Railyard Stewards

The Santa Fe Railyard: A Planning and Use Timeline

1880

On February 9, 1880, the first train pulled into Santa Fe with grand speeches and a great parade. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company had finally made it to the city for which it was named. Santa Fe was always the railroad’s major goal, but the mountain ranges precluded it being on the main line, resulting in the building of a spur line instead.

The trains brought more tourism to Santa Fe, with their sleeping and dining cars, as well as their legendary Harvey Girls on their way to the Plaza’s Harvey Hotel. Railroads were a new experience in the Territory. Some property owners sold their land in the Railyard with the promise that it would revert to them when it was no longer a Railyard.

By the 1940s the Railyard is an active social center for local residents. Neighbors who live next to the Railyard today remember afternoons spent along the acequia (irrigation ditch), picking wild lettuce and swimming. During the Depression, people lined up for free meat from Railyard warehouses. There was ice-skating in the winter and elephants when the circus came to town. If the historic Plaza was the city’s Living Room, the Railyard had become its Family Room.

1980

One hundred years later, the 1980s saw booming growth.  Within a ten-year period, the City develops the Citywide General Plan, Historic Structures Survey, Parks Plan, Open Space Plan, Acequia Plan, Greater Westside Guadalupe Area Plan, Santa Fe Historic Neighborhoods Plan, Archaeology of Santa Fe Study and the Business Capitol District Plan. In this environment, people ponder the Railyard’s future.

1985-1988

1985 Mayor Louis Montaño announces a plan to develop the Railyard.

1986 The University of New Mexico initiates the Guadalupe Gateway Plan for the Railyard.

1987 The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit land conservation organization, along with Santa Fe residents Phil Wallen and Suby Bowden, approach Mayor Sam Pick to encourage the City’s acquisition of the Railyard. Planners from Santa Fe, San Francisco and Austin join the discussion about the Railyard’s future. The idea is that the property could be bought at a lower rate if some portion remained as open space.

Though the Mayor’s priority is a convention center, he pursues the city’s purchase of the Railyard. In June 1987, the City of Santa Fe declares the Railyard a Blighted Area and begins planning with the Railyard and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission (MRC). The City hires the Robert Charles Lesser firm to develop a Master Plan for the Railyard. City Councilors, however, do not commit to a purchase of the Railyard.

1994

1994 Catellus Corporation tries to develop the property with the Santa Fe architectural firm of Yates Hogan. This time, plans are to build a large Smith’s grocery store and parking lot on the Baca Street portion of the Railyard. The neighborhoods rise up in arms and, backed by the City, a lawsuit is filed to stop the plan. The City and the neighborhoods prevail.

The City re-examines its Railyard plans with its General Plan. The City now discusses better neighborhood relations that require developers to talk to neighborhood residents before submitting plans. Citizens request more open space and better schools, more affordable housing and mixed-use spaces, and more pedestrian-friendly developments.

1995-1996

1995 Mayor Debbie Jaramillo, City Councilors and TPL approach Catellus about buying the Railyard property. In December, the City successfully purchases the entire 50-acre Railyard—with the exception of Tomasita’s restaurant and parking lot. With the assistance of then-TPL New Mexico Director Steve Thompson and other TPL representatives, the City is able to buy the land at a reduced rate, with the promise that a minimum of 10 acres will be dedicated to a city park.

1996 As the Railyard Master Plan moves forward, TPL volunteers to raise $150,000 from local foundations to develop a community-based plan. TPL chooses the Land Use Resource Center.  Simultaneously, the local chapter of the AIA (American Institute of Architects), proposes a R/UDAT (Regional/Urban Design assistance Team) to come to Santa Fe and work with the public. These groups collaborate in the largest community design process in Santa Fe history.

In the summer of 1996 the process is launched with a community kick-off party featuring free train rides, bands, parties, food and an introduction to the Railyard. This was followed by six months of community meetings about all aspects of planning—from finances to the railroad to neighborhoods, affordable housing and more. In December, more than 700 residents turn out to vote for their preferred vision for the Railyard’s future.

The results of the citywide vote are clear. Residents’ first priority is to keep the Railroad running to the historic depot. The public also requests the equivalent of a Central Park for Santa Fe, protection for local businesses in the area, and a new community Arts and Culture District. They also vote to protect adjacent neighborhoods and to maintain the gritty look of Railyard buildings.

1997

1997 The AIA-R/UDAT (American Institute of Architects, Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team) hosts a three-week design process involving more than 200 citizens, architects and planners. Nine R/UDAT professionals (architects, economists, transportation experts, community activists, financial experts, planners, landscape architects) work with local designers to produce the Community Plan. The Santa Fe Reporter publishes the report for the public. By week four, the report is ready to present to the City Council with tremendous citizen support.

A national team of pollsters hired to determine if there is support for the Railyard says they have never seen such a well-educated community in the United States on a local subject.  In 1997, Fred Kent from the Project for Public Spaces calls the Railyard revitalization effort “…the most important public space project in the country…”

The City Council unanimously approves the Community Plan and commits to 70 percent of the Railyard’s development costs.

1998

The City hires Steve Bruegger to manage the Railyard staff and oversee the Railyard redevelopment. Bruegger pursues the necessary steps prior to Master Planning, including community relations and working with TPL to dedicate the open-space backbone of a 13-acre conservation easement governing the park, the train tracks and a new plaza. He also completes negotiations with the School for the Deaf, as well as leases for the non-profits and for-profits.

1999-2002

1999-2001 Between 1999 and 2001, the City of Santa Fe financially commits to and completes the Railyard Master Plan. More than 30 organizations, including TPL, work together to design the project’s next phase. Design Workshop oversees the Master Plan process to establish zoning and principles for Railyard construction.

2001-2002 The City of Santa Fe makes public-private partnership construction agreements. TPL is chosen to design, fund and construct 13 acres of open space—a project that ultimately totals $14 million. At the same time, TPL volunteers and Advisory Board members begin discussions to form the Railyard Stewards to assist with stewardship during and after the project’s completion. Ultimately, $125 million dollars in community funding is committed to design and construction of the revitalized Railyard.

2002-2009

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) successfully manages the design, funding and construction of the Railyard Park + Plaza under the guidance of TPL-New Mexico.  An all-volunteer community Railyard Advisory Council also provides expertise.  The nonprofit Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation (SFRCC) is designated by the City Council to act as the lessor and property manager for design and construction of Railyard infrastructure and buildings.

September 12-14, 2008 The Santa Fe Railyard celebrates its Grand Opening with more than 20,000 residents from throughout the city attending a variety of celebrations and community events on the Railyard. In its first six weeks alone, more than 7,000 visitors from over 52 countries log in to City and SFRCC websites to see the new Railyard.

December 2008 The New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter line begins regular transportation from the historic depot in the Railyard.

Spring 2009 The City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation and The Trust for Public Land release the Railyard Public Policies and Procedures for the management and maintenance of the Railyard. This calls for the Railyard Stewards to partner with the City of Santa Fe to provide enhanced horticultural care, conservation and community outreach programming for the Railyard Park + Plaza. A diverse community-based Board of Directors is assembled.