The City of Reno has revealed plans to restore the Lear Theater in 2024. The project, costing $1,000,000, will involve interior inspections, exterior landscape renovations, and security upgrades. The Lear Theater, at 501 Riverside Drive, is a historic building from 1939, listed on various Historic Registers. The City’s Historical Resources Commission (HRC) will assist in the project to preserve the building.
The restoration will include cleaning and inspecting the building’s interior, restoring the historic landscaping, enhancing security, and hiring a consultant to assess the building’s condition and suggest new uses. The City also intends to repair the building’s exterior concrete walks and stairs. The landscaping, concrete work, lighting, electrical upgrades, and fencing are scheduled to begin in spring 2024.
Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve supports the project, noting the Lear Theater’s significance in Reno. The City Council acquired the building from Artown on February 23, 2023, and approved $1M in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Lear’s revitalization.