2013 — New Mexico Finance Authority; LIHTC Design Competition Winner

CROSSTOWN STATION

SIZE: 61800 sf

LOCATION: Las Cruces, New Mexico

STATUS: In Progress

CROSSTOWN station is a new 72 unit mixed income, transit oriented development in Las Cruces, NM. Twelve of the units will be market rate. The project is an infill development on a site formerly occupied by an industrial cotton storage and compress operation.

Building forms and materials recall the industrial structures surrounding the site. Deep openings in the  As part of the project a historic water tower on the site will be preserved and renovated to become the iconic heart of the new development.

CROSSTOWN station will be occupied by individuals and families. The affordable units will have a set-aside for veterans through HUD’s VASH voucher plan. Veterans like to be together and support each other. In recognition of this, the project provides a veterans community room. It will be furnished with a pool table, tables and chairs, a television and other amenities.

The room is on the second level—above the main community space—and has windows that allow it to survey both the main courtyard of the complex, the city park across the street and the primary vehicular and pedestrian access points. This allows the veterans to see without being seen—to feel secure without feeling exposed.

The market rate units are targeted toward young people in the arts. Some of the large industrial buildings nearby have become home to performing and visual arts groups. The location and somewhat edgy industrial look of CROSSTOWN station will appeal to this market segment.

The project team held a design charrette open to all stakeholders—including the community at large—and three community meetings targeted primarily to residents of surrounding neighborhoods but open to the community at large as well. The design team listened to community input and incorporated several comments into the concepts for the project. One idea put forth by the community was to adopt the historic southwestern mission town pattern of a central civic plaza—as in the nearby town of Mesilla. A park recalling this vernacular pattern has become the central thematic space of the new neighborhood.