A new police substation is located at the old Citi Center bus station, in Reno.
Today's opening comes just two years after the bus station moved a few blocks away. Officials say it makes the area safer, cleaner, and more appealing for tourists.
City officials, police officers, and school children officially opened it with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
"We'll utilize it as a place, as it matures, where you can come in and get most of your police services and maybe some city services," Chief Steve Pitts said. "But really, we want these teams in here on the street, dealing with problems downtown."
This $350,000 remodeling project began back in February and was mostly paid for by a $2 hotel room charge.
Taking the place of an area that used to be surrounded by chain link fence, trash, and transients.
"It's just been an area that hasn't been the greatest place, in town," Reno City Councilman Dwight Dortch said. "With this, I think it's going to clean this up quite a bit."
The substation is right between the downtown hotels and the National Bowling Stadium.
"They were real excited when we told them we were going to do this project," Dortch said. "They were real excited that we're doing this and clean up this area. They're a lot more comfortable walking from the properties over to the bowling stadium."
Now, the block has more of a park-like feel to it and better lighting, making the area more approachable.
That is something officials say is very important for bringing locals and tourists downtown, including 100,000 bowlers, starting next year.
"We tout it as being one of the safest destinations in the country, but visually, seeing a substation always reinforces that," RSCVA Executive Director Jennifer Cunningham said.
More than a dozen police officers will be based here, including the bike team, along with two or three part time workers a day.
The city has 170 fewer officers than before the recession.
Pitts says this will help make things more efficient.
"These men and women that work for the Reno Police Department, work hard everyday and they've done an incredible job of working and networking with the community and that's really what's going to help us, in the future," Pitts said.
The property's other building is vacant, but they city is hoping it will be used as a store, a welcome center, or an art gallery.
Pitts also tells us he would like to see the substation expand, eventually growing to 25-30 officers.
The substation at the bowling stadium will remain open but mostly for special events.
Written by Paul Nelson 
