1914 translation by H. Rackham
Raton’s participation in Great Blocks on MainStreet drives an innovative redevelopment and creative placemaking project designed to catalyze three core blocks of the MainStreet District. The pilot-project addresses deficiencies identified in their Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Plan, which cited failing public infrastructure dating from the early 1900s as a barrier to commercial building redevelopment. Public Infrastructure Improvements seek to attract new private sector reinvestment, building renovations and rehabilitations, and business expansions or start-ups.
The project seeks to revitalize the Historic/Arts & Cultural District by preserving and restoring the existing building storefronts, adaptive reuse for commercial buildings, live/work space, downtown housing, creative industries, cultural facilities, creating pedestrian improvements, streetscape enhancements, and wayfinding signage. Raton’s historic First Street has an excellent collection of historic and architecturally significant structures in a designated Historic Downtown District.
The Great Blocks project consists of partnerships with New Mexico MainStreet/NMEDD, Raton MainStreet/Arts & Cultural District, the City of Raton, and the property owners and business people in the business district. Raton MainStreet Arts & Cultural District has successfully partnered with the city to apply for this comprehensive redevelopment program to capitalize on a $1.4 million appropriation from USDOT to complete a multi-modal transfer station in the rail yard. Construction documents for pedestrian improvements, right-of-way and safety infrastructure for three blocks adjacent to the rail yard have been completed through funding by NMMS. Most of the funding for the $1.4 million streetscape revitalization project is now assembled and construction is set to begin in spring 2018 with project funding from local, state, and federal sources.
New Mexico MainStreet is providing a comprehensive set of revitalization services to Raton MainStreet working in partnership with the city of Raton to leverage the public infrastructure resulting in building façade restoration, building renovation, and business development and the rebranding of Historic First Street with pedestrian and safety and streetscape enhancements.
The City of Raton, has completed utility improvements and partial street improvements within the project area including a Multi-modal transportation center next to the historic Rail Depot, waterline replacement, First Street resurfacing and curb and gutter replacement project, and matching funds for the Great Blocks on MainStreet project to produce final construction documents and licensed and stamped architectural design for Historic First Street, and the future renovation of the Historic Santa Fe Rail Raton Depot to serve as an anchor to Historic First Street serving as a business and arts incubator space for entrepreneurial start-up jobs.