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Socorro City HLC hears museum-preservation updates and potential TxDOT roundabouts on Socorro Road
Summary
HLC staff reported imminent preservation work on the Steel Hut museum artifact, procurement timelines for street-facing building repairs and a historical survey, and briefed commissioners on proposed TxDOT roundabouts on Socorro Road; a committee member raised local safety and lighting concerns after multiple collisions.
HLC staff told the Socorro City Historical Landmark Commission on April 22 that preservation work on the Steel Hut—part of the museum project—will begin soon and will be treated as an exhibit, with repairs for rust, grading for ADA-compliant access, and lighting and signage for interpretation.
"It's meant to be literally a piece of time," the HLC staff member said, describing the intent to preserve the structure's historical character without adding modern HVAC. Staff said repairs will address metal corrosion and that ingress and egress will be improved so visitors can safely view the exhibit.
Staff also outlined procurement timelines: a bid for the second phase of construction on three street-facing buildings will be advertised next month and is expected to be awarded by June or July, with work on those facades progressing in the third or fourth quarter of the year. A historical survey procurement will be advertised in May for a 21-day solicitation and reviewed by a scoring committee with award anticipated in June or July.
Separately, staff updated the commission on planned safety improvements along the Mission Trail, reporting that TxDOT has proposed roundabouts at Buford & Socorro and at Belen & Socorro as traffic-calming measures. The HLC staff member said TxDOT is finalizing designs and would likely bring design proposals to the commission for input on materials and compatibility with historic guidelines, but that location decisions remain the purview of TxDOT and the state.
A committee member raised safety concerns about a stretch of Socorro Road, recounting multiple collisions and damage to a telephone pole at their property, and urged better lighting. "We've already had six accidents," the committee member said, describing instances when neighbors had to remove debris themselves.
Staff clarified the project is a state (TxDOT) initiative; while the HLC can provide guidance on whether proposed materials fit historic guidelines, staff said the commission would not determine the location. Staff also said design packets and other documents are posted on the city website and that Miss Perez will post announcements about Mission Trail events, including Fourth of July activities. The commission will receive project updates at its May meeting.
