Noah Glick

Artown is underway in Reno, and along with some big names, this year’s month-long celebration of the arts also includes a master of a small instrument: the ukulele.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick caught up with ukulele musician Jake Shimabukuro over the phone during his current tour.

For our series, Priced Out: The Housing Crunch, our reporters have been speaking to several developers. And some have pointed out one potential reason for rising housing costs: immigration enforcement.

During our series, "Priced Out: The Housing Crunch," we've looked at the ways rising housing costs have affected various groups within the community, and we've delved into options moving forward.

Now, we're going to look at something a little different.

With housing costs reaching record highs throughout northern Nevada, potential buyers and builders are looking at alternative options.

One big idea that’s gaining traction nationwide is small: tiny homes.

The housing supply in Northern Nevada is far below demand, which has led to a rapid rise in costs.

Many are calling for more development, but builders in the community say they’re unable to keep up.

The median sales price of a single-family home in Reno is now higher than it was during the peak of the housing boom just before the Great Recession.

This surge in pricing is reminding many in the region of the thriving market of the mid-2000s, as well as the devastation the ensuing crash caused to Northern Nevada.

Outside of major metropolitan areas like the Bay Area and Seattle, Reno has one of the highest median home prices in the American West.

During the Great Recession, unemployment in Nevada reached 14.5 percent. That led the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, or EDAWN, to try and attract high numbers of jobs to the region.

Now, with low unemployment and rapid growth, local leaders are setting their sights on higher paying tech jobs.

A new state park is coming to Northern Nevada, opening 12,000 acres and 28 miles of property along the East Walker River.

Reno Public Radio's Noah Glick took a trip to the new Walker River State Recreation Area, which offers access to an area that's been closed to the public for more than 100 years.

"So, this will be a slight path to the group area from here," says Randy Denter, park supervisor for Nevada State Parks. "Right now, it's just a bunch of weeds. So right now, we're just in a big weed field, some tumbleweeds and mustard."

Since the Great Recession, Nevada has made significant investments in diversifying its economy into a new frontier: technology.

Apple, Tesla and Switch have all set up here. So, what does the future look like for this growing industry in northern Nevada?