We all want a better downtown Taos.
For far too long, our downtown has not been treated as a community priority, and yet it remains the heart of Taos. It is time for that neglect to end.
To get to a better downtown, we need a toolbox of options to help breathe new life into the plaza and historic district. The Taos Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan (MRA) provides just that toolbox.
Over the past year, the MRA planning team has worked with hundreds of community members to develop a vision for Taos. This outreach has involved surveys, several community meetings, individual interviews and more. We could not have done this without the participation of the community.
The Taos MRA was born of past planning processes. The 2018 Strong at Heart plan called for the creation of both Taos MainStreet and an MRA. The MRA also works in tandem with other important work, such as the Destination Stewardship Plan (DSP) and Public Works Master Plan. We aim to unify planning efforts and other initiatives. We’re tired of plans that sit on a shelf.
Community members have expressed legitimate concerns about the condition of our historic district. From crumbling infrastructure to boarded up businesses to worries about our urban forest and public safety, Taoseños have real reservations about the future of the heart of the community.
Specifically, the MRA will allow the town to support more downtown reinvestment and for businesses to partner with local government to redevelop vacant lots, improve facades and facilitate the movement of people in and around the downtown area.
One of the things we hope to see with the adoption of the MRA is incentives for more affordable housing downtown. One of the reasons our downtown struggles is the lack of permanent residents. When a space is hollowed out, it loses vibrancy and becomes less safe. The MRA will help facilitate cooperation between the town, MainStreet and Taos Housing Partnership. People bring life to a public space.
The Taos MRA aims to facilitate the adaptive reuse and redevelopment of vacant buildings and lots through public private partnerships. The plan recommends the town create a Downtown Stewardship Grant Program. The MRA will assist in updating town zoning and development review processes to promote infill development, mixed-use development and housing. The MRA will support the revitalization and historic preservation of buildings and the modernization of building infrastructure.
The parking situation in our downtown is another problem. Too much valuable land is wasted on cars, undercutting revenues and vibrancy. The MRA hopes to create a Park-Once district that concentrates parking in strategic locations with proximity to the plaza and other community hubs. It envisions a walkable downtown. Walkable spaces are inherently economically vibrant, more pedestrians will prove a benefit to local business.
Along with better pedestrian infrastructure, the MRA calls for the implementation of a Taos Wayfinding Plan to support navigation and historic and cultural interpretation. It calls for the improvement of street life, public infrastructure and amenities in public spaces, such as benches, tables and shade.
The key to a successful downtown is the creation of a way to finance year-round programming, activities, arts and cultural events. The MRA will help that.
The day-to-day functioning of the MRA will be overseen by a board of directors composed entirely of Taos residents, who will decide which proposed projects are in the best interest of the community. Any plan must meet a baseline of community benefits outlined in the plan.
All of this will be done transparently, with a record of programs, policies and projects supported by the MRA, in order to document impact, evaluate allocation of resources and ensure equitable distribution.
To address concerns, it is worth saying the plan won't allow for seizure of private property or increased taxes. This is not about attracting outside developers, but rather to support homegrown businesses and innovation. We envision a thriving and inclusive civic space geared toward locals. We believe that if we create a wonderful downtown for locals, the visitors will follow.
While the MRA will not solve every issue we face, it will provide tools to help our community leap forward. Once the MRA has been approved by the Town Council, it will be in our hands as a community to make it work.
Please join us on June 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Taos MRA Draft Plan Open House in the Taoseño Room of the Taos Civic Center.
Jim O'Donnell is a local author and photographer. He lives in Taos.
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