Large retail center planned for Dayton Valley

A Dayton developer said Monday groundwork has begun on a $4 million retail center that will include 15 buildings at Dayton Valley and Old Como roads.

Signs advertising a new retail center at the corner parcel behind Dayton Valley Floral and Nursery, 209 Dayton Valley Road, have been up since last year.

Land owner Mike Walker, who also owns the nursery, said Como Gardens will contain restaurants, title companies, real estate agents, a hair salon and spa and doctors' offices. He declined to give any names until the development's official groundbreaking Thursday. Walker said about 60 percent of the project is secured by tenants who have signed contracts or are in the process.

"The first phase is on 3.6 acres, 31,000 square feet with an estimated cost of construction of $4 million," Walker said. "It's going to be an upscale development with extensive landscaping and water features, such as fountains."

He said the total project is on nine acres and will be done in three phases. Phase one will be open for business by fall. Construction on phases two and three will begin in 2006 and 2007. The buildings will range in size from 10,000 square feet to 1,400 square feet. The estimated cost of the project by buildout is $12 million.

"This will be like a quaint village, like Mayberry (Landing) Village in Reno," Walker said. "We don't need an anchor because these are going to be local stand-alone businesses."

Walker, a 12-year Dayton resident, bought the land about seven years ago.

John Uhart Commercial Real Estate Services of Carson City is handling the leasing. M & K Builders is the contractor. Engineering and architecture is being done by Reno firm Blakely, Johnson & Ghusn Inc. Christopher Bird Construction of Carson City is doing the excavation.

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ed Peck said the development could employ more than 75 people. The Dayton Valley, about 10 miles east of Carson City, has a population of about 15,000 people.

"Any new retail that comes to Dayton is going to benefit the Dayton area," he said. "And new jobs will certainly help the economic growth."

Walker said he decided to develop the retail center on this parcel rather than his 44 acres on Highway 50 because of concerns about traffic on the busy highway. He said county permits for Como Gardens have been obtained.

"Southwest Gas has had to vacate some gas lines and they were wonderful to work with," he said. "And Dayton utilities has been great and SBC had three major telephone lines on the property and they have been wonderful with moving them. Lyon County is going to be re-surfacing and re-paving Dayton Valley Road in September. It's going to make the road bigger."

Lyon County Manager Donna Kristaponis said Como Gardens is a well-designed project for the area.