Opportunities
The City of Las Cruces may highlight additional development and redevelopment opportunities throughout the community as they are identified. This page will be updated periodically to reflect sites and projects that align with broader economic development goals.
Grocery-Anchored Redevelopment Opportunity
Tashiro Mixed-Use Hub | Las Cruces, New Mexico
Overview
The City of Las Cruces is supporting discussions around a privately owned redevelopment site within a designated Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA). The property owner is seeking a grocery store to serve as an anchor business and catalyst for phased revitalization of the surrounding area.
This opportunity is intended to introduce site selectors and grocery operators to a strategic location where an initial retail investment can help stimulate long-term commercial and mixed-use development.
Site Summary
- Approximately 42 acres under single private ownership
- Located at the southeast corner of Tashiro Drive and Valley Drive
- One of the largest remaining undeveloped tracts within the MRA
- Positioned as a catalyst site for future redevelopment activity
Market Rationale
Market conditions and community feedback indicate a clear opportunity for grocery retail to serve this area of Las Cruces and function as a catalyst for broader reinvestment.
Community engagement conducted within the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area shows that nearly 60% of respondents regularly leave the area to access retail and basic services, signaling unmet local demand. Grocery retail was identified as the top priority business type, with over 61% of respondents indicating a grocery store as the most needed use in the area.
In addition, more than 50% of respondents identified economic incentives and reinvestment as critical to attracting new businesses, reinforcing the importance of a catalytic anchor that can stimulate additional private development and improve service availability for nearby neighborhoods.
From a geographic and market perspective, the site benefits from:
- A surrounding residential population that currently lacks proximate grocery options
- Location along Valley Drive, a principal arterial serving both neighborhood and pass-through traffic
- Proximity to established residential areas, recreational amenities, and employment centers
- Limited competing grocery options within convenient drive times for nearby households
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico, with a population of approximately 115,000 residents, and experienced population growth of roughly 14% between 2010 and 2020. The city serves as a regional retail hub for southern New Mexico, supporting demand beyond immediate neighborhood boundaries.
Within the broader West Picacho / Motel Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, the local population base exceeds 4,000 residents, with additional growth anticipated through planned redevelopment and infill activity. A grocery anchor at this site would help capture existing retail leakage, provide a daily-needs service for nearby residents, and establish consistent customer traffic necessary to support complementary retail and service uses.
Conceptual Development Framework
While the site remains privately owned and flexible in its ultimate buildout, a grocery-anchored concept could support a phased, mixed-use development approach, including:
- Commercial and retail uses oriented along Valley Drive
- Residential development transitioning toward existing neighborhoods
- Complementary food, service, or entertainment uses
- Integrated open space and improved internal connectivity
Concepts shown or discussed are illustrative and intended to demonstrate potential, not prescribe final design.
Access and Connectivity
The site is well positioned along Valley Drive, a primary arterial that provides strong visibility and reliable access for retail uses. Its frontage allows the project to capture both neighborhood-serving and pass-through traffic.
Tashiro Drive functions as a key collector roadway, directly linking surrounding residential areas to the site and supporting convenient daily access for nearby households.
The surrounding street network offers multiple access points and flexibility for customer circulation and service access. Fare-free public transit along Valley Drive further supports customer and workforce connectivity, while existing sidewalks and crossings allow for pedestrian access from adjacent neighborhoods.
Regional Context
Las Cruces is the second-largest city in New Mexico and serves as a regional hub for southern New Mexico and west Texas. The site is located within an established urban area and benefits from proximity to major transportation corridors, residential neighborhoods, and community amenities.
Role of the City
The City of Las Cruces is not the property owner but supports this opportunity through information sharing, coordination, and alignment with Metropolitan Redevelopment Area planning objectives. The City may facilitate introductions and discussions, as appropriate, but any development, timing, and terms remain subject to private negotiations.
For additional information regarding this opportunity, please contact:
Celina Morales
Deputy Director, Economic Development
City of Las Cruces
Phone: 575-541-2286
Email: cemorales@clcstaging.lascruces.gov
People, Place, Prosperity
Located strategically in the Borderplex at the junction of I-10 and I-25 and just 45 minutes north of El Paso, TX and the Mexican border.
The Borderplex Region Stats:
- 2.7 million population
- 400,000 workforce population
- 150,000 post-secondary students
- 7 universities
- 2 international airports
- 2 Class 1 Rails
- Cost of living is 10% less than the U.S. average
Las Cruces Innovation & Industrial Park Stats:
- 400+ acres shovel ready
- Another 500 are available for lease/purchase
- Zoned for industrial purposes
- Utilities within the park
- Due diligence completed
- Quest Site Certified
- Adjacent to Las Cruces International Airport
- Perfect for onshoring/nearshoring
Foreign Trade Zone Information
A Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) is a secure area under the supervision of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that is considered outside the customs territory of the United States. At an FTZ, special CBP procedures may be used for the storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacturing, and processing of foreign and domestic merchandise. FTZs are beneficial to companies because they allow for the deferral of duties and quotas on imported goods until the decision is made to enter the goods into the U.S. market.
There are benefits to a zone user
- Duty Exemption – There are no duties or quota charges on re-exports.
- Duty Referral – Customs duties and federal excise taxes are deferred on imports.
- Inverted Tariff – In situations where zone manufacturing results in a finished product that has a lower duty rate than the rates on foreign inputs (inverted tariff), the finished products may be entered at the duty rate that applies to its condition as it leaves the zone (subject to public interest considerations).
- Logistical Benefits – Companies using FTZ procedures may have access to streamlined customs procedures (e.g. “weekly entry” or “direct delivery”).
- Other Benefits – Foreign goods and domestic goods held for export are exempt from state/local inventory taxes. FTZ status may also make a site eligible for state/local benefits which are unrelated to the FTZ Act.
Doña Ana County is the grantee for the FTZ and is prepared to execute agreements designating individual users as operators of the FTZ within their facility. For more information about FTZ Number 197 contact the Dona Ana County Community Development Department by phone at 575-647-7350 or visit Foreign Trade Zone | Doña Ana County, NM (donaanacounty.org).
Las Cruces Innovation & Industrial Park Map
Click each blue box for details about the section of land. Use the + – in the upper left to zoom in and out.
Learn More About the Innovation & Industrial Park
Available Incentive Programs
Learn more about the City of Las Cruces’ Business Incentive Programs Here.
Industry-Specific Districts
Value-Added Agriculture
The Value-Added Agriculture district is located south of Interstate 10 in the southeastern portion of the Park. It is intended to accommodate agriculture[1]related manufacturing and other processes that enhance the value of basic agricultural commodities. Most of the parcels are larger in size to provide sufficient land for these types of activities.
Manufacturing/Warehousing/Distribution
The Manufacturing/Warehousing/Distribution district is located south of Interstate 10 in the southwestern portion of the Park. It is intended to accommodate manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution types of uses. It offers a range of parcel sizes and has good access to the interstate.
Aviation/Defense
Aviation / Defense district is located north of Interstate 10 and is adjacent to the Las Cruces International Airport. It is intended to accommodate aviation- and defense-related uses and offers a range of parcel sizes with direct access to the airport.
Commercial
The Commercial district is located adjacent to Crawford Boulevard, on both sides of the Interstate 10 interchange. It is intended to accommodate commercial uses that offer services to the local workforce and interstate-associated business opportunities. This district has smaller parcel sizes more suited for uses like restaurants, with good visibility and access from the interchange.
Contact Us
For more information on development-ready parcels, lot sizes, and sales pricing, contact us at andholguin@clcstaging.lascruces.gov.
Master Plan
Click here to review the master plan for the park.
