Taos Real Estate

1) March 17, 18, Town of Taos Council Special Meetings, agendas attached.

1) The Town of Taos is working with a national nonprofit organization, ArtSpace, to prepare a feasibility study for developing affordable live/work spaces for local artists. Representatives of ArtSpace will be in Taos on March 18-19 to meet with artists, art organization reps and members of Taos’ development community to learn more about the potential for this project and to visit possible sites. Mark your calendars to participate:

· Artists& Art Organizations - March 18th from2:30 - 4:00(Los Angelitos room)

· Development Community (Lenders, Designers, Builders, Real Estate) - March 18th from 4:00 - 5:30 (Los Angelitos Room)

· Public Presentation - March 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 (Los Angelitos Room)

Questions?  Email Matthew Foster, Long Range Planner, mfoster@taosgov.com.

2) Town of Taos Parking Meter Pilot Program

There are 395 parking meters in the Town of Taos’ Historic District, in addition to three free parking lots that the Town underwrites within walking of Taos Plaza (the Couse lot on Kit Carson, the Loretta lot near Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the lot at Town Hall/the Taos Library, and the McCarthy lot near the Town’s new public restrooms).  For over a year the parking meters in the Town’s Historic District have been part of a Town-initiated “two-hour free parking” program, designated by red stickers on all meters.  At the last Town of Taos Council Meeting, Town Manager Daniel Miera reviewed the cost of this pilot program for the Town – estimated to be approximately $300,000 a year in gross revenues.  These are $300,000 in revenues that were once collected by the Town in parking ticket and meter fees – that due to this pilot have not been collected this past year.  See attached historic overview of fees for comparisons.  During April 2009, the Town of Taos Council is scheduled to determine the immediate future of this parking pilot program. With the Town’s all-day free parking lots soon to be completely functional again post-construction, with costs increasing for the Town’s free parking lots noted above, with the desire to continue to subsidize (and possibly increase) the $400,000 in Taos direct marketing funding, and with the need for all Town revenue sources to be carefully managed given the current economic situation, discussions have focused on the possible rescinding of the existing pilot program.  Alternatives/proposals/ideas from the public about how best to serve the parking community in Taos while also preserving parking revenues for essential programs are welcome.  Please forward to cconnelly@taosgov.com.

3) TAOS - Coyote Classic Schedule - Week II (Mites - Squirts - Peewees) March 20-22 – see attached.  Questions?  Contact Brian E. Greer, Director, Town of Taos Youth & Family Center, 407 Paseo del Canon East, Taos, NM 87571, 575-758-4160, www.TaosYouth.com.

4) Taos News Clips – San Francisco item about Taos Summer of Love --

http://www.examiner.com/x-546-Specialty-Travel-Examiner~y2009m3d11-Its-the-summer-of-love-in-Taos-with-Dennis-Hopper-and-Easy-Rider

From BlissTree.com: http://www.blisstree.com/flyawaycafe/taos-summer-of-love-celebration/

Author:  Mary Jo Manzanares is an avid traveler and shopper, and loves when she can do both at the same time. She lives in Seattle, where she always has a bag packed, ready for her next great adventure. In addition to writing for Splendicity, Mary Jo also writes Flyaway Cafe for b5media and at The Seattle Traveler for Planeteye.