Already boasting many of Northern Nevada's signature summertime gatherings, including the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off and the weekly Farmer's Market, the downtown corridor, known as Victorian Square, will continue to get a facelift.

“We're trying to turn Victorian Square into the living room of Sparks,” says city councilman Mike Carrigan, who chairs the Sparks Redevelopment Agency. He says residents can look forward to a good downtown mix of restaurants, retail and entertainment in coming years.

Central Sparks also presents one of the best opportunities for first-time buyers to break into the area's competitive housing market for less than $250,000.

“The older area of Sparks is one of the better places for people looking for something affordable without having a big commute,” says Kevin Trexler, an agent with Prudential Nevada Realty.

However, lower price tags often signal older homes. Most central Sparks neighborhoods are at least a few decades old, a factor that gives some prospective buyers pause. In addition to structural and upkeep issues, some older homes have only one bathroom and either a one-car garage or no garage at all. Street parking is a prime concern of residents.

The same issues affect renters, with the added concern that rented homes can have a negative effect on neighborhood dynamics.

“A neighborhood with a large number of rentals is easy to spot,” says Sylvia Larkin, who chaired the Sparks Citizens Advisory Committee for the 2004 calendar year. She cites the noticeable difference in upkeep of homes that are rented instead of owned.

Just the same, Larkin is optimistic about the residential future of downtown. “Homes are being remodeled and fixed up by new residents. If this trend continues … older Sparks neighborhoods [will] continue to be a very good place to raise a family or retire,” she says.

Fred Lokken, chairman of the Sparks Planning Commission and a member of the Sparks Centennial Commission, agrees. “Sparks has remained dedicated to maintaining and enhancing a community focused on families, with a small-town feel and a slower pace,” he says.

That family focus extends to the area's schools. Though they tend to show their age, many schools are being modernized with amenities such as new computer labs, often purchased through fund-raising proceeds. Most downtown elementary schools still are on traditional schedules, as well, which many families find to be an advantage over the year-round, multi-track system.

Family-focused entertainment venues such as the Century 14 Cinema, the Wild Island Family Adventure Park and the Sparks Marina give residents a place to spend those summer vacations and help create the sense of kinship so often noted about the downtown area. A good blend of ethnic groups also lends a diverse, communal touch.

That atmosphere seems to generate loyalty among residents. Eighty percent of respondents to the Sparks 2004 Public Attitude Survey said they plan to call the city home for at least 10 more years.

Lokken, himself a 14-year resident, attributes this devotion to old-fashioned hometown charm. Sparks, he says, is “a great place to live, work and play, a city prepared to make the most of its future.”