Station 9 Nevada is facing the loss of their storied location, the historic building at 599 Nugget Ave. in Sparks just south of I-80.
It seems the building will be taken over for storage of shipping containers, and then possibly demolished for parking, despite community efforts to keep the space going as a cultural gathering place.
“We are Station 9, a community center here in Reno/Sparks that strive for the betterment of our community, offering a safe space for all individuals to come and express themselves through their art,” they wrote to us this week, while sharing photos of some of the great events which have recently taken place there.
“We are based out of one of the most historical buildings in the Reno/Sparks area and are being threatened to leave our space nearing the end of this month by the railroad. We are looking to reach as many people in hopes to share our story and save our community we have built.”
A new TV series called “Shadow Unit” has also been filming in the building, with the film crew hoping their own work could build up more awareness and support to save the building.
“We here at Station 9 have used this building to build community amongst local young musicians and artists. This building is perfect for art and music, and can function as a premier venue for Sparks area,” Station Nine wrote Our Town Reno.
The former Machine Shop built about 120 years ago with three million bricks was once used to repair trains and is key to Sparks history, as its most significant railroad building. Many Sparks residents made their livelihood working there.
“This is history. This is living and breathing history. The City of Sparks was founded on the railroad,” Sparks City Councilman, Donald Abbott said about the building.
Previously owned by Southern Pacific and then Union Pacific, the building was then sold to Robert Hardy, with U.P keeping the land.
Union Pacific has indicated Hart broke his lease on the land by subletting the building. The company has also indicated they need more space in Sparks to operate.
“Our growing operations require additional space in Sparks to help meet local and regional economic demand,” a U.P. spokesman indicated.
U.P. has given Hart until May 31, 2024 to get everything out of the building. Besides Station 9, elected officials including Mayor Ed Lawson, historians, activists and officials from the nearby Sparks Heritage Museum had also been trying to save the building. There was even a city resolution to save the old building from demolition as appears will happen now.
An employee with the museum told Our Town Reno that their efforts had been rejected, even though there had been an initiative to take statements in favor of the building continuing as a community space.