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Lear Theater/First Church of Christ, Scientist – 501 Riverside Drive
The City of Reno is exploring the future of the Lear (First Church of Christ, Scientist) at 501 Riverside Drive. You may remember that during the 1990s and early 2000s, various local nonprofits worked toward adapting this building into a performing arts theater. Though this work was never completed, this beloved and iconic landmark building in the heart of Reno on the River Walk is special to many in the Truckee Meadows and especially to the arts community. The City of Reno finalized the purchase of the building in 2023.
Historic Structure Report
City Council dedicated $1,000,000 in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to the Lear in March 2023 to prepare a Historic Structure Report (HSR) as well as for landscaping and security improvements. The HSR was completed and presented to City Council on December 11, 2024. The physical improvements to the property were put out for bid in the fall of 2024 after a lengthy approval process. After receiving no responsive bids, the remaining funds were reallocated. Find the HSR below.
Lear Community Meeting
The City of Reno hosted a community meeting to discuss the future of the Lear on January 10, 2026. The two-hour meeting covered the Lear’s current condition, including the construction activities completed toward its use as a theater, as well as conceptual options with estimated costs to help the community envision the building’s future.
View a recording of the presentation.
Exterior Improvements, Feasibility Study, and Request for Proposals, 2026 - 2027
The Reno City Council directed staff to conduct a Request for Proposals process for the Lear building on April 8, 2026. On May 6, 2026, the Redevelopment Agency Board approved $2 million in funding for improvements to the exterior of the Lear and for a feasibility study to inform future uses of the building. Staff presented the following potential timeline for these activities:
July 2026 through January 2027 - Exterior site improvements, including a construction bid process through the end of construction.
The proposed work consists of replacement of deteriorated concrete at the south entrance steps and terrace landing, installation of ADA-compliant handrails, replacement of landscaping consistent with the historic landscape plan, installation of irrigation and architectural landscape lighting, and construction of a temporary wrought-iron perimeter fence and gates.
August 2026 through February 2027 - Feasibility Study
A feasibility study will provide information that benefits both the City and prospective development teams by evaluating realistic redevelopment opportunities and identifying the conditions necessary for a successful adaptive reuse project of the building. The proposed study will include:- Community and stakeholder outreach, including focus groups and public meetings
- Evaluation of potential adaptive reuse scenarios
- Market analysis, including demographic, economic, and real estate conditions
- Financial and operational feasibility
- Preliminary implementation strategies and rehabilitation considerations
March 2027 through September 2027 - Request for Proposals
A two-phased Request for Proposals process will begin with a Request for Information to identify qualified development teams interested in pursuing the adaptive reuse of the Lear Property and to confirm market interest before requesting detailed redevelopment proposals.
The second phase will be a Request for Proposals that address financing, operations, design, implementation, long-term project viability, and incorporates community feedback and conditions presented in the feasibility study.
The goal of this approach is to identify the development team best positioned to deliver a financially viable, implementable, and community-supported future for the Lear.
Current Condition
The City of Reno engaged the architectural conservation firm Architectural Resources Group (ARG) to create a Historic Structure Report for the Lear Theater during 2024. The final report was presented to City Council on December 11, 2024. ARG prepared a virtual tour of the interior of the Lear Theater in May 2024.
Read the entire Lear Theater Historic Structure Report
History of the Lear Theater
During the 1930s, two prominent women from Reno’s history, Luella Garvey and Anna Frandsen Loomis, spearheaded a project for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, to construct a new and larger church building. A site was selected at the corner of Ralston Street and Riverside Drive, just across from the banks of the Truckee River. Luella Garvey suggested the church building be designed by a California architect who had designed Garvey’s own residence just a few years prior. The church was constructed and held its first service in October of 1939 and served the congregation for nearly 60 years.
In the late 1990s, the congregation realized a need for a larger venue and began working on finding a group to take over the church and renovate the building as a performing arts theater. In 1998, Moya Lear, a member of the church, advocate for the arts, and local philanthropist, donated over a million dollars toward the purchase of the building by the Reno-Sparks Theater Community Coalition (RSTCC). The RSTCC and later the Lear Theater, Inc and Artown have all worked toward rehabilitating the building into a theater but this work was never completed. The building has been vacant for over a decade and needs substantial investment to ready the building for a new use and make it safe for the public.
Significance of the Lear Theater
The Lear Theater is listed on the National, State, and Local Registers of Historic Places. It is recognized for its distinctive architecture as well as for being the work of a master, the renowned architect Paul Revere Williams.
The building is in the Neoclassical Revival architectural style. Some of the significant architectural features include the twin curving balustrades leading to the entrance patio on the south façade, the four two-story columns in front of the entry portico, the sunburst fanlight, and the ornate oversized windows with diamond-patterned grills that fill the building interior with natural light.
Paul Revere Williams is a nationally recognized architect who was based in Los Angeles, CA. He became known for designing homes for some of Hollywood’s most recognizable celebrities including Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra. He was a prolific and award-winning architect and the first African American to become a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) where he was elected to the AIA College of Fellows. More information about the history of Lear Theater and its architect, Paul Revere Williams.
Information about Preserving Historic Buildings
- City of Reno Historic Preservation
- State of Nevada Historic Preservation Office
- Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
Information about Reno History
Image: Tom Perkins, courtesy of Paulrwilliamsproject.org