Council Approves New Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas

Las Cruces City Council met in a regular session Monday, March 17, 2025, and approved a resolution identifying four new Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas.

The new MRAs are the Amador Proximo and South Area, the Apodaca and Lift-Up Area, the East of Solano Neighborhood Area and the Mesquite District Area. In March 2023, Council designated the El Paseo and South Solano Area and the West Picacho Area as MRAs.

These areas exhibit deteriorated and blighted conditions due to a variety of factors including under-investment by property owners and issues related to infrastructure conditions, public services, crime, housing and factors contributing to the commercial and residential real estate market.

The MRA designation for each area is the first step in providing the City with the tools needed to facilitate the redevelopment of targeted areas. The next step is to develop an MRA plan for each new area and then implement the plans.

In 2022, the City’s Economic Development Department hired Groundworks Studios to evaluate the City’s infill area to determine which locations might qualify as an MRA. Groundworks Studios compared physical and socioeconomic conditions to help identify the suggested areas.

The assessment process and designations align with Elevate Las Cruces and the El Paseo Corridor Community Blueprint.

In other business, Councilors approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the New Mexico Department of Transportation for street signal improvements at the intersection of Lohman Avenue and Walnut Street.

The application requests $300,000 in funding with the City committing $100,000 to support the project. This effort builds on prior funding as $533,333 was previously secured through a Municipal Arterial Program grant in fiscal year 2025. The proposed improvements aim to enhance traffic safety and efficiency at the Lohman/Walnut intersection.

Monday’s Council meeting, along with all City Council regular meetings and work sessions, can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.

Councilors will next meet in a work session at 1 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2025, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.