By Todd G. Dickson
From the Las Cruces Bulletin 4/3/2015
Acting as the Downtown Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) board Monday, March 30, the Las Cruces City Council approved a slightly revised design for the new Downtown Plaza.
Main features of previous designs remain in place, with a roofed stage on the south end, a sundial feature in the middle and a water splash pad on the north end. The plaza will be located on Main Street off Griggs Avenue across from the Rio Grande Theatre adjacent to the Bank of the West.
The plaza will be rectangular, with two side streets added, between the plaza and the Municipal Court building and bank.
Trees will line the plaza, with an additional row of trees on the other side of the partial street that can be blocked off and added to the plaza grounds during larger events.
Susan Henderson of PlaceMakers said the revised plan was developed from input by residents and the councillors.
While most of the plaza will have a surface of scored, stained concrete, there will be grass around the splash pad, along with two small lawns to the north of the splash pad.
Although originally a round sundial was envisioned, an elliptical sundial is better, because the markings can be adjusted to tell correct time, Henderson said.
The council did approve recommendations to have rows of stairs extended around the front-facing portions of the stage that will rise three feet above ground level.
The proposal called for a 30- by 40-foot stage, but Henderson said the stage could allow an additional 10 feet in front to accommodate space for a conductor, as requested by Ruben Smith, former Las Cruces mayor and Downtown business owner. His suggestion to tilt the metal roof for improved acoustics also was welcomed by Henderson and the council.
While some, such as Mayor Pro Tem Greg Smith – no relation to Ruben Smith – had concerns about adding side streets, Henderson said it was important for the plaza to be closely tied with the businesses along the re-opened Main Street than the Municipal Court building. Smith said if that portion looks like a street, people are going to use it less.
Smith, who opened up discussion on the plaza plans through social media, said his main concern was trying to counter those who later complain that they weren’t included in the planning for the new plaza after it’s built.
Sharon Thomas, a former city councillor and mayor pro tem, said she liked the design and felt there was good general agreement on the stage.
“Let’s proceed,” Councillor Gill Sorg said. “Let’s get ’er done.”
Henderson said looks can be deceiving. The Las Cruces plaza will essentially have the same square footage as the plaza in Santa Fe, she said.
Doa Ana County Commission Chairman Billy Garrett, who is an ex-officio member of the TIDD board, said the plaza’s concept of becoming both a performance space and a park works as an extension of Downtown revitalization efforts.
“This is reestablishing a very important civic space in the heart of the city,” he said. “This is really about setting a framework for the future.”
Garrett said a good plaza will attract new business and development to Downtown.
Smith won concessions to put off decisions about graphic design elements. While Smith said he wished more of his revisions had been backed by the board, he acknowledged that a number of concerns raised did get incorporated in the design.
“The reality is that even the best of plans can be executed poorly, and the worst of plans can sometimes be overcome by creative execution or at least well-planted ivy,” Smith said on Facebook. “The plan adopted by the council yesterday was certainly not the worst, and I continue to have high hopes for a plaza that is a source of pride.
“The ongoing issue is that Las Cruces has perennially set the bar too low. As long as I am associated with decision making here, I will continue to press for setting the bar higher.”