Reno City Council delays decision on historic Lear Theater’s future, opting for community input and potential restoration.

The Reno City Council has postponed deciding the fate of the historic Lear Theater, a 1930s building designed by architect Paul Revere Williams, after rejecting an unsolicited proposal to convert it into an arts center due to insufficient detail. Instead, the council approved a community summit led by historian Alicia Barber to gather input and explore preservation options, including issuing requests for proposals or city-led restoration. The vacant structure, near the Truckee River, has been unused for over two decades and faces deterioration, with full restoration estimated at $15–17 million. Councilmember Devon Reese is working to secure immediate stabilization funds. The theater’s future will be discussed at the October Historical Resources Commission meeting, with the summit date to follow.