June 27, 2019 (South Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev.) –The Tahoe Chamber invites the community to attend a Chamber TREK to Downtown Carson City on July 16th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The TREK will explore how Carson City leaders and community members successfully transformed and revitalized their downtown main street. Attendees will have the chance to learn about the history of the project and how the current business climate of the area has improved since the highway realignment. The Carson City project shows strong parallels to what is currently underway on the South Shore. The developing Main Street Management Plan as a part of the US Highway 50 Community Revitalization Project (aka The Loop Road) hopes to use examples of best practices from similar projects like what was accomplished in Carson City.
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% in the first year after Carson Street construction was completed.
The presentation and tour will be led by two of the project leaders, Shelly Aldean and Lee Plemel. 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 8th. Charter bus ride and lunch are included in pricing. To register and reserve your spot, visit www.tahoechamber.org.
###
The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce (Tahoe Chamber) is dedicated to developing, promoting and representing the South Shore business community on both sides of the state line as the local chamber of commerce. The Tahoe Chamber provides resources, programs, services and opportunities to members with the goal to sustain a high quality of life for the community by achieving economic vitality. For more information about the Tahoe Chamber, visit
www.tahoechamber.org.