Feb. 19—The Railyard Master Plan is "the best example of local economic development in the state," Steve Robinson recalled former Gov. Bill Richardson saying when the two first sat down roughly two decades ago to discuss the future of a struggling but potential-filled corner of downtown Santa Fe.
Time flies. And the Railyard — thanks in part to Robinson's patience and diligence — chugged along, eventually to success.
The memories were plentiful as Robinson, an architect by trade, discussed his recent decision to resign from the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corp.'s board of directors, ending a two-decade-plus relationship with an organization that helped transform the area into a vibrant hub for city residents and tourists, featuring an array of local shops and community organizations, plus a national retailer in REI.
The transformation comes as the Railyard corporation's priorities have shifted in recent years, from the leasing of parcels and construction and design monitoring of the Railyard — around 97% of the area has been developed — to a focus on management and tenant relations.
"The heavy lifting is done," Robinson said. "I feel like I have had a great run in the public realm."
Succeeding Robinson as board president is former Santa Fe City Councilor Chris Calvert, the organization said in a news release Monday.
Robinson, at the helm of the SFRCC's board since 2002, worked on revitalization efforts of the area going back to the '90s, when he helped organize community meetings as a response to out-of-state real estate developer Catellus Development Corp.'s proposal to demolish the industrial buildings and remove the train tracks in the area and create a massive upscale development. Following the city's rejection of that plan, Robinson helped advise former Santa Fe Mayor Debbie Jaramillo on the purchase of the property in 1995.
He worked with a local nonprofit and the city's Planning and Land Use Department in the following years to engage roughly 7,000 community members, which led to the creation of a community plan just two years later. By 2002, following the completion of a full master plan, the Railyard corporation was contracted to implement the Master Plan, build out the infrastructure and work with local developers.
Robinson, 78, said the transformation of the Railyard was a team effort — crediting local developers, city councilors and mayors who "worked hand in glove with us." He also pointed to Richard Czoski, the organization's former executive director for nearly two decades, as a key figure in bringing the area to life.