Las Cruces had a suburban feel to it. There were few businesses open, and there seemed to be a basic lack of density to be viewed as a city on the east coast. The setbacks were huge to accommodate parking. It reminded me a little bit about the development adjacent to a downtown.
The Courthouse was great, and I enjoyed some of the architecture. But unfortunately, it appeared the older building inventory held a different street line whgich wsas obliterated when the 1960s urban redevelopment happened. There were boarded buildings and vacant. The inventory was limited, and I did not spend much time there. I assume that they tore down too many buildings during urban redevelopment and became too wide open when they eliminated pedestrian-covered walkways. This redevelopment was a classic example of a mistaken assumption during urban redevelopment. Many towns had the covered walkway and had to eliminate them, and when that happened, it altered the street level perception of the space. The space was too wide open and lacked character.
For what it is, it was well kept and clean.