Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves five nominations to Las Cruces Register of Cultural Properties
Summary
The council approved nominations to the city's cultural-properties register for the Rio Grande Theater, Branigan Cultural Center, Railroad Museum, Claribel Williams property and Phillips Chapel CME Church after a staff presentation detailing history, integrity and prior restorations.
The Las Cruces City Council on Aug. 3 approved five nominations to the city's Register of Cultural Properties, advancing long-running preservation work for several downtown and historic properties.
Caitlin Beasley, the city's historic preservation specialist, presented nominations recommended earlier by the Historic Preservation Committee: the Rio Grande Theater (211 N. Main St., built 1926), the Branigan Cultural Center (501 N. Main St.), the Railroad Museum (351 N. Mesilla St.), the Claribel Williams property (two adjacent buildings, c.1925–1930) and Phillips Chapel CME Church (638 N. Tornillo St., built 1911). Beasley reviewed each site's architectural features, integrity and restoration history; she noted the Rio Grande Theater turned 100 this year and that the Branigan and Railroad Museum are already listed on state or national registers.
Councilors asked about whether designation would affect routine maintenance or replacement of material components. Beasley said city-owned properties already undergo design review and local designation does not add additional steps for those properties; privately owned properties could be required to go through design review if nominated in the future. Council voted on each nomination individually and approved the five properties as presented.
