office building across from the Capitol. I spend the majority of my time in downtown Carson City. I attend all the major events that happen in the downtown area, as well as, the farmers market on the weekends and do business daily throughout the historic downtown area from Williams to Ninth Street. Parking has never, ever been an issue for me! I think of all the affordable food options on Carson and Curry streets, they are diverse, plentiful, and utilized. So how do you get more diners shopping before after their meal? Keep them there. Give them a reason to come down early and stay late.

Revitalization starts with bringing attractions to the downtown area. When shopping centers are built there’s always an anchor store that is it the centerpiece. It helps all the other shops around it become successful. The anchor store increases foot traffic to the center and in turn increases the exposure to the other businesses around it, as does the event. This is the premise that we must stay in line with when trying to decide how to make the downtown area better.

Carson City has so many unique offerings to a homeowner and their family. The downtown corridor is our jewel. Whatever the fate of downtown, Carson City is having a renaissance, home values are increasing, and now is a great time to become part of the Carson City community.