Local activists who have long tried to save the former CAC shelter area for enhanced Reno social services have been surprised to see its parking lot now being used as parking for a new beer and pizza restaurant called Lake Tahoe AleWorX Reno on 4th street.
"The land Lake Tahoe AleworX Reno is currently using for their parking lot is owned by the City of Reno,” the City wrote to us when we asked.
“This piece of land is currently in the process of being sold to an affordable housing developer. While the transaction of that parcel is in the process of going under contract, the City has made an arrangement with Lake Tahoe AleworX Reno to use the site as a parking lot in exchange that the business maintains the site. Once the land sale is completed, the City will no longer own that parcel and Lake Tahoe AleworX Reno will have to negotiate with the new owners for the future use of that site."
After federal pandemic money was used to quickly open the Nevada Cares Campus, and local homelessness services were moved to the County's authority, the City of Reno left its former Record Street shelter buildings and area go into disrepair due to a lack of security and maintenance. After that, the council said it would be too costly to rehabilitate the compound for social services.
Advocates for the unhoused have long wanted the CAC to be kept under city control as a warming and cooling center with additional services for those struggling in our community.
Its two sections were built in 2005 and 2007 for $20 million with materials estimated to be able to last between 50 to 100 years.