Lease signed for Doña Ana County Courthouse Downtown
By Alta LeCompteLas Cruces Bulletin
The afternoon sun, shining through tall, slender windows, reflected off the white walls and illuminated painted details of the 20-foothigh ceiling of the former Doña Ana County courtroom.
Many of the visitors who toured the old courthouse Saturday, Feb. 15, had been in the building in the past but had never seen the ceiling before: A dropped ceiling had concealed its beauty when the space had been divided into offices.
“It’s phenomenal,” Sharon White said of the proposal to restore the former courthouse as a hotel and conference center.
White was one of one of hundreds of visitors taking the Mesilla Valley Preservation Inc. Casas de Antaño tour who paused to look at architectural drawings and photos of Downtown in its heyday.
Just days before the Saturday open house, the Las Cruces Community Partners, a group of developers led by managing partner Bob Pofahl, had signed a 70-year lease agreement for the property with owner John Hoffman.
Meet, eat and sleep Downtown
LCCP envisions the property as a five-star hotel and conference center at the corner of Main Street and Alameda Boulevard. The existing courthouse, completed in 1937, would become a conference center with several restaurants. The2,600-square-foot courtroom would serve as the main banquet room.
Some 70 rooms would be built on the west side, continuing the Mission Revival architecture of the courthouse.
Plans call for demolishing the old jail, which was built after the courthouse, to make a space for the hotel rooms.
“The architecture of the new building will be really integrated with the existing building,” Pofahl said.
He said Stefanos Polyzoides of Pasadena, Calif., a nationally known proponent of “the architecture of place,” and Las Crucen Steve Newby of Steve Newby Architects and Associates Inc. will serve as the architects responsible for the historical interpretation and functionality of the space.
The one that got away (from Trost)
The courthouse was designed by Percy McGee.
Pofahl said noted El Paso architect Henry Trost bid on the job, but his design was not chosen.
“We love Trost, but this is one time we’re glad he wasn’t selected,” Pofahl said, explaining that Trost’s design had a strong Moorish influence, while the plan submitted by McGee was in the Southwestern tradition.
Pofahl said the LCCP plans to preserve the history of the building in the redevelopmentprocess.
Public spaces will feature artifacts and exhibits of local history. Rooms and public spaces will contain photos, art and artifacts that recallthe history of the courthouse.
Pofahl said he was gratified with the responseof the visitors to the exhibits, tells him the LCCP is on track with its commitment to honoring the history of the building.
He said the proposed hotel and conference center would serve as a southern anchor for Downtown revitalization that kicked into gear last year with the restoration of two-way traffic and streetscape enhancements to Main Street Downtown.
“Our research indicates future demand for a five-star, full-service hotel as a regional tourist destination can be supported as part of the redevelopment of Downtown Las Cruces and Main Street,” he said. “It’s extremely important to create a destination that’s a good location for both tourists and business travelers.
“LCCP is in discussions with LaTour Signature Hotels by ResortCom International of San Diego as the operator for the proposed courthouse hotel and conference center.”
Owner, developer field questions
Both Pofahl and Hoffman were on hand Saturday to answer questions.
“John Hoffman did a great job of beginning to restore the building, preserving all the original structure and removing stuff that had been added over the years, so we can now complete the restoration,” Pofahl said.
He credited Hoffman with completing the environmental remediation and reroofing the entire structure to ensure its stability.
Hoffman said he had begun restoration of the courthouse property, replacing most its systems. It was he who exposed the original ceiling, oak wainscoting and other details that create an unpretentious elegance well suited to the desert Southwest, and well suited to become the bones of the main ballroom for a fivestar hotel Pofahl envisions for the property.
He abandoned the restoration more than two years ago due to a possible legal dispute over the ownership of a 30-foot strip of land on an old plat labeled alley, for which there was no dedication.
“The city said it might want to claim it,” he said. “That was the last straw.”
Pofahl said planning, design and restoration of the property is expected to take about two years and cost about $20 million.
He said there are no zoning or legal hurdles to be cleared and there are no impediments to redevelopment.
He said the marketing study will be completed in about six months, during which time LCCP will work with the architectural firms to define the potential uses of the building.
“The design alone will take 12 to 18 months,” Pofahl said. “You only get one chance to do this. You want to do it right.
“We believe this is one of the most iconic, historic buildings in southern New Mexico. It needs to be studied, repurposed and restored very carefully.”
