The abandoned motels saga came crashing to an end Tuesday morning when Q & D Construction crews began demolishing the long vacant properties located in the heart of downtown Reno.

The Golden West Motor Lodge and the Heart O' Town motels on Virginia Street were expected to be completely leveled by Tuesday night.

Mayor Hillary Schieve and four councilmembers attended the demolition event. The Reno City Council has made eliminating blight a priority since it allotted $1 million to the blight initiative fund last year.

The demolition project will cost the city about $200 thousand, which will come from the blight fund.

Project manager Marc Leone said the asbestos and mold abatement took crews three weeks and this final phase, leveling the buildings and removing the rubble, should be completed by the end of the week.

It remains to be seen what will be developed on the soon-to-be empty land, but Reno City councilmembers shared a few of their ideas:

"I personally would like to see a multi-use facility where you have some retail on the bottom, maybe some residential and office above," councilwoman Neoma Jardon said. "Something that really drives up the walkability, the livability to draw more people into our downtown and this is a big step in that direction."

"I would really like to see a mixed-use model. Possibly retail, a restaurant, but at the second, third levels, offices and up above hopefully student housing or workforce housing. That's definitely a big need in our community," councilman Oscar Delgado said.

"I would love to see downtown shopping, something for the university district and tourists alike," Schieve said. "I think this can be an incredibly vibrant project,"