Architectural Guide to New Mexico: Preservation Action! The Proposed Retreat Center at the Chimayo Historic Site

el sanctuario , undated

A proposed plan to build a resort retreat center to the area directly adjacent to the Sanctuario de Chimayo has polarized many residents in the small hamlet, as well as a great many preservation and sacred site activists in the state of New Mexico. The story, as we've watched it unfold, goes something like this... (click on links in text for the referred article, site or book)

What they want to do (we'll try and get better photos asap):

A letter started it all...

Dear Friends,

The front page of the 12-22-11 SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN featured a galvanizing article on recent plans for Chimayo: "Building spirituality or ruining it". A Santa Fe entrepreneur is working with the Catholic Church to develop (one might even say "devour") the properties and hillside in front of El Santuario at El Potrero. Their development plan calls for a sprawling, 2-story complex called "Jardín de Los Niños Spiritual Retreat" that will be built directly in front of and close to El Santuario.

The same people pushing for the retreat are responsible for turning the once somber, authentic Santo Niño chapel into what has been described as a "sanitized Disneyesque farce," suggesting what the area across from El Santuario might well look like if they are given free rein to build a retreat center.

el nino before

el nino now

El Santuario is listed on the State Registry of Historic properties and the Federal Registry of National Historic Landmarks. Unfortunately, Santa Fe County currently has very lax standards for property development in Chimayo.

After several weeks of meetings with Santa Fe County and the Chimayo community we know the following:

The majority of people in Chimayo DO NOT want this to happen. Already, their antipathy is shared by many in Santa Fe County and beyond.

The plans for the retreat center were not revealed to Chimayo residents until the story was leaked in a 12-3-11 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SANTA FE/NORTH (AP) article.

The retreat center is to be built on lands owned by both the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and an international Catholic organization called The Sons of the Holy Family. The Santa Fe Archdiocese is allowing their land to be developed by the Santa Fe businessman, though the details of their relationship are nebulous.

The architectural plans (see NEW MEXICAN article map) ignore legal easements used by private property owners in the neighborhood.

One thing is certain: If built, the proposed retreat center will overwhelm what many believe to be one of New Mexico's most important and unique historic sites and will make the historic neighborhood unlivable. The Church also owns 40 acres of land just south of El Potrero so more building may be in store.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The retreat center is in the process of having their plans reviewed by Santa Fe County Zoning and Planning agencies. Sadly, the existing rules and regulations for property development in Santa Fe County are very broad and allow properties around historically sensitive places to be developed piecemeal. However, the County is about 8 months away from putting in place new rules and regulations that may include more restrictive "site specific" guidelines for historic areas like El Santuario.

Please send a brief email or letter to the contact names below saying that the "Jardín de Los Niños Spiritual Retreat" SHOULD NOT BE BUILT near the Santuario and encouraging the County to halt approval of all applications for zoning changes and for new construction near the Santuario de Chimayo until a comprehensive plan is in place that will protect the lives of residents of El Potrero and the historic integrity of the Santuario.

Second, please print out and sign the petition (see attached pdf) and mail it to the address below. It will be included among the signed petitions that we will present to County Commissioners at a public meeting.

Strong public outcry is the only hope we have.

Please forward this to anyone you know who can help and thank you so much!

Sincerely,

FRIENDS OF EL SANTUARIO

P.O. Box 438

Chimayo, NM 87522

Marta Weigle, New Mexico's distinguished folklorist and University of New Mexico Professor Emerita passed along this first newspaper article and appeal from Elizabeth Kay about the proposed retreat center to some of her friends in Chimayo and some preservation peers in New Mexico. Within days, word had spread through the town and through the preservation community. She is widely credited as the reason this project is receiving a form of architectural and preservation due diligence. As one Chimayo resident said, "Maybe we wouldn't have known about this until the bulldozers showed up."

el sanctuario, 2011

Commentary about the proposed new retreat center

RICK A. RICE's overview of the crisis in Chimayo, which he continues to update, that includes historic photographs of the Santuario and the Santo Niño chapel (before and after its recent makeover.)

LYNDA SANCHEZ is an award winning preservationist from southern New Mexico who has been a vocal advocate of the preservation of the site and landscape. Lynda helped in the preservation efforts of Fort Stanton and historic buildings in Lincoln County.

TOM MCINTOSH - Tom McIntosh, RPA's blog site about the threat to Chimayo.

Video

Local News coverage on the plan

Historic Drawings and Documents of the Sanctuario and Environs

For a brief overview of the history of the Chimayo villita, sanctuario, and portrero... visit it's story at the NM Office of the State Historian's website. WILLIAM WROTH, historian and author of "Santuario de Chimayo," linked above, is in the process of nominating El Potrero as an endangered place.

Sanctuario de Chimayo hand drawings signed by NPS pioneer Landscape Architect Tom Vint at the Historic American Building Survey

Recommended Reading: (Title links to Amazon)

Benigna's Chimayo: Cuentos From The Old Plaza

Don J. Usner , Arturo Usner Chavez, Stella Chavez Usner

Sabino's Map: Life in Chimayo's Old Plaza

Don J. Usner

Review at the High Country News

Do you Care? Get Involved!

CHIMAYO CITIZENS FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING (CCCP) is an organization whose mission is to support responsible growth that is sensitive to and compatible with the historical assets and traditional cultural values of Chimayo, and is protective of Chimayo's natural resources, its historic properties, its cultural landscapes and view-sheds. CCCP meets weekly and is in communication with Santa Fe County, Chimayo property owners and developers. CCCP is having a membership drive in order to be recognized by Santa Fe County as a legitimate community voice. If you live in Chimayo or own property here, please sign our membership list at our next meeting. Or, email us your name, address and phone number. Membership is free. Email: cccp@cybermesa.com

Want to write someone to offer your support?

SUGGESTED CONTACTS

Santa Fe County Commissioners

Virginia Vigil vvigil@santafecounty.org

Liz Stephanics lstefanics@santafecounty.org

Daniel Mayfield dmayfield@santafecounty.org

Robert Anaya ranaya@santafecounty.org

Kathy Holian kholian@santafecounty.org

SF County Advisory Committee Member

Jerry Rogers jrogers@cnsp.com

OTHER IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Jan V. Biella, RPA
Interim New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer