$5.4 million purchase of land approved in Downtown Las Cruces for civic plaza

The Las Cruces Tax Increment Development District, or TIDD board, approved a $5.4 million purchase of nearly 1.4 acres at the northeast corner of Griggs Avenue and Main Street in Downtown Las Cruces.

The property will be converted into a long-awaited civic plaza.

Las Cruces Community Partners, a non-profit organization that is stimulating redevelopment of Downtown Las Cruces and Main Street, will be responsible for the design and the construction of the plaza.

The City of Las Cruces will provide the direction for the project.

The groundbreaking for the plaza may not take place for four to six months.

The plaza is expected to be completed in January of 2016.

Board members, comprised of members of the Las Cruces City Council, decided the plaza will have a water feature, a paved surface and a sun dial.

A stage will be located on the southwest corner of the property.

Actual design of those elements, including artwork, will be addressed at a later date.