Las Cruces' Tax Increment District (TIDD) board, also known as the City Council, has its hands full with a slew of beautification projects and other community enhancements, according to a recent meeting on January 27. At the heart of the endeavor, TIDD has pulled together a cool $3 million in FY25, inflating their coffers to an eye-popping $23 million total by the end of December 2024.
Among the projects bankrolled by these funds, Branigan Memorial Library gets a floor leveling upgrade for improved service and ADA compliance, while the Branigan Cultural Center is slated to wrap up exterior renovations by March end. What's more, Main Street should expect some relief from scorcher days, with plans to erect shade structures between the roundabout and Bowman Avenue this summer, as detailed by the City of Las Cruces
In the same breath of progress, the Council turned its attention to the needs of the city's golden-agers. Nearly 700 surveys fielded in English and Spanish weighed in on senior services. While meals, transportation, and recreation programs are recognized across the board, others remain less known, leading to anemic service uptake. A pivot towards bolstering program awareness and expanding recreational activities is on the cards following this insight.
Meanwhile, the talk of Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) designations was served with hard facts to support further designations to combat urban blight and perk up both property values and economic activity. Plus, updates on the 2022 GO Bond Projects didn't shy away from mentioning the 10% completion of the new Fire Station #9 or the impending launch of the East Mesa Public Recreation Complex, complete with an inclusive playground in May. And on the affordable housing front, the Three Sisters Apartment complex is racing toward a March ribbon cutting at 70% completion. As for the Senior Apartments complex, it sits cozily at 60% completion, with a Pine Tree Canyon construction about to take shape. "The City will be looking at expansion of the revolving loan fund," said Natalie Green, the City's Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Administrator, as per City of Las Cruces.
