Los Alamos invites residents to weigh in on historic preservation plan

Future renovations, redevelopment and even how Los Alamos interprets its own history could be influenced by the county’s historic preservation plan, which opened a new round of public engagement for residents. The effort is centered on the community’s architecture, history and preservation goals, and the county is asking for more than broad opinion. It is steering people into specific conversations about what should be protected, how historic places should be understood and how future development should reflect the town’s character.

The schedule includes a Secret Cities Lecture on Thursday, May 28, with architectural curator Martin Moeller, who will discuss the architecture, planning and historic significance of Manhattan Project communities, including Los Alamos. From May 27 through May 29, the county will also hold Historic Walk-Abouts, smaller guided walks focused on themes that include Manhattan Project history, post-war housing, Indigenous history, homesteading and the Los Alamos Ranch School era. On Thursday, June 4, the county will host a virtual Indigenous Design Principles lecture featuring award-winning architect Tamarah Begay, who will discuss how Indigenous design practices can inform preservation and future development.

The questionnaire for the preservation plan will remain open through June 14, giving residents another way to shape the county’s direction if they cannot attend the live sessions. All of the events are free and open to the public, though the county is encouraging registration. That matters because the preservation plan is not just a discussion about the past. It could affect how Los Alamos County approaches redevelopment, interpretation and historic character in both Los Alamos townsite and White Rock, where questions about neighborhood identity and growth have long carried real property consequences.

The county’s framing makes clear that this is a decision point, not a ceremonial outreach effort. The public input gathered through the lectures, walk-abouts and questionnaire will help shape how Los Alamos protects specific sites, tells the stories tied to them and balances preservation with change. For residents watching remodeling rules, neighborhood character and future development closely, the plan could set the terms for what gets preserved and what the county is willing to allow to change.