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The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920
cgonzal@unm.edu

June 22, 2007

UNM Planning Students Map Columbus/Palomas Businesses

David Henkel, director of the planning program in the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning, recently completed a three-week studio in the communities of Columbus, NM and Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Henkel and his six graduate students from UNM Community and Regional Planning, spent time in the field working to understand the strengths and weaknesses of both communities as well as the complex interaction of their economies.

“Governmental agencies on both sides frequently wrap up the economic problems as ‘border’ issues,” Henkel said.

The students, all of whom are Spanish proficient, spent two-weeks analyzing the business structure of both towns and ultimately produced business maps of both communities. “Although they are socially connected, Columbus and Palomas are economically more distant,” Henkel said.

Henkel said that many Deming residents trek down to Palomas but generally don’t venture down any further than the Pink Store, a higher end restaurant, bar and emporium of Mexican crafts. Many of them also purchase pharmaceuticals, visit the eye doctor or a mechanic, but don’t stop in Columbus or venture further into Palomas or south beyond, he said.

“The question for Columbus is how to address this market, but there are broader possibilities for super-regional tourism,” he said.

Cultural tourism – a tourism corridor from Paquimé in Casas Grandes in the state of Chihuahua to the Gila Cliff Dwellings near Silver City – present economic opportunities, he said. The pre-Colombian style pottery revitalized in Mata Ortiz by Juan Quezada is one example of the way a community can build economic vitality through its cultural resources, he said.

Ghost Towns, rock hounding and more exist in the state of Chihuahua. “Columbus can be a jumping off place to these sites,” he said.

After studying the two communities and the broader region, Henkel’s students presented their work in community forums in both towns. “The first was a strategy session aimed at bringing interested citizens of Palomas in for a roundtable discussion on economic development,” he said.

Residents started the discussion focused on what government could or should be doing, but then began to look at what they could do. “We did asset mapping and looked at the capital they possess: human, social, physical, environmental and financial,” Henkel said.

The second session was an open house at the Columbus Community Center where the students shared photos, the business map and an evaluation of community assets.

“The project was successful because of the forthcoming and generous participation of citizens on both sides of the border,” Henkel said.

For more information on the project, visit the blog: www.columbuspalomas.blogspot.com

The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

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