Performance center at Johnson Lane and 395

A proposed 2,000-seat performance center will be located on 93 acres at Highway 395 and Johnson Lane.

The location was announced at a benefit concert on June 25.

According to Singer Lane Baxter, the site will take only a portion of the property and is being donated by Charlie Grimshaw of Reno.

"There were almost 400 people there," she said of the event. "There were representatives of two Fortune 500 companies in the audience. They were interested in the performance series and the building."

Baxter said the property, which is presently zoned agricultural and rural residential, will have to be rezoned for the center.

While a conceptual drawing has been prepared, there is still quite a bit of work before the project will be ready to submit to the county.

"I've had a call from the county and we're going to chat in mid-July," she said. "We've had a real positive response to the center."

The property was purchased from the Johnson family in November 2005.

Baxter said she has financial backing for the proposed Sierra Tahoe Performing Arts Center. She has already met with a contractor and an architect. She will unveil a concept rendering of the building.

Among plans is a school for performing arts, stage set and costume design.

Opening for the center is planned for summer 2008.

Another concert is scheduled for Sept. 24.