Las Cruces, New Mexico, has adopted a master

Las Cruces, New Mexico, has adopted a master plan that calls for restoring two-way traffic to Main Street, where business withered after six blocks were converted to a pedestrian mall in the 1970s. The New York Times reported October 12 that the 80,000-population city intends to allow parking on Main Street, introduce landscaping, open most of the cross streets, and establish a public plaza, along with getting about 1.5 million square feet of commercial and residential space built on unnecessary parking lots. Work on the plaza will begin in January, says Brian Harper, downtown development coordinator. Local architect Steve Newby has advocated many of these improvements for years. His efforts have been aided by Las Cruces Downtown, a nonprofit organization. Christopher Leinberger, a principal in Arcadia Land Company and active in downtown Albuquerque development, consulted on the master plan.