The Wall Street Journal has an analysis on Santa Fe and the surrounding region: “Change Rolls into Santa Fe”

The positives and negatives of the new Albuquerque – Santa Fe Rail Runner heavy rail line, slated to open this fall, are discussed – namely the changes it will bring to the corridor, along with reinstated airline service from Dallas and Los Angeles. I don’t see any negatives with improving access to Santa Fe. One of the geographical points of Northern New Mexico, positive or negative, is the remoteness. Even though Santa Fe sits only 65 miles north of Albuquerque it still has a sense of isolation when traveling on interstate 25 through the reddish hills, seeing the city lights fade away in the rear view mirror.

What’s lamented in the article is that some still see the town as “nothing more than a giant art gallery,” and want to bring new attractions and interest to the city. This is often at odds with preservationists. Basically tradition versus change. Many locals don’t want to see their town stray from its roots, but local business leaders realize change is necessary to keep tourists returning and lure in new ones.

The changes have rekindled a debate among locals over tourism and the city’s image. Some insist that preserving Spanish and pueblo influences is critical to preserving its appeal. Others call the touristy parts of town “Santa Fake” and say the manufactured look appeals to only some visitors. “People might come to see that once, but why would they ever come back if it’s static?” says Laura Steward Heon, director of Site Santa Fe. “It should just be put under a glass snow globe.”

Another issue is the housing and retail development that’s beginning to fill in the area between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. A few years have passed since I’ve last driven this stretch, but having traveled it on occasion between 1999 and 2005 I certainly appreciate the wide open spaces it offers. I would never want to see a continuous snake of ubiquitous retail pre-fabs and asphalt parking lots filling in the open areas like locust. But growth is inevitable, so now the responsibility falls on local leaders to ensure they don’t sell out their unique cultural look and heritage to developers who are hard pressed to bend their designs to match regional locales. (Remind to write about Rivertown Crossing in Grandville, Michigan.)

The concern about this corridor reminds me of the 65 miles that separate Denver and Fort Collins. Older folks I talk with tell me when everything north of Thornton was nothing but farms, and the only stop for food and gas was the famous Johnson’s Corner near highway 34. Now the area doesn’t appear much different than the 405 between Long Beach and El Toro.

Change happens. The new Rail Runner link will bring improved access for residents who live in Santa Fe and work in Albuquerque, and make it easy for tourists to travel to Santa Fe from points south. Growth will happen. This area is unique, and I hope the growth will maintain the characteristics of the area and complement its beauty, rather than end up like so many highway off-ramps and suburban beltways in our country.

And hopefully someday there will still be space “to open up a restaurant in Santa Fe….”

photo of the Santa Fe Rail Runner Terminal – From WSJ.

By James Van Dellen