
Architect Jack Hawkins first arrived in Reno, Nevada, more than 30 years ago. Despite the city’s seedy reputation at the time, Hawkins was drawn to its relatively low cost of living and myriad outdoor opportunities, given the proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Hawkins set up his firm, Hawkins & Associates in the Midtown District, a short jaunt—but a world away—from downtown Reno’s urbanist fever dream of Modernist kitsch, faded Old West grandeur, surface parking lots, and superblock casinos.
The Midtown District is home to an eclectic, diverse group of retailers and restaurants. Virginia Street serves as the main commercial artery, flanked by residential neighborhoods of humble but handsome bungalows. The commercial corridor was nearly abandoned and the residential neighborhoods were struggling when Hawkins arrived, but now, the area is a healthy commercial and residential destination. It benefited from a re-envisioning of Virginia Street to make it more pedestrian-friendly and accessible. At the same time, it became a more appealing prospect for buyers and renters after the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis drove up housing prices elsewhere.
“Reno has experienced exponential growth after the crash,” says Hawkins. “The shattering of the Bay Area’s housing prices has been driving people to places like Boise and Reno, and that hasn’t stopped.”
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