Metropolitan Redevelopment Area - White Rock
Los Alamos County has designated part of White Rock Town Center as a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) to address challenges such as limited housing, aging infrastructure, and underutilized land. To guide this effort, the County adopted the White Rock Town Center Master Plan in 2021, which provides a vision for transforming the area into a lively hub with housing, retail, and office opportunities supported by walkable streets and inviting public spaces. The MRA designation equips the County with tools to attract private investment and remove barriers to redevelopment.
Tools and Strategies
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan authorizes a range of tools to encourage revitalization, including:
- Tax abatement (up to 7 years)
- Direct financial incentives and gap financing
- Fee waivers for development costs
- Public infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, utilities, and parking
These tools, enabled under the New Mexico Metropolitan Redevelopment Code, are typically used through public-private partnerships. Their purpose is to eliminate blight and achieve the community-driven goals of the White Rock Town Center Master Plan.
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
The Three Targeted Redevelopment Areas
The approved White Rock MRA Plan identifies three boundary areas with the greatest potential for catalytic redevelopment. Each area has its own goals:
1. Bonnie View Targeted Redevelopment Area
- Focus: A dense, mixed-use corridor with housing above ground-floor commercial uses.
- Goals: Create an active streetscape with restaurants, shops, and services alongside modern housing. Development should prioritize young professionals, seniors, and LANL workers.
- Character: Walkable, pedestrian-friendly, with vibrant public spaces and commuter/tourist-oriented businesses
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
2. Longview Targeted Redevelopment Area
- Focus: Primarily residential redevelopment, from townhomes to mid-rise apartments.
- Goals: Provide “missing middle” housing options for seniors, smaller families, and professionals. Create a quieter, neighborhood-oriented atmosphere compared to Bonnie View, but still support strong pedestrian and bicycle connections.
- Character: More residential in feel, but integrated with trails, open space, and neighborhood amenities
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
3. Rover Boulevard Targeted Redevelopment Area
- Focus: Mixed-use or higher-density residential, with some flexibility for more auto-oriented uses due to site constraints.
- Goals: Deliver multi-family and workforce housing while balancing compatibility with nearby single-family neighborhoods. Buffering, height limits, and design standards ensure development transitions well.
- Character: Could include both active mixed-use spaces and quieter housing-oriented projects, depending on market demand
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
Moving Forward
The White Rock MRA designation enables the County to support redevelopment projects with public resources in a strategic manner. This includes evaluating proposals and making recommendations to the County Council on potential public-private partnerships. The goal is to spur investment that aligns with the Master Plan vision of a vibrant Town Center, while meeting pressing needs for housing, business vitality, and infrastructure improvements.
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
Project Journey
- Initial Assessment: White Rock Designation Report prepared by New Mexico MainStreet consultants.
- Community Engagement: Ongoing since 2018 through public meetings, open houses, and stakeholder outreach.
- Master Planning: Completed with consultants Dekker/Perich/Sabatini (DPS) in 2021.
- Approval: Final White Rock MRA Plan adopted by County Council in October 2022
Approved White Rock MRA Plan
Get Involved
For more information, contact Economic Development Program Manager Anita Barela at economicdevelopment@lacnm.us.
Additional Resources
