Historic Casitas Demolished for New State Office Building in Santa Fe

Locals express concerns over parking, congestion, and loss of historic structures

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:09am

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting the four historic casitas in Santa Fe, their weathered adobe walls and tiled roofs bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, conveying a sense of nostalgia and the passing of time.The demolition of Santa Fe's historic casitas, once part of the Barrio de Analco neighborhood, marks the end of an era as the state moves forward with a new executive office building.Santa Fe Today

The demolition of four historic casitas located near the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe has begun, making way for a new 165,000-square-foot executive office building. The $95 million project, approved by state lawmakers, will consolidate several state agencies currently housed in leased spaces around the city. However, not all local residents are pleased with the plan, with the Old Santa Fe Association voicing disappointment over the loss of the century-old structures.

Why it matters

The demolition of the historic casitas highlights the ongoing tension between the state's need for more centralized office space and the preservation of Santa Fe's unique architectural heritage. While the new building aims to save money by reducing reliance on leased spaces, some worry it could exacerbate parking and congestion issues around the state Capitol.

The details

Construction crews have begun demolishing four historic casitas, small houses built around 1930 that were once part of the Barrio de Analco residential neighborhood in Santa Fe. The demolition is the first step in a $95 million project to build a new 165,000-square-foot executive office building to house several state agencies currently scattered across leased spaces in the city.

  • The demolition work began this week and is expected to continue over the next two months.
  • The initial $22 million plan for a new state government building near the Capitol was first proposed nearly 20 years ago.

The players

Edward Archuleta

The executive director of the Old Santa Fe Association, a group that advocated for the casitas to be saved and repurposed.

Michelle Lujan Grisham

The Governor of New Mexico who signed the capital outlay bill that included $95 million for the new executive office building project.

Grancor Environmental

An Albuquerque-based firm that was awarded the demolition contract by the state.

Joe Vigil

A spokesman for the New Mexico General Services Department, the state agency overseeing the project.

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What they’re saying

“We are disappointed, obviously. We really had wanted to see them preserved.”

— Edward Archuleta, Executive Director, Old Santa Fe Association

“The state gets what the state wants.”

— Edward Archuleta, Executive Director, Old Santa Fe Association

What’s next

The design phase of the new executive office building project is underway and will be completed by October. The state agency plans to begin the process of requesting bids for construction by the end of this year.

The takeaway

This demolition highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing the state's need for modernized, centralized office space with the preservation of Santa Fe's historic architectural character. While the new building aims to save money, some residents are concerned it could exacerbate existing parking and congestion issues around the Capitol.