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I love HRPS' logo which features the image of the Virginia Street Bridge. The logo is on my Tour Guide name tag, on our stationery and on the front page of FootPrints. Everyone recognizes that the bridge is one of the oldest and most enduring images of Reno. And now, it is an almost-gone icon.
As most of you know, the City of Reno, in partnership with the Truckee River Flood Management Project and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has implemented a plan to replace the bridge. The website mentions their intention to build a new bridge "while respectfully preserving its distinguished history."
Although we sadly acknowledge that the 1905 bridge will come down, HRPS is participating in aspects of the long process of new bridge selection. There have been two meetings of the Design Review Committee and at the last, nine bridge concepts were presented. Some designs were eliminated because they lacked the ability to accommodate the flow of water and debris during flood periods. A couple of designs were cut because their unique designs would dominate the historic buildings on either side of the river. If you are interested in seeing the designs, visit the official website at www.vsbreno.com.
Our greatest concern is that the bridge choice should be at "grade" (street) level. Several of the suggested bridge designs require a raised roadbed. We feel these designs will affect Virginia Street in many ways that are problematic (examples: reduced access to the Riverwalk and Riverside, possible increased safety issues, aesthetic impairment of streetscape, etc.). Our biggest concern is the impact of the bridge design on the historic River Corridor, with the grand old Riverside the most affected.
We have already sent a letter voicing some of the priorities and issues that are important to us. We want our members to know that we continue to carefully consider appropriate action for our organization. Feel free to contact me if you wish more information or want to personally comment about the bridge.
On a lighter note: look for HRPS to shine more light on a trend in historic preservation: the "recent past" (also known as mid-century modern. For local buildings, think the Pioneer, downtown Library, old AND new Reno City Hall, etc.). Our desire to increase awareness about this overlooked architectural period is one reason we added a prime example of such a house to our Reno Harvest of Homes Tour this year. See 1155 Mark Twain and you will see why these buildings are worth preserving.
The "recent past" movement now has been designated with its own official section, Modernism + Recent Past, within the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Preservationists nationwide have come to the realization that if we do not develop a contextual understanding and appreciation for the design of the 1950s and 1960s, the prime examples of this period could be at serious risk. If you are interested in learning more, the best website I found was www.recentpast.org. See you at the Home Tour!
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