Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

Filed under: Uncategorized | 16 Comments »

Though it’s been silent, The Union newspaper is mentioned by name in the 24-page document proposing a 200-250 room hotel, championship golf course, restaurant, retail shops, as well as a 4,000-5,000 seat amphitheater — all in western Nevada County.

“We believe that with the widespread support from the Board of Supervisors, Both City Councils and Chambers, Both City Managers, the Business Community, the Union Newspaper, the Wine Vintners, Shop and Restaurant Owners, the Theatrical and Arts Community, the Building Contractors, Real Estate and Engineers Associations, Non-Profit Organizations and the General Public as a whole that all or any portion of our Plan For Nevada County can come to fruition over the next two, but not more than the next 5-10 years,” according to the proposal — now being circulated among many of these people, as I reported previously.

Though preliminary, the proposal is being met with mixed reviews as it gets passed around the community. Some worry that it will divide — not unite — various tourism-related groups and businesses, because of its bold nature. Still, it is being taken seriously by some because of job growth.

Grass Valley City Council Member Dan Miller is a longtime friend of Keith Davies and Robin Galvan-Davies of Sierra Nevada Destination Services, who are presenting the plan.

Financing is “TBD,” but it touts “jobs, jobs, jobs!” according to the proposal. Truckee is not part of the plan, because it now has a “restored and beautiful downtown” that has increased year-round residents. It promotes choosing a direction that will be BOLD, according to the proposal to “fix” the problems that Nevada City/Grass Valley faces.

Here are some other ideas in the plan:

•Nevada City/Grass Valley Follies on ice. The company could produce a “variety/celebrity ice show” for Nevada City at the Nevada Theatre or for Grass Valley at the Vets Hall. Opening April thru October each year with a new production and special Christmas Show in November and December with a “special guest star” for both productions. (Ms. Davies was a performing member of Holiday on Ice and the Ice Capades in the ’70s.)

•The “old Alpha” building in Nevada City could house an exhibition “The American Soldier” — a dramatic exhibition of photographs of American soldiering — as well as “The Pulitzer Photos” — including a massive 20-by-30 inch and 30-by-40 inch image of “Ruby Shoots Oswald” or “Flag Raising at Iwo Jima.”

It also proposes that the vacant Alpha Hardware store on “Main Street” (sic) in Nevada City be used as a cabaret-style theater, with 200 seats. (For the record, Foothill Theatre tried this).

•The Miners Foundry, Center for The Arts or Fairgrounds in Grass Valley could host a “road show company” with largel-scale arts events. The roster of artists could include Peter Max, Alex Renoir or Pierre Henri Matisee, the grandson of Henry Matisse.

Filed under: Uncategorized | 6 Comments »