Judge Won’t Bar Demolition of Reno Hotel

The city of Reno won another legal battle Tuesday in its effort to demolish the historic Mapes Hotel and a demolition boss said he intends to sell souvenir bricks for $1 each after the implosion Jan. 30.

Washoe District Judge James Hardesty refused a request by preservationists to issue another temporary restraining order blocking demolition work on the 52-year-old hotel-casino.

The judge rejected their claims that the demolition contract should be voided because the city failed to advertise for bids.

He said the city “seems intent to demolish this building” and that revisiting the bidding process would only cost taxpayers more money.

Preservationists are unlikely to appeal his decision to the Nevada Supreme Court, as they did with an earlier ruling against their claims that violation of open meetings laws should have voided the demolition plans, said Jeff Dickerson, a lawyer for the Truckee Meadows Heritage Trust.

But he said they continue to hold out hope that a separate lawsuit in federal court will save the Mapes, a 12-story brick building that was the first built to house a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof.

That suit is scheduled to be heard in U.S. District Court in Reno on Jan. 21. Dickerson said he was optimistic that the Mapes still could be salvageable by Jan. 21 despite additional demolition work planned between now and then.