Growing up in the late ‘60s, I remember Nevada City as a pretty sad place. The bars were hopping–lots of loggers and brawls that kept it lively–but most other businesses were struggling and there were a lot of vacant, boarded up storefronts, testament to hard times. Fortunately, a pioneering group of people recognized the old town’s charm and had the foresight to see the opportunity for a Historic District, betting that tourism, arts, and culture could revitalize our small community. Their proposal wasn’t just a preservation effort, it was a bold reimagining of what Nevada City could be. It’s a spirit I’m hoping to revive for the boarded up HEW building through the HEW Renew process.
Change, of course, met resistance. For a small rural town clinging to a prominent past, the familiar was far more comforting than the uncertain. But that visionary group injected fresh, new energy, it caught on, and eventually they prevailed establishing one of California’s first Historic Districts.
After high school, I left Nevada County for college in southern California, returning in 1973 with a degree, a young family, and in short order a contractor’s license. Nevada City was in the first stages of becoming the historical town we now know. I found myself in the thick of it, my nail bags on, remodeling Dickerman’s Drugs on Broad Street into an art gallery. Remodeling the old town was fun for the most part; however, you learned pretty quick, everyone had an opinion. More than a few times, passersby would complain that I was removing the “last useful business downtown”. Their frustration wasn’t entirely misplaced; the transition to a historical city and a tourist economy felt risky, even foolish, to some. At the time, the jury on the Historic District was still out.
Looking back, it seems like an obvious home run, but it wasn’t obvious at the time. It didn’t happen suddenly either; it took years of dedication from a whole lot of caring residents, through many years and shifting economies, but in the end it helped reimagine a town that has continued to be vibrant and adaptive through many decades. Kudos to those visionaries who dared to dream big.
The success of Nevada City’s Historic District was quickly replicated and now there’s a historic district in pretty much every sizable town in the Sierras. In my opinion, it’s not just the Historic District that makes Nevada City special but also the deeper spirit of innovation that birthed it. From the Pelton Wheel, and the Miners Foundry, to early electrification and long-distance phone lines, this town has long balanced heritage with forward thinking. It helped inspire a tech rush that brought companies like Silicon Systems that helped Nevada City to thrive. I built their three story, multi-million dollar addition on New Mohawk Road, which was later acquired by TDK, which I also renovated. That spirit of innovation attracted Grass Valley Group to move its new headquarters to Nevada City alongside other tech companies. These firms brought well-educated, high paid workers, creating a dynamic ecosystem that complemented the Historic District’s cultural draw.
The interplay of tradition and progress is Nevada City’s hallmark. It’s reflected in the City’s vision, mission and values. But it’s a delicate balance, one that requires us to honor our history–the continuity of values, contributions, and notable people that have shaped our community–while building for tomorrow. That same spirit drives my current vision for the HEW Complex. When I look at the old HEW building now, I see not just its beautiful, reinforced-concrete facade–built to endure–but an opportunity to bridge past and future.
I’m mostly retired now, but my career has spanned diverse projects locally–from providing housing to the homeless through Utah’s Place, to the Grass Valley Police Department, to athletic clubs and industrial condos, to Quail Ridge Assisted Living (now Atria Senior Living), mixed-used housing, commercial and industrial buildings; I’ve strived to serve various needs in our community. I’d like to do so again.
I’ve owned the HEW building for over a decade now and the resistance I’ve encountered to restoring this abandoned structure to something that will benefit our community has been somewhat surprising. I’m hoping this time around, through my commitment to a community-inspired process, we can build something we can all be proud of, something enduring, a space that respects our history while meeting the needs of future generations.
The building’s bones are strong; its potential is vast. What if we channeled the same vision that birthed the Historic District to reimagine this landmark? I believe we can craft a legacy that Nevada City will cherish for decades to come.
If you’d like to participate in redefining the future of the HEW Complex, I invite you to take our Community Needs Assessment Survey at www.hewrenew.com.