Pioche Apartments celebrated with grand opening ceremony

Community leaders, project partners and residents gathered in Pioche on Wednesday, May 27, to celebrate the official grand opening of Pioche Apartments.

The $15.7 million development, located on Hollywood Way in Pioche, includes 32 one- and two-bedroom apartment units designed to serve households at or below 50% and 80% of area median income. The project also includes energy-efficient features, solar integration, community gathering spaces, owner-paid utilities and internet, and architecture designed to reflect Pioche’s historic mining-town character.

The development addresses a continuing need for affordable housing options in rural Lincoln County, where available rentals have remained limited for years.

Attendees at the ceremony included stakeholders from around Nevada, along with Nevada Rural Housing leadership, local officials and Nevada District 4 Representative Steven Horsford. Speakers during the ceremony highlighted the years of planning and collaboration required to complete the project.

Nevada Rural Housing Executive Director Bill Brewer described the development as “years in the making,” thanking the architects, partners and community members involved in the process. “This takes patience, persistence and a lot of hard work,” Brewer said.

Brewer also noted the development was constructed on a former brownfield site, referencing some of the environmental and redevelopment hurdles that had to be overcome during the project. He emphasized the project’s focus on long-term affordability for the community.

Nevada Rural Housing Director of Community Development Beth Dunning shared that 26 of the 32 units are currently occupied by residents from Caliente, Panaca and Pioche. She also explained the development replaced a previous establishment that had only 14 usable units available before redevelopment. Dunning noted that five of the units are market-rate apartments open to any renter and confirmed that all of the units at the complex are currently occupied.

Representative Horsford spoke about the importance of expanding affordable housing opportunities throughout Nevada’s rural communities. Horsford said the project will help seniors remain close to home, provide stability for working families and improve housing access for residents with disabilities in rural Nevada. Horsford also noted that affordable housing challenges are not limited to urban areas, stating that “families across Nevada, including in our rural communities, are feeling the squeeze every single day.”

During the event, congressional certificates were presented by Horsford and on behalf of Senator Jacky Rosen to Nevada Rural Housing in recognition of the project and its completion.

According to Nevada Rural Housing, funding support for the project included more than $1.57 million awarded through the 2023 Affordable Housing Program Nevada Targeted Fund grants.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to sign commemorative rocks that organizers plan to incorporate into the property at a later date. Visitors also enjoyed catering from Gunslingers and toured the property, including one of the completed apartment units.