Whistle Stop Inn on N. Carson could become FISH transitional housing to help WNC students

The Whistle Stop Inn on North Carson Street is the center point in a topic of discussion regarding transitional housing in Carson City. Friends in Service Helping, also known as FISH, along with a new program designed to lend a helping hand to qualifying individuals who want to better their lives, are now considering refurbishing the entire property.

Carson City’s FISH has been looking at the property as a potential site for transitional housing since the motel owner landed in hot water after refusing to bring the extended-stay motel into code compliance in a fight that has continued over three years. The owner was initially cited in 2016 for failing to bring the Whistle Stop Inn up to code, which resulted in a two citations.

The Whistle Stop owner also owned the Back on Track Inn until February of 2019, at which point it was sold to father-and-son Gary and Jacob Nolan, who transformed it into the Nolan Inn.

Similarly to the Whistle Stop Inn, Back on Track was repeatedly inspected but the owner never brought the property into full compliance, which then went to court. The owner then sold the property for $1 million to 801 N. Carson LLC, who in turn sold it to the Nolans.

FISH is now looking at the site to become the first FISH-operated transitional housing complex, geared toward providing low-cost housing to participants in the new ROADS program.

"Envision single mothers who are working one or two low-paying jobs to pay for daycare and some of their family’s essentials, barely keeping their heads above water," said Jim Peckham, Executive Director for FISH. "Think about the impact (it would make) if we could provide for several of those families at a time, allowing the parent to attend college with no upfront cost, earning a certificate in Medical or Information Technology; Construction or Manufacturing Management, with employers willing to hire them at $18-24/hr."

ROADS, or Realizing Opportunities for the American Dream to Succeed, is a multi-entity collaboration to help those in our community who need a hand up.

FISH, Western Nevada College, Capital City C.I.R.C.L.E.S. Initiative, and the Northern Nevada Development Authority and others have teamed up to provide an opportunity for economic stability to qualified individuals through four certification programs at WNC. The certificate programs are in construction, healthcare, information technology, or manufacturing.

"Once employed they would gradually pay back 60 percent of their 'interest free' education costs and do volunteer work to 'pay forward; the remaining 40 percent," said Peckham. "A local foundation has agreed to fund the initial cost of the education, and local businesses who are likely to hire graduates are being asked to help with the educational costs of their new hires and provide for tuition reimbursement for additional education. We will be helping our clients move from menial jobs to meaningful careers."

Individuals must have a high school diploma and work a minimum wage job to qualify, according to ROADS, and will then be able to secure low-cost housing at the Whistle Stop site.

"The biggest issues in our region have to do with housing and with our business environment," said Peckham. "The recent economic downturn stifled construction in our region and brought with it the nation’s highest mortgage foreclosure rates and unemployment. Now that the economy has improved, our recently unemployed, who are just happy to have a job, are underemployed, and are accepting the “low hanging fruit” of minimum wage jobs."

Peckham said that, in addition, the demand for housing is high, and supply is low, which is driving up rental rates by 50-80 percent.

"Ironically, our business environment is booming, but they can’t find locals with the right skills, and employees recruited from outside the region can’t find housing," said Peckham. "As a result, multiple local organizations have become motivated to implement a fix to these problems."

Plans to upgrade the site include 24 two-bedroom units, 12 one-bedroom units, and commercial space.

"The properties FISH is looking at will be developed to provide 'family dormitories' so those attending WNC as a part of R.O.A.D.S. will have a place to live, if needed," said Peckham. "They will need to pass college level assessments in Math and English. When the applicants are ready to start their WNC training, our goal is to 'adopt' the family, taking most of all obligations and road blocks out of their way so they can focus on their education. This support will carry over until the student is established in their new job."

At this point, however, the plans hinge on whether upgrades to the site are economically feasible for FISH, and whether or not the city will grant FISH a Special Use Permit for the project.

The plans are scheduled to be discussed at the Planning Commission’s January meeting.