Demolition of Carson City's Whistle Stop Inn planned for April to build FISH's transitional, student housing
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Tue, 12/14/2021 - 3:03pm
Next month, Friends in Service Helping, also known as FISH, will present the Carson City Planning Commission an update to its Special Use Permit regarding plans to build apartments on the Whistle Stop Inn site.
The FISH Revitalization Project seeks to target individuals within our community who are already employed, but lack the life skills, education, housing, or financial wherewithal to move out from poverty and out of low-paying jobs. The project is to further their mission of helping those in need with school, affordable housing, and being productive members of the community.
FISH partners with WNC to offer free placement in a number of needed technical careers, as well as other partnerships with local community members who have helped develop the program.
The next plan for the project includes demolishing and building dormitories at the location that currently houses the Whistle Stop Inn, which FISH purchased in 2019.
Originally FISH also hoped to purchase the property where Donuts to Go is located and incorporate it into their commercial building, but that is no longer part of the current plan.
Individuals who join the program will live in the dorms for free while they complete their school program, while other students not in the program can rent in the dormitories separately. Both studios as well as apartments with multiple rooms for families will be available.
“We will provide education and services to all family members housed there, so we can make the most impact on generational poverty,” said a FISH spokesperson regarding the Revitalization Project. “With this new transitional program, we will move low income earners from menial jobs to meaningful careers. We will continue to help to stabilize our clients and provide them with nutritious meals from our dining room and boxes of food from our food banks.”
The first apartment tower has plans to be completed in January 2023 and the second tower in either February or March of 2023. The commercial building should be completed by May 2023.
The demolition is planned for April, and utility improvements will begin on Park Street adjacent to the property.
FISH will return before the Planning Commission next month regarding their needed updates to the Special Use Permit since acquiring more land than the previous permit was granted for.
