- Why is downtown redevelopment important?
- The sociology of cities is that they need a core and a heart to grow from.
- The city core creates a sense of place and reflects the culture and personality of the city
- Great cities have a sense of arrival, you know when you have arrived
- As the central place of government downtown is often the first place that businesses and tourists visit to determine the vibrancy of a city
- What are the benefits to downtown redevelopment?
- Promotes the cities:
- Character and culture
- Sense of place
- Quality of life
- Economic development
- National trend for urban living
- Balances the flight to the suburbs and urban sprawl
- Allows the population to efficiently grow central to existing infrastructure and services
- Promotes the cities:
- What is the Infill Zone?
- The central zone designated by the city to promote the development of vacant parcels that are surrounded by existing infrastructure and services
- City ordinance provides economic incentives for development in this zone
- What are the key assets for downtown redevelopment?
- Committed City government
- Years of planning and community involvement
- Strong residential neighborhoods on adjacent to downtown
- Good master plan in place
- Good support of stake holders
- Strong existing employment in one and three mile radius
- Recent infrastructure improvements to re create Main Street Las Cruces
- Recent investment of local, state and federal government to locate new offices and facilities
- What are the obstacles to downtown redevelopment?
- Local cynicism that it will never happen (It has taken a long time to correct the problems of the past when main street was closed to develop a downtown mall)
- Small town lack of vision
- Suburban developers and businesses who do not understand the benefits to a strong downtown core
- Does the City government support the redevelopment?
- The city government totally supports downtown development
- City council recently approved the funding for a new civic plaza
- City council and TIDD board recently approved the priorities from the 2013 Design Charrette led by Place Makers LLC
- Who is the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership (DLCP)?
- `Is a downtown non-profit formed to serve the downtown stake holders, building owners and businesses
- Has played a major role for the last 20 years to forge the revitalization and redevelopment of downtown and main street
- Is an active member of Main Street New Mexico
- Play an active role as a bridge between the private and public
- Who is leading downtown redevelopment?
- The city
- DLCP
- LCCP
- Private building owners and developers
- What is the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA)?
- The MRA was formed by City ordinance to define special benefits and to meet the state and federal requirements to obtain funding and tax incentives
- What is the TIDD?
- The TIDD allows the city to designate property taxes in the defined district to support funding of infrastructure and public improvements for the downtown district
- The tax revenue can be used to initiate bond financing for specific projects
- How is redevelopment paid for?
- Infrastructure and public improvements are funded by the TIDD
- Private funding is required for private development and is the basis for the public private partnership
- Who are the downtown planners?
- In 2013 the City contracted with Place Makers LLC to update the 2005 Plan prepared by Sites Southwest
- In 2014 the City council approved the new Downtown master plan prepared as part of the October 2013 Design Charrette led by Place Makers and City staff
- Place Makers LLC is currently working with city staff to prepare a new Smart Code for Downtown
- What is the Farmers Craft Market?
- The downtown Farmers Craft Market is now an official 501c3 non profit authorized by the CLC to hold the Farmers Craft Market on Main Street each Wednesday and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00PM
- The Market was designated as the top in the US in 2013 and has 300 plus local vendors
- The Market is a major draw for downtown and has Thousands of visitors each week
- The market is a great exhibit of local, art, crafts, culture and music.
- Who coordinates special events?
- Special events are coordinated by the City downtown Coordinator and or DLCP
- The City coordinator is currently Andy Hume and DLCP executive director is Carrie LaTour
- What are the major attractions downtown?
- Theatres; Three theaters that host live performances
- Museums and Library
- Restaurants
- Farmers Market
- Art Galleries
- Retail and service providers
- City and Federal offices
- Adjacent vibrant residential communities of Alameda and Mesquite
- New residential apartment under development
- What is the employment in the downtown MRA?
- Over 1600 businesses employing more than 12,000 people working within a 5 minute drive of downtown for an average payroll of approximately $450M
- 4500 in the central MRA
- 13000- in one mile radius
- What are the major opportunities for down town?
- Restaurant and entertainment venues
- Urban residential apartments, townhomes and condos
- Retail and service providers
- Hotel and hospitality options
- Art Galleries
- Who is the City downtown coordinator?
- Andy Hume, ahume@las-cruces.org phone 575-528-3048
Learn more about downtown Las Cruces at: