Infill centers sprout out on scarce properties

Reno retail developers plan infill centers on increasingly scarce vacant lots in the central city. And some of those properties borrow their allure from nearby mega-developments.

Renown Health's expansion drew notice from Norm Prupas, who plans 10,000-square-foot Giroux Street Plaza on a three-quarter acre lot east of the hospital at Giroux and Second streets.

Still in the permitting stage, the project is designed by Wisconsin architect Robert L. Hoffmann. Q&D Construction is the builder.

The site, says Prupas, offers good exposure to nearby Renown Health and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony health center. And the 164 townhouses planned across the street for sale to Renown employees are a plus.

Prupas also developed Market Street Center, across from Vassar Street post office, which raised walls of glass to overlook Highway 395 and houses Reno Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki of Reno and Premiere Truck and Marine.

Meanwhile, an infill site at Mill Street and Wells Avenue looked desirable due to scarcity of commercial land in Reno, says Chris White, co-owner of the property and vice president of commercial sales at Killian Company.

He plans a mixed-use project on a 15,000-square-foot lot at the southwest corner of the intersection. The two-story building will set five living units above about 5,000 square feet of street-level retail.

He points to traffic counts of 20,000 cars a day, carrying people who exit Interstate 80 at Wells to reach their jobs downtown. "It's a locals route," he says.

And, says Michael Killian, who shares the property listing, the opening of King Ranch, a Hispanic grocery store, boosted consumer traffic on Wells Street.

Wells is a target area for Reno redevelopment efforts. Because the city wants Wells to be pedestrian friendly, says White, the project will front Wells rather than Mill.

And, adds Killian, because the property is in a mixed-use zone, drive-through business is prohibited. So interest from a coffee kiosk was turned away. However, "We have a letter of intent from Subway," says White.

Design is by Aloiau Architecture of Reno. But the project timeline depends on leasing, says Killian.

A pioneering infill project was Virginia Street Plaza, a retail center set at 555 S. Virginia St., a block south of California Ave-nue. Quizno's Subs, Kokopelli's Restaurant and Beyond Juice are in place and four spaces ranging from 1,000 to 2,400 square feet remain available, says Jessica Martin, client services specialist at CB Richard Ellis. Leasing agents are Gina Albanese and Chris Waizmann.