By Steve Ramirez
Originally published in the The Las Cruces Sun-News
LAS CRUCES >> Fifteen years after city officials began the first discussions and negotiations for a civic plaza in downtown Las Cruces, the venue took a major step toward becoming a reality.
On Tuesday, Las Cruces’ Tax Increment Development District board of commissioners — which consists of the seven-member Las Cruces City Council — met in closed session, then publicly voted to unanimously approve a $5.397 million purchase of 1.362 acres of property at the northeast corner of Griggs Avenue and Main Street. It will become a civic plaza by March 2016.
“Do it! This ‘city’ needs to start looking like a city,” said Mark D. Nevarez, in a post on the Las Cruces Sun-News’ Facebook page.
The money to purchase the property, which has been a drive-up motor bank facility for more than 25 years, will come from taxes collected through the city’s downtown TIDD. The land will be purchased from developer Las Cruces Community Partners, a nonprofit organization of business owners formed to serve downtown stakeholders, building owners and businesses headed by Bob Pofhal.
Development of a civic plaza has been a focal point of downtown revitalization, from city leaders and downtown business owners, for more than 10 years.
“Ultimately, the city is going to move forward with a key element of downtown revitalization and we’re excited about that,” said Andy Hume, senior planner for the city of Las Cruces.
William “Rusty” Babington, an assistant city attorney, said the contract between the city and Las Cruces Community Partners will be a performance-based agreement.
“At the end of 18 months we (the city) are going to have a turnkey plaza,” Babington said.
City Manager Robert Garza said Las Cruces Community Partners will be responsible for designing and building the civic plaza and will be paid in phases as it meets benchmarks in the construction of the plaza. The plaza will be an outdoor gathering place for the community. Anticipated conceptual plans include benches, grassed areas, trees, a covered outdoor stage, and some type of water fountain or water feature.
“It’s very exciting to see it coming to fruition,” said Ceil Levatino, TIDD board commissioner.
Perhaps Councilor Greg Smith best summed up many of the emotions Las Crucens have felt about a civic plaza.
“It has been a dream, (and) a frustration,” said Smith, referring to the ups and downs, and time it has taken for a civic plaza to be developed. “But this community will definitely benefit from it. It will be an asset, it will be a destination for the city.”
Mayor and TIDD board chairman, Ken Miyagishima, and Garza recognized the years of efforts by numerous people to reach this milestone.
“This is a defining moment of downtown revitalization,” Miyagishima said. “It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be exciting.”
It was Garza, who was then public works director for the city of Las Cruces, who began negotiations with Bank of the West in 1999 to purchase the property that will become the city’s civic plaza. The negotiations took several years, and stalled when the then City Council could not agree on a purchase price for the property.
However, Garza said he felt quiet satisfaction Tuesday when the TIDD board finally agreed on a purchase price.
“I’m excited about it,” Garza said. “I expect that as I look back on it, the negotiations I was involved in will likely be one of those things that’s going to be a substantial part of my career with the city. The city has never really had that community gathering place. This is a very exciting time, a very defining point for our downtown.”