Historic Reno divorce house might be moved for redevelopment

RENO — Two historic houses that lie in the path of its revitalization project in downtown Reno, including one that played a key role in the city’s emergence in the 1930s as the “Divorce Capital of the World,” will be relocated, not razed, if a developer has its way.

Officials for Jacobs Entertainment Inc. say they want to preserve the two homes on the National Register of Historic Places so they’re seeking permits to move them instead of resorting to the wrecking ball.

The Nystrom Guest House served as a divorce boarding house during a time when divorce-seekers flocked to Nevada from around the U.S. because of its lax residency requirements. More than 32,000 divorces were granted in Washoe County from 1929 to 1939, a time when the county seat, Reno, had a population of about 18,000. By the late 1930s, the county was averaging 5,000 divorces a year.

Jacobs Entertainment CEO Jeff Jacobs said in a statement this week they intend to file for city demolition permits because property relocation falls in the demolition category. But he said it’s part of their relocation plan tied to the blueprint for a $500 million arts, residential and entertainment corridor on West 4th Street to be known as the Fountain District.

“We recognize how important it is to the community to preserve Reno’s rich history and culture,” Jacobs said. “We fully intend to keep the integrity of these buildings as we move forward with our relocation efforts.”

The other building the developer is seeking to relocate — the Borland-Clifford House, built in 1885 — is one of Reno’s oldest homes and one of the only homes remaining in the area from the 19th century.

Some critics would rather see the houses stay where they are.

“Relocation isn’t really a desirable preservation strategy. It’s a way of dealing with something that’s in the way,” local real estate agent Barrie Lynn told KTVN-TV.