Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places

1
Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places

• Chapter 2The Plaza in Las Vegas, New Mexico A
  Community Gathering Place
• By Jeffrey S. Smith

2
What is a plaza?

• King Phillip II codification of the Laws of the
  Indies 1573
• Central plaza formation
• Prevalent in some cities, but in many, other
  systems rose
• Plazas become resolanas places where people
  gather together
• Las Vegas, New Mexico, continues the legacy of
  plazas as its chief resolana, unlike other
  prominent cities such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe,
  and Taos

3
Las Vegas Plaza

• Served as the regional center, fortress
• Residences were established in and around the
  plaza mayor
• With the inception of the city (1835), plazas
  became the center point of all action
• Beginning in the mid 1840s, economic development
  revolved around the plaza, including railroads,
  advancing Las Vegass economic importance in the
  Southwestern U.S.

4
Las Vegass Changing Role

• The early 1900s brought on slower economic
  growth with draught, etc. which actually helped
  preserve the citys traditional and historical
  sites
• New changes to the plaza modestly modernized the
  city, yet preserved the main plaza formation

5
Other New Mexico cities have different fates

• Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos all were more
  industrialized by railroads, commercialism, and
  tourism

6
Commercial Land Uses on the Plaza

• Anglo newcomers use their land for commercialism.
  They built and raised the property, changing the
  once native plaza into a communal place to a
  tourist place.
• In the three cities, a dramatic change occurred
  as the residential-geared shops became tourist
  geared. For example, in 2001, Albuquerques Old
  Town Plaza had 38 commercial units for use, and
  30 of them were either art galleries or curio
  shops, versus forty years ago when many were
  grocery stores and merchandise shops.
• Las Vegass 51 spaces in the plaza mayor are
  mainly devoted to apartments, general
  merchandise/hardware stores, groceries, the main
  church, or crafts/tradesman stores, showing
  dedication to the native residents.
• In the three changed cities, residencies changed
  completely too. People moved away from the city
  due to costs and the insufficiency of everyday
  needs stores.

7
Sponsored Community Events on the Plaza

• Traditionally, the plaza serves as the resolana,
  even hosting parades, festivals, etc.
• Sense of community fostered
• All these types of events are focused for and by
  the tourist that frequent the plazas in Santa Fe
  though, differing from Las Vegas
• Las Vegas celebrations, such as the Fourth of
  July, make the plaza come alive. The majority of
  entertainment stems from the native Las Vegas
  people, as most participants and viewers all come
  from close proximity of the plaza.

8
Personal Uses of the Plazas

• People in Las Vegas use the plaza daily, not just
  for the shops and specialty stores
• In Albuquerque, people visit the plazas as a
  tourist venue, i.e. field trips

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Conclusions

• Las Vegas is one of few cities that maintains the
  plaza as a resolana
• The traditional character of the town has not
  been lost, encapsulating the Hispanic identity
• The demands of the residents are met first and
  foremost, unlike Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos
  where the tourists reign