By Steven Neighbors, Co-Trustee of the Hop & Mae Adams Foundation
For many years, the State of Nevada and Carson City employees, as well as local residents have used our private parking lots with our permission. As the Hop and Mae Adam’s Foundation (HMAF) completes the development of its other properties — including transforming the former Stewart Title Company into the Adams Hub, revitalizing the old Doppleganger’s Bar into the Great Basin Brewery, redeveloping the long-vacant Citibank building into the Adams 308 building, and converting the 12-acre Longview site into Adams Estates — we are now finalizing Adams Northgate, which will serve the Ron Wood Foundation and the Nevada Rural RSVP program.
With these projects either completed or nearing completion, it is time for HMAF to focus on realizing the value of its remaining holdings in the downtown area.
In 2025, HMAF submitted a white paper to Carson City and the State of Nevada, proposing a public-private partnership to support downtown development.
This initiative proposed that HMAF, the city, and the state work together with our respective land holdings to address shared challenges — such as the ongoing use of HMAF’s parking lots by city and state employees — while also meeting the needs of public agencies and creating new opportunities for the entire community.
The foundation’s primary goal was to establish a vibrant, functional community plaza and conference center, funded by future private development on HMAF land surrounding the plaza.
By combining resources and collaborating among the proposed public/private stakeholders, the white paper proposed to provide a comprehensive solution for downtown Carson City, besides resolving parking issues, to develop a vibrant downtown.
This also [proposes] substantial economic benefits that would significantly add to the city’s and the State’s revenue, as well as the local business community at large. The white paper reflects the belief that, by working together, we can address common challenges and demonstrate that HMAF was willing to do far more than its share within the proposed partnership.
[In recent articles submitted by critics of the project,] there is a lot of misinformation being shared. I won’t address those issues. I will say despite substantial misinformation, I have been impressed with many of their efforts of late.
However, while I value everyone’s input and efforts, the reality is that it will be professionals who specialize in the analysis of a specific investment upon which private developers will rely. They will also weigh any investment or project based on their own experience and focus.
To gain those potential investors, I have invested significant time and funds commissioning comprehensive feasibility studies from highly respected professionals in the various industries. These studies form the foundation of my discussions with private developers.
Just like I cannot dictate what house one should build on their private lot, I cannot dictate into what developers will finally invest. I believe HMAF may retain some influence as to the overall look and feel of what private developers propose, which will be based on my own eighteen years here as well as from all the public input and work I have had the privilege to gain.
Any developer will also be constrained by the master plan, and any proposed development will have to go through the city process. However, any project on this property must be financially viable and must demonstrate a reasonable return on investment for those taking on the risk.
Regarding the plaza, there are about four different types to consider. My personal preference is for a multi-use, family-oriented plaza. The local non-profit proposed in the white paper will own and run the plaza, gathering public feedback via charrettes [workshops] and community meetings.
The recently adopted master plan has reduced the maximum allowable building height on our privately owned development land from 96 feet to 48 feet. Exceptions to this limit may be considered only under specific conditions outlined in the plan. HMAF supported this change to reflect the preferences of Carson City residents, whose feedback has been shared directly with me, as well as my own commitment to the community over the past 18 years.
As a result, new buildings will be similar in height to the Adams 308 building, much lower than the Laxalt State Building, about half the height of the Capitol building, and shorter than several other state buildings and the Nugget sign, for example.
For full transparency, I would welcome the possibility of including a fifth-floor restaurant to offer panoramic views of the area, should a private developer be interested in providing such an amenity.
A solely private development will impact the plaza considerably, making it smaller. However, a plaza and a conference center remain HMAF’ priority objective.
HMAF proposed in the white paper that a Nevada non-profit be set up to own the plaza and the garage HMAF proposed to help build.
These items add value to the surrounding private property for developers, and it is that value that will fund the plaza, garage, their maintenance and various entertainment venues.
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[Editor’s note: This piece was edited for clarity, but no new information was added]
