RENO, Nev. (COLO) – The Reno City Council will have to make difficult decisions about balancing commercial growth with preserving Northern Nevada's rich past.
At the center of the issue is a historic 114-year-old church building downtown.
It housed Nevada's first black congregation and provided a place for Sammy Davis Jr. to sleep after performances in the 1960s. At the time, the casino wouldn't give him a room.
Bethel AME of Sparks owns this downtown building at 220 Bell Street.
The Rev. Dr. Deborah Whitlock Lacks, speaking for the congregation, said she was concerned about the proposal from Jacobs Entertainment.
A City of Reno sign on Bell Street near the church reads in part: “A total of 30,600 square feet of public rights-of-way have been relinquished.”
“We're going to eliminate about 21 parking spaces,” Whitlock-Lax said.
Neighbors also have concerns.
“I think they're already pushing too hard on what they're taking away, what they're destroying,” Joseph North said. He says he lives near Bell Street.
Apostolic Assemblies Church and its 60 members lease church buildings from Bethel AME.
“It's already difficult for them to find a parking space,” Whitlock-Lax said.
If the north portion of Bell Street were abandoned by the city of Reno and Jacob's Entertainment took control of Bell Street in front of the property, Whitlock Lacks said that would only leave about 16 parking spaces for worshipers. It says that it will be. She says this will have a negative impact on the church she represents.
She says she eventually wants to turn the church into a black museum.
“I'm all for progress, but not at the expense of our tenants. It's not at the expense of Bethel AME Church, and it's certainly not at the expense of our community,” Whitlock-Lacks said. Told.
KOLO 8 anchor and reporter Noah Bond contacted the city of Reno and Jacobs Entertainment around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, but had not heard back from either as of the time this report was posted online. There wasn't.
The Reno City Council is seeking public comment on whether to declare Bell Street abandoned.
You can share your thoughts on Wednesday, February 28th at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1 East First Street, Reno.
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