Robert Anaya, Las Vegas City Manager, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony on Railroad Avenue on Thursday morning. In the background, from left, are state Rep. Anita Gonzales, State Transportation Commissioner Chairman Walter Adams, and city councilor Barbara Perea Casey.
The City of Las Vegas has kicked off a project to enhance a section of the Railroad District in an effort to attract business and visitors to the area.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Dec. 11 in front of the Castañeda Hotel on Railroad Avenue to mark the start of Phase 2 of the Great Blocks project. Made possible by $900,000 in grant funds from New Mexico MainStreet, the project involves improvements to curb and gutter as well as sidewalks, said Amanda Salas, public information officer for the city of Las Vegas.
“The goal for this was primarily to attract businesses to this area,” said Amanda Salas, public information officer for the city of Las Vegas, moments after officials posed for a photo, shovel in hand, to mark the start of construction.
“It’s already a tourist location,” Salas said of the area, noting the historic Rawlins Building, located at 529 Railroad Ave., Coffee, Tea and Empathy, which is located inside the Rawlins, and the Castañeda Hotel. Salas said there is a hope that enhancing the area will attract not only more visitors but also more businesses.
“It’s ultimately a great part of economic development,” she said.
The project’s Phase 1, which came at a cost of $1.2 million, was also funded by New Mexico MainStreet, said Mayor David Romero. Phase 1 involved improvements to Lincoln Avenue between Railroad Avenue and Grand Avenue, according to information from MainStreet de Las Vegas.
Romero said the Railroad District is one of Las Vegas’ MainStreet districts, along with the Douglas District and the Plaza Park area. All three are in the process of being improved, Romero said.
The city of Las Vegas was recently awarded $2,480,000 from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration for a project on the Plaza. Called the Historic Las Vegas Plaza Renovation Project, work will involve renovations to the gazebo, a new sprinkler system, improvements to the sidewalks, and the addition of trees, according to a press release from the city.
City Manager Robert Anaya said on Dec. 11 that the city received $2.3 million last year in Economic Development Administration funds to improve the Douglas District. That project is in its engineering and design phase, Archuleta said.
Romero said the city is making an effort to improve all of these areas to increase business.
“What we’re trying to do is improve these districts so that businesses are enticed to come here and stay here, and eventually we get people to shop here,” Romero said.
