Chamber TREK to Downtown Carson City to see their main street transformation

The community is invited to join the Tahoe Chamber in their visit to Carson City on July 16 from noon to 5:00 p.m. to explore how Carson City leaders and community members successfully transformed and revitalized their downtown main street.

The developing Main Street Management Plan for South Lake Tahoe parallels much of what Carson City did, and those going on the trek will have the chance to learn about the history of Nevada project and how the current business climate of the area has improved since the highway realignment.

The 2005 Downtown Envision Plan was created in response to the Carson City Bypass project which would redirect freeway traffic from Carson City’s downtown district onto I-580. The redevelopment project proceeded through a twelve-year process of converting Downtown Carson City into a more walkable, bikeable, business-friendly area, driving downtown sales up 12 percent in the first year after Carson Street construction was completed.

Two of the project leaders, Shelly Aldean and Lee Plemel will be leading the presentation and tour. Shelly Aldean served as the President of the Carson City Mainstreet organization from 1990 to 1993 and President of the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 1995. She was a member of the Carson City Board of Supervisors from 2003 to 2013 and continues to represent Carson City on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Lee Plemel has worked in the planning and development field in Northern Nevada for 23 years, including the last 18 years with the Carson City Community Development Department. He was the project leader for the city-wide master plan update that was completed in 2006 which resulted in the initial concepts for redeveloping downtown Carson Street.

The TREK will include lunch at The Union in downtown Carson City, a presentation on the history of the Carson City Downtown Redevelopment Project, and a walking tour of the key sections of the downtown district. For transportation, attendees will have the option to board a charter bus at the Tahoe Chamber offices (169 HWY 50, Stateline, NV 89449), or drive separately to Carson City. The TREK fee is $50 for chamber members and $75 for non-members.

The deadline for registration is July 12. Charter bus ride and lunch are included in pricing. To register and reserve your spot, visit www.tahoechamber.org.