SPARKS - Donning construction hats and armed with sledgehammers, Sparks city leaders took the first swing at a building on Victorian Avenue Monday. Minutes later, 1212 Victorian Ave. was torn to the ground by the teeth of an excavator under the eye of Empire Contractors.


The building was purchased by the city through eminent domain proceedings in 2008, clearing out tenants in an upstairs apartment building as well as Patty and Irene’s Irish pub and a convenience store downstairs. An old oven fell from the upstairs floor Monday as contractors ripped away at the building’s brick walls.


The property was needed by the city in order to make way for a new road, connecting Avenue of the Oaks on the north with Victorian Avenue on the south, according to city spokesman Adam Mayberry.


If everything proceeds as planned, the city will release bid documents for potential road contractors by about Dec. 13. Bidding on the estimated $2.18 million project should open in January. Construction would then start after the City Council approves a company to construct the road in the spring. City planners said they hope the road will be finished by July 2010.
City leaders and a handful of neighborhood spectators gathered in the snow to watch the mayor of Sparks take a whack at the building and watch the contractors finish the demolition job.


“This is going to be used for the main attraction,” Mayor Geno Martini said of the property after chipping a corner of brick off the building with his sledgehammer.


City officials have been eyeing improvements to Victorian Square for many years, envisioning a retail and civic center that is the heart of the city.


“Hopefully this will go toward revitalizing the downtown area,” said Sparks Ward 1 Councilwoman Julia Ratti.  “We have buildings closing here, not opening.”
Ratti’s ward covers the downtown Victorian Square area.


According to documented plans from the Sparks redevelopment agency, future plans for Victorian Square include a mix of retail and office space surrounding a central plaza.  According to redevelopment agency maps, the plaza will stretch out from the Century 14 movie theater, extending an open space with fountains, plants and grass to Victorian Square on the south.  This plaza will be sandwiched by retail and office space on its east and west sides.  The roads would run in front of the retail and office buildings.  1212 Victorian Avenue sat directly where the eastern line if retail is expected to go.


However, before these city maps can move closer to reality, Sparks must find a developer willing to invest in the project.  Its last potential developer backed out in 2007.


According to both Martini and Ratti, no contracts have been signed.  However, sources from John Ascuaga’s Nugget confirmed that they have been working closely with the city on redevelopment plans.


“Nobody’s signed anything yet,” Martini said.


The former tenants of 1212 Victorian Ave. have all been relocated with more than $150,000 of city money, including those who made their home on the top floor.