Residents and preservationists urge pause to Calle de Santiago/Calle de Picacho project over park loss and historic impacts

Residents and preservation advocates told the Town of Mesilla Board of Trustees on Aug. 12 that a planned Calle de Santiago/Calle de Picacho road project needs to be paused and re-evaluated for historic preservation and community impacts.

Trina Witter said she was concerned about changes proposed for the neighborhood park and asked the board to reconsider plans that would add public parking and reduce park amenities. Several other residents, including Susan Krueger and Mary Lucero, voiced support for keeping the park intact; Lori Miller said she had not seen public meetings indicating the park would be reduced. Nora Barraza told the board that crime has increased and that parks, streets and medians appear unkept, and she urged stronger code enforcement and a moratorium on short-term rentals.

The written record submitted by resident Eric Liefeld called for an immediate pause to the project, arguing there had been a “distinct lack of transparency” and that the design—he said—goes beyond repaving to include diagonal commercial parking, curb, gutter and sidewalks where none have existed, electric vehicle chargers and a new power pole placed on a historic property. Liefeld’s letter requested stakeholder review and said the project would directly touch multiple contributing properties in the Mesilla State and National Historic districts.

Why it matters: residents said the design would alter the park’s footprint, add modern parking next to residential properties and change the visual character of a historic neighborhood. The letter from Liefeld listed more than a dozen historic structures and features he said would be affected, including the Mesilla School/Community Center and the Acequia Madre.

Mayor Russell Hernandez responded that the project design is tied to a grant-funded study and that the town is working through the planning process. Hernandez said residents would have further opportunities for input and outreach as the study and design move forward and encouraged people to contact his office; he also noted the town will hold additional meetings as plans are refined. “My door is always open,” the mayor said in closing remarks about community input on projects.

Town staff also reported actions related to short-term rentals. Edward Salazar, the town’s Community & Economic official, said an Ad Hoc committee is drafting a proposed short-term rental ordinance and aims to have a draft by the first or second week of September.

Next steps: the board took no formal action to pause the Calle de Santiago/Calle de Picacho project at the meeting. Officials said the grant process and related study remain underway and that the town will schedule further outreach for affected property owners and residents.