RENO (AP) — The oldest building in downtown Reno is coming down — eventually.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Wednesday marked the start of a four-to-six-week demolition process of the more than 140-year-old Reno Mercantile Building.
Jeremme McGilvray, director of operations of Group West Construction who's overseeing the project, says the unreinforced masonry building will be deconstructed, piece by piece, starting from the top.
The demolition also will include the adjacent Old Reno Casino.
Whitney Peak Hotel owns the buildings and plans to build an extended-stay property in their place.
McGilvray says "the intent is to save the brick and reuse the brick for some accents on the project or possibly on the exterior."
McGilvray says construction on the new Whitney Peak Hotel property will begin immediately after the demolition project is complete.
