HOUSE MEMORIAL 113

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Brian F. Egolf

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CITY OF SANTA FE TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF LOCATING A LARGE ELECTRICAL BOX IN THE HISTORIC SANTA FE PLAZA.

     WHEREAS, in 1957, the city of Santa Fe passed the Historic Styles Ordinance, protecting the traditional appearance of the plaza and the city's oldest neighborhoods; and

     WHEREAS, Santa Fe is recognized throughout the world for its distinctive style and architecture; and

     WHEREAS, Santa Fe is known as the "city different" and its name is synonymous with art; and

     WHEREAS, with more than two hundred galleries and several major museums featuring all artistic media and genres, from centuries-old treasures to all manner of contemporary works, Santa Fe is a world-class art destination; and

     WHEREAS, Santa Fe is preparing to celebrate the city's four hundredth anniversary in 2009 and 2010; and

     WHEREAS, the Santa Fe plaza is a registered national historic landmark; and

     WHEREAS, in 2009, the city of Santa Fe caused to be constructed on the plaza a seven-foot tall, seven-foot wide and two-foot thick electrical equipment box painted an institutional gray; and

     WHEREAS, the box is part of a renovation project that also brought a new irrigation system and power upgrade to the plaza along with more flagstone; and

     WHEREAS, the electrical equipment box is completely out of character for its surroundings and reminds some Santa Feans of the 2001: A Space Odyssey monolith; and

     WHEREAS, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican, tourists have begun to comment on the inappropriateness of the big gray box; and

     WHEREAS, city officials have expressed a willingness to look at other options to meet safety, aesthetic and historic requirements;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the city of Santa Fe be requested to work with the state historic preservation office and other interested parties to resolve issues related to the seven-foot by seven-foot by two-foot gray electrical box on the Santa Fe plaza; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the mayor of Santa Fe, the Santa Fe city council and the state historic preservation officer.

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