331 W Las Cruces Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005

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Building Details:

• Year Built: 1845

331 W Las Cruces Ave is located in Las Cruces, NM.

331 W. Las Cruces, also commonly known as the Frenger house, has an incredibly rich history dating back to the early 1800’s. While the home has undergone renovations throughout its years, it has kept its uniqueness and historic integrity. This home has so many special features, with approximately 5,500 square feet of living space, and two Casitas, there are a ton of possibilities for rental income, for residential or commercial use. The original enclosed courtyard still stands, with a small bell tower atop the main entryway and thick adobe walls with gorgeous archways. These walls have been extended so that the entire property is surrounded by the same thick adobe, creating privacy and serene patio areas throughout the grounds, on all sides of the home. There are five separate entrance points from outside the adobe enclosure, some with large, beautifully hand crafted doors original to the property, one with an operable speakeasy, and others added later on, imported from Mexico. Old rock walkways and over a dozen mature trees have been combined with newer landscaping to create a one of a kind atmosphere. A sweeping stone staircase leads to a rooftop viewing deck. A mariachi pit sits near the enclosed porch, perfect for entertaining. Nearby is a covered cooking area housing one of the two Hornos, the other one located outside the one bedroom detached Casita. The Casita has a kitchen, three quarter bathroom, and a living area all with hardwood flooring. On the other side of a private walkway is a second casita, this one sharing a wall with the main house. It has one bedroom, a living area, a small Manhattan style kitchen, and a full bathroom. An original built-in cabinet adds historic charm to this space, in addition to the vigas that run throughout.
The main house is stunning with hand stripped vigas, some with a beautiful turquoise patina, and gorgeous dendrite stone flooring throughout. The grand entry is gorgeous with thick hand carved double doors atop wide stone stairs open into a foyer with its own fireplace. Matching double doors lead to the enclosed porch. The foyer itself looks out onto the grand living area with built-in window seating, a 150 SF musician’s loft, and additional recessed living areas. Saloon doors lead to a second large living area with its own exit into the front courtyard. This room was originally created by Clara Frenger as a place for her to feed and visit with her birds. Looking up between the vigas you can still see where the ceiling openings were originally, allowing her birds to come and go as they pleased. A wood burning fireplace and a huge window decorated with a gorgeous bird mural really make this room stand out. Up a short staircase sits a smaller area, currently being used as an office, with a unique three quarter bathroom designed to resemble one of the caves of the Carlsbad Caverns.
A formal dining room sits off to the side, with a separate exit to the enclosed porch. It has built-in shelving with hand carved doors and access to the partial basement from here. The master has a seating area, direct access to two large bonus rooms, and a private exit into a partially paved courtyard with a wood burning fireplace. One of these bonus rooms has its own exit and bathroom, with a unique “throne” design by the original owner, Clara Frenger. This bathroom currently needs work, as some of the plumbing was damaged in a winter freeze a few years back. There is a hallway outside the master bathroom where the washer and dryer are located, which also serves as an exit to the outdoor walkway where the Casitas’ entrances. This makes convenient access to the laundry facilities from both Casitas, since it can also be closed off from the main house. Some rehab needs to be done in parts of this home.
This beautiful property is located in Downtown Las Cruces and is within walking distance of the new Plaza de Las Cruces, the twice weekly Farmer’s and Crafts Market, multiple museums, and galleries.