Mixed-use project planned for Riverside at Washington

Construction is scheduled to start this summer on a 37,000-square-foot retail and residential project at Riverside Drive and Washington Street, just west of Reno's downtown.

The project, which fronts the Truckee River, will be developed by Mike Mardian of Reno. It's known as Ponte Vecchio, a name drawn from a bridge in Florence, Italy, that's the oldest arched bridge in Europe.

A 2,600-square-foot bistro with an additional 1,300 square feet of patio seating overlooking the river will anchor the retail development.

The project also will include about 4,000 square feet of additional retail space, with lease rates in the $2.50 to $3 range per square foot, said Brian Egan whose Egan Commercial Real Estate is marketing the property.

He said the commercial space could be divided to be leased to as many as five tenants, although the developer expects two or three retailers will lease the space.

Eleven studio condominiums ranging from about 2,100 to 2,700 square feet will occupy the upper floors of the project. Pricing on the condos hasn't been determined, Egan said.

Two Victorian-era houses currently on the site will be moved and preserved, Mardian said.

Because the site is in the Truckee River district, the new projected will be raised 5 feet to provide flood protection.

Mardian said the design of the project is intended to tie in with nearby Lundsford Park and will include a clock tower and a water feature along with seating.

The architect for the Tuscan-inspired Ponte Vecchio is Carlin Williams.

No general contractor has been named, although Mardian is a contractor. He recently handed the facelift of the La Famiglia restaurant at 1st and Lake streets.