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What's
New in Santa Fe
Photo - Jack Parsons, courtesy Santa Fe
CVB New in Santa Fe
2008-2009 Santa Fe began a period of change in 2008 that
will continue for the next several years, leading to a
fresh face on the city and a new portrait of Santa Fe's
remarkable history. The Santa Fe Railyard, new Santa Fe
Community Convention Center, Palace of the Governors
History Museum expansion, and almost two years of events
commemorating the city's 400th Anniversary have the city
looking forward to its future.
The Santa Fe Railyard opened in mid-September of '08 and
started a new chapter in the city's evolution. Part
commercial development and part park, the Railyard is
sure to become a growing town center. Blending new
architecture with old, pairing new businesses with the
traditional, and placing a forward-looking plan into a
19th century neighborhood, the Railyard is redefining
the Guadalupe Street district. Based on the results from
several years of community consensus building, the 50
acre Railyard is a true public project, reflecting the
ideas and wishes of thousands of Santa Feans. The
surrounding area is anchored by SITE Santa Fe
contemporary art museum, Hotel Santa Fe, El Museo
Cultural event venue, the Sanbusco Market Center, and
the many shops, restaurants, and galleries along
Guadalupe. www.sfrailyardcc.org .
In addition, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express train
will begin service from Albuquerque in December, 2008
terminating in Santa Fe at the train depot in the
Railyard. The train is scheduled to run multiple times a
day and make several stops on the outskirts of Santa Fe
and inside the city before ending the northbound run in
the Railyard. The train will be met by shuttle bus
service for transportation to other parts of the city.
There is also shuttle bus service planned from the
Albuquerque airport to a nearby train stop to connect
with the train to Santa Fe. Infrastructure is currently
being built as train tracks are being laid in the median
of I-25 from La Bajada hill to the existing rail line
within the city limits. www.nmrailrunner.com/
The Santa Fe Community Convention Center (SFCCC) held
its first event in early September, 2008, even as
finishing touches to the building were being worked on.
The center replaces an old convention building that
served admirably after being reinvented from its former
life as a high school gymnasium. The SFCCC is two
buildings, a community building and the convention
center building that make up a highly flexible 72,000
square foot facility. The center was designed to a LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver
certification and is the greenest municipal building in
the city and one of the most environmentally responsible
projects in Santa Fe.
www.santafe.org
The Palace of the Governors is the oldest public
building in the country, built in 1610. Joining a 3
story, 96,000 square foot addition to the old adobe
structure and working within the confines of a tightly
quartered neighborhood has taken some time. The
resulting New Mexico History Museum, however, will mean
greatly expanded display space for the museum's 17,000
object collection, much of which has been in storage for
lack of exhibition area. Few states have the time depth
and cultural breadth of New Mexico. Most Americans learn
colonial history with the settling of Jamestown or
stories of pilgrims. The New Mexico History Museum will
position our national history in a broader cultural
perspective. The opening of the museum is expected on
Memorial Day, 2009. www.palaceofthegovernors.org
As the Second oldest city in the country, Santa Fe is
making plans to commemorate its 400th Anniversary. Since
questions arose about the city's actual founding date,
the celebration will be stretched over two years
beginning in 2009. The Spanish Viceroy has been invited
to attend. Other events will take place during the
following months of '09. Then, starting in 2010, the
pace will build culminating in a summer of special
anniversary activities to honor the city, its history,
cultures, and people. Events and details are still being
worked out but should be publishable soon.
www.santafe400.net
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