Carrizozo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan

The Town of Carrizozo embarked on a Downtown Master Planning and Redevelopment process to improve economic conditions, increase tourism, and help rehabilitate properties along NM 54 and 12th Street. This plan extended work done as part of the Historic Carrizozo Revitalization Plan, which was completed in 2015 as part of NM MainStreet’s Frontier Communities Initiative. The new plan built on previous project ideas and provided additional strategies that the Town can follow to encourage future redevelopment. Carrizozo residents are interested in the future of the town and its ability to grow based on its arts focus. Sites engaged residents in the planning process through interactive workshops and small group discussions. Sites planned and facilitated the workshops—first to get general information about community desires and second to clarify community goals and identify and prioritize the most promising projects. We also provided information about meetings and draft documents through a project website. The website was particularly useful for residents who wanted to participate but could not attend meetings. Altogether, Sites developed 15 project ideas for downtown, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, the creation of an outdoor performance space, free wi-fi downtown, facade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing, and marketing and economic development strategies. As part of this plan, community members were invited to participate in interactive visioning and mapping exercises to develop project ideas.