Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

It looks like the rumors about a new Trader Joe's on the Westside are true and its site has been revealed. The Albuquerque Journal is reporting that the new store will go into the commercial development at Unser and McMahon boulevards near the boundary with Rio Rancho and the fast-growing Unser Gateway area. It's based upon recent filings with the city for planning approval. They say that the new store will have 13,000 sq ft of space and will open by 2029.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/trad...es-west-side-permit-filings-show/3088857

Another Trader Joe’s may be on the horizon for Albuquerque.

The national grocery store chain, known for its unique store-brand foods and organic and specialty products, could open its first location on Albuquerque’s West Side, according to permits filed with the city’s Planning Department. Albuquerque currently has two Trader Joe’s locations — one in Uptown and the other near Paseo del Norte Boulevard.

The department’s ABQ-PLAN map, which shows development activity happening across the city, shows that the land-use planning firm Tierra West submitted a sketch plan application “for the development of a Trader Joe’s grocery store” at 10641 Unser NW on Thursday.

A Trader Joe’s spokesperson told the Journal on Friday that the company is “actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including in Albuquerque” but that the company does “not have any details to confirm” at this time.

The address in the permit filings belongs to vacant, undeveloped land near the intersection of Unser and McMahon NW, neighboring a retail center occupied by Chicken Salad Chick, Crackin’ Crab Seafood Boil, House of Chimney Cakes, Duke City BBQ and Stripes Burrito Co.

Other filings show that the city recently approved a traffic circulation layout plan for the potential Trader Joe’s development, according to a July 9 filing. Documents in that filing indicate that the proposed Trader Joe’s will span 13,000 square feet and come with 168 parking spaces. The document also indicates the store could open by 2029.

The land that could welcome Trader Joe’s sits closest to the Unser and McMahon NW intersection, next to a new commercial building where a Dunkin’ is also under construction. Tierra West has submitted a sketch plat application to “eliminate a lot line” to consolidate two lots — at 10641 and 10651 Unser NW — into one.

Tierra West declined to comment on the development, as did NAI SunVista brokers Todd Strickland and Rob Bridges, who have been representing the owner of several acres of land near that intersection — Holly Partners LLC — since 2020.

“We’ve been sworn to secrecy,” Bridges said.

Strickland did say that deals have been secured for five of nine lots the brokers have been marketing for sale on behalf of Holly Partners LLC. Bridges was also able to confirm that the land at 10641 Unser NW is under contract to be sold.

It appears that Boba Tea Co. could also join the area, as the city’s ABQ-PLAN map and the Bernalillo County Assessor’s website show that the drink company owns the land between the Tidal Wave Auto Spa car wash and the existing retail center off Unser Boulevard.

Documents in the Trader Joe’s plan filings also indicate that a residential development including 256 apartments, a drive-in bank and a gas station supermart are also slated to join the area.

“I think it’s great for the city,” Bridges said of the developments. “Great to see some good movement and bring more convenience and amenities to the area.”

Here are a few pics showing the area and the commercial development at Unser and McMahon where the new Trader Joe’s is planned. I assume the two lots (6 and 7) right on the southwest corner of the intersection are the ones that will be consolidated and where the new store will be built.

[ABQalex]

Below is the site plan and a bit more information confirming the plans for a new Trader Joe's location on the Westside at Unser and McMahon NW. They are from the traffic circulation layout and traffic scoping form submittals to the city that the Journal story cites above. It looks like the store will indeed go on the two lots located directly on the corner of the intersection.

[ABQalex]

The developer of the proposed dual-branded hotel project in the Sawmill Area has now paused its development efforts and moved the projected start date from later this year to early 2028. This is due to the opposition and uncertainty caused by the city council bowing to area NIMBYs and delaying consideration of the IRBs which the developer has sought for the project. They will now try to lease the existing small office structure on the site in the interim until it becomes clear whether they will receive the IRBs or not.

The story also has an update about the developer's other proposed hotel in North I-25 which was approved quickly for IRB help by the city council back in June and will get underway by the end of the year as planned.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/loca...ances-journal-center-development/3091476

A local developer is moving full steam ahead with one Albuquerque hotel development, while pumping the brakes on another.

A few weeks ago, Albuquerque-based Sun Capital Hotels had plans to bring two new hotels to Albuquerque — one at a vacant Journal Center parcel at 5910 Jefferson NE and the other in the Sawmill area at 1010 18th NW, currently the site of a 25,000-square-foot office building.

The company told the Journal this week that it has paused its Sawmill hotel plans after community concerns about the Hilton-branded project prompted City Council to delay a decision on awarding the development with $40 million in industrial revenue bonds last month.

Council members said they wanted to give Sun Capital more time to meet with the community and iron out the project details before deciding on the IRBs — a tax-abatement tool the city uses to spur economic development. IRBs sometimes make the difference on whether or not a project is doable.

Now, Sun Capital says it has relisted the office building for lease “because of the uncertainty surrounding the project’s feasibility,” said Sun Capital Manager Sahil Kholwadwala.

“We will continue operating the property as an office building until it becomes feasible to move forward with the hotel,” Kholwadwala said. “We remain interested in developing the hotel, but the timeline will depend on the IRB process, the economics of the project and leasing activity at the existing building.”

Concerns surrounding the Sawmill project — a dual-branded Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites hotel with 135 rooms — included worries that a national brand would diminish the local character of the Sawmill area, just minutes away from historic Old Town.

But Kholwadwala contended the hotel would be developed with local expertise and a design that would match the colors and aesthetics of the Sawmill area.

“The hotel will operate under the Hilton flag, but the project itself is locally owned, locally developed and will be locally managed,” Kholwadwala said, adding that her husband and Sun Capital’s president and CEO, Deepesh, grew up in Albuquerque’s North Valley. The project’s owner, Dreamcatcher, is also led by Albuquerque residents.

“The project will take inspiration from the industrial Southwestern character of the Sawmill District, including brick and metal elements,” Kholwadwala said. “It will not be a generic box that could be placed along any interstate. Our goal is for the hotel to enhance the district, not detract from it.”

Kholwadwala added that Sun Capital intentionally excluded a full-service restaurant and bar from the Sawmill plans to prompt guests to spend money at the area’s local restaurants and businesses instead. The goal is also to offer a cheaper price point to bring more visitors to the area.

“We want the hotel to support the neighborhood’s success,” Kholwadwala said.

Despite halting the Sawmill project, Sun Capital plans to continue soliciting feedback from the community as the project’s design work and feasibility unfold. If the project’s outlook improves, Kholwadwala said Sun Capital would target an early 2028 groundbreaking.

Journal Center update

As for the Journal Center hotel, that project is slated to begin construction before the end of this year — a timeline supported by the City Council approving $25 million in IRBs for the development last month. Pending permit approval, the developer is targeting a 2027 opening.

The hotel, a Home2 Suites by Hilton, will feature 103 rooms, totaling roughly 54,000 square feet. City documents show the project is expected to create up to 37 permanent full- and part-time jobs.

The hotel is also expected to generate nearly $4.3 million in taxes by 2045 and roughly $1 million in expenditures on taxable local goods and services, according to a fiscal impact analysis from the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Like the Sawmill project, the Journal Center hotel’s design will also mimic its environment, featuring a modern design Kholwadwala said will suit the Journal Center’s “business-district” aesthetic.

“Our goal is to create quality hotels that support Albuquerque’s continued growth as both a business and leisure destination,” Kholwadwala said.

This is just so disgusting to see play out. All the arguments against the hotel and issuing it IRBs are completely bunk and being raised for disgusting and disingenuous reasons.

All this does is delay and throw into question a good project and kill momentum in an area that has great potential but which is taking forever to redevelop. It's been 25 years since the first redevelopment project in the Sawmill Area was built.

Stuff like this is exactly why our entire city takes forever to improve. Our leaders allow great projects and things such as this to be delayed, derailed and killed through inaction and absurd delays, often to appease NIMBY @ssholes.

Years go by and we are forced to measure progress and improvements in decades. It's all so frustrating and maddening.

[ABQalex]

Before today's story by the Albuquerque Journal about the dual-branded hotel in the Sawmill Area, I was getting ready to share the renderings and site plans of the project below.

The images are from their recent submittal before the Development Facilitation Team for planning approval of the project.

They show a design and color palette for the hotel that is updated from the previous design but also slightly different from what's seen in the rendering that the Journal story displays above.

I'm unsure which is the final design that they are going with, but I'm gonna assume that it's this one, since it's what they've actually submitted to the city for review.











I liked the previous industrial-style version better, but obviously they're trying to appease those opposed by going with a more Southwestern color palette and design with more emphasis on stucco and less industrial elements, etc. That's especially evident in the Journal rendering, which strips the industrial vibe almost completely.

Never mind that existing projects in the Sawmill Area that were approved without such opposition have even more "inappropriate" wacky and bold color combinations with industrial elements than the previous hotel design. Projects like the Artisan apartments, Ace Leadership Academy and Tierra Adentro charter schools.







All of these projects and designs somehow sailed through and caused no issues or opposition to arise in this supposed sacred bastion of Southwestern and adobe-style design.

[ABQalex]

Here are renderings of the Albuquerque Museum's new Education Center. The city recently announced that they will break ground on the project later this year. They also announced that they have received a $100,000 grant from a national climate initiative for the solar energy arrays that will go on top of the new structure.

https://www.instagram.com/abqmuseum/p/DaOreDoDTy4/



https://dncarchitect.com/projects/albuquerque-museum-education-center/









https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque_Museum_of_Art_and_History

[TheABQJav]

Originally Posted by ABQalex

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/loca...ances-journal-center-development/3091476





This is just so disgusting to see play out. All the arguments against the hotel and issuing it IRBs are completely bunk and being raised for disgusting and disingenuous reasons.

All this does is delay and throw into question a good project and kill momentum in an area that has great potential but which is taking forever to redevelop. It's been 25 years since the first redevelopment project in the Sawmill Area was built.

Stuff like this is exactly why our entire city takes forever to improve. Our leaders allow great projects and things such as this to be delayed, derailed and killed through inaction and absurd delays, often to appease NIMBY @ssholes.

Years go by and we are forced to measure progress and improvements in decades. It's all so frustrating and maddening.

The Journal updated the article last evening a few hours after release. The new framing describes that the project is uncertain given the IRB, rather than the project being halted altogether.

The updated headline reads: "Future of Sawmill hotel uncertain as local developer advances Journal Center project"

I couldn't agree more with your characterization of the situation. We cannot afford to let good projects lose momentum in Albuquerque.

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News this morning had a piece about the dual-branded hotel in the Sawmill Area as well. The IRBs for the project are scheduled to go before the city council again next week as planned. DAN in their analysis seems to make it out like the delay was merely a show of good faith by certain city councilors and wanting to placate those opposed.

They seem to assume that the two city councilors who voted for the delay will ultimately vote for the IRBs. I certainly hope that's so. I'm also hoping the developer's recent announcement of a pause is more of that kind of propaganda and empty threat hoping to influence and scare councilors into supporting the IRBs. The DAN story gives a much dimmer view of the project's future without the IRBs than the Journal story did, however.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Proposed hotel complex in Sawmill returns to council Monday

The City Council is expected to again consider a tax subsidy next week for a proposed 143-room Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites on Eighteenth Street in Sawmill, returning to a controversial issue it last took up before its summer break began roughly six weeks ago.

The measure came up for a vote in June, but councilors put off any action on the matter amid opposition from neighbors, the Sawmill Community Land Trust, and Heritage Hotels and Resorts - the company behind Hotel Chaco and the Sawmill Market (DAN, 6/22/26). In doing so, councilors made clear their hope that developer Deepesh Kholwadwala, a fixture of the local innkeeper community who also put up the Holiday Inn Express and Suites at Twelfth and Indian School, would use the time to talk things over with the neighbors in particular.

Since then, Kholwadwala has done just that, meeting with the SCLT and Sawmill Area Neighborhood Association President David Stryker. He also made his pitch to last month's regular monthly board meeting of the Historic Old Town Association.

Whether the recent diplomacy has softened the opposition at all is hard to gauge, but the fundamental worries about the project have certainly not disappeared. Some residents of Fifteenth Street remain concerned that the five-story development would take over the skyline as seen from their backyards, Stryker said. Traffic in the neighborhood also tends to dominate local conversation mills - both in terms of overall congestion and persistent vehicular law-breaking - and it has accompanied the Hampton Inn discussion much as it has with other proposed developments in the neighborhood.

Kholwadwala, meanwhile, has made traffic one of his main talking points, arguing that the basic mechanics of a hotel will translate into fewer vehicle trips to and from the complex than the office building it is set to replace. He reasons that the 160 office units could involve a similar number of cars coming in and out at peak times, plus lunch hour traffic and the trips of all the people who have appointments there throughout the day.

Hotel guests, by contrast, tend to come and go at off-peak times, Kholwadwala said. Business travelers in particular may stay in separate rooms but tend to travel in groups, often sharing a car. A fair number of leisure travelers, he added, will arrive by Uber or Lyft and then take care of at least some of their sightseeing trips on foot.

"In a district like this, people will walk," he said.

Should Kholwadwala fail to obtain the subsidy next week - through a complex mechanism called an industrial revenue bond that would effectively reduce his property tax rate by 70 percent for 20 years - he would have no choice, he said, but to abandon the project and resume renting out the office building currently on the land, likely upping traffic volumes more than a hotel would. His company, Sun Capital Hotels, has in fact already started advertising short-term leases there given the uncertainty surrounding the IRB and other later steps in the approval process.

Assuming there's been no mass pro-Hampton-Inn shift in neighborhood public opinion in recent weeks, Monday's vote may well come down to whether Kholwadwala can rally his own troops to show up and give the councilors a reason to say yes. He has, if nothing else, a natural constituency in the form of business owners in Old Town and Sawmill who stand to enjoy more foot traffic if 100 or so new people are staying just a few blocks away. Underlining the appeal to that group, Kholwadwala has emphasized that there will be no bar or restaurant in the forthcoming hotel - a move he said is quite purposely designed to send people and their wallets elsewhere in the neighborhood.

If anything, the council also appears to be leaning his way. Councilors Nichole Rogers and Joaquín Baca both voted to defer action so the two sides could talk it out over the break, but they also mused out loud about how it might make sense to have a mid-range hotel in the area - a sort of counterpoint to the high-end Hotel Chaco. Meanwhile, four other councilors who voted "yes" on another Kholwadwala IRB that night voted against tabling the Sawmill measure - likely an indication that they were ready to support it then and there. Taken together, that would already be a majority plus one.

As always, I'm mainly just interested in seeing these kinds of projects come to fruition, especially in such priority redevelopment areas as the Sawmill Area. That's all I really care about. I'm always fully in support of helping these projects along in any way we can as a city to see such areas improved and made vibrant and productive. I really and truly fail to see any bad side to such redevelopment projects and giving this sort of help.

Below are the three versions of the hotel renderings that we've recently seen. I thought I'd post them together in order to compare and make it easier to spot the differences and changes in each design.

[ABQalex]

Originally Posted by TheABQJav

The Journal updated the article last evening a few hours after release. The new framing describes that the project is uncertain given the IRB, rather than the project being halted altogether.

The updated headline reads: "Future of Sawmill hotel uncertain as local developer advances Journal Center project"

I couldn't agree more with your characterization of the situation. We cannot afford to let good projects lose momentum in Albuquerque.

Oh okay, yes, they often update their stories sometimes days, weeks and months after the fact. It's a bit annoying, if I'm being honest. Sadly, I chalk it up to bad journalism and the overall crappy quality of our local media.

It's also just bad communication, bad interpretation, mixed messages and failure to make things clear by all involved. That's always one of my bugaboos, no matter what.

I'm often disappointed by the lack of care or knowledge by people involved with these projects and whose job it is to present them, report on them and make decisions about them.

It's rather disheartening and endlessly disappointing.

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News earlier this month also reported about the La Curva project on Central Avenue west of Old Town. They included a rendering of the first phase/structure of the project that will front directly along Central Avenue. It's from the presentation made earlier this month before the Albuquerque Development Commission where the developer was asking for approval of redevelopment tax abatements for the project.

The ADC ultimately voted to grant the RTAs, which will also be the first under the new 14-year term that the state legislature approved earlier this year. Developers can go for the longer term but they must show more of a benefit and meet more requirements than the 7-year term tax abatement.

The story and presentation also now indicate that the first and second phases will each have 70 units, for a total of 140 units. That's a slight reduction from what was reported earlier this year of 142 total units and 71 in each phase. A good thing is that they say the second phase will get underway soon after the first phase. I assume they will be requesting RTAs for the second phase as well.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

West Central apartment complex advances toward construction

A 70-unit apartment complex set to be constructed on the north side of Central near El Vado took another step toward groundbreaking last week as the Albuquerque Development Commission signed off on a roughly $2 million tax subsidy for the effort.

La Curva, a project of prominent Greater Downtown Developer Palindrome Communities, is set to go into construction this fall (DAN, 4/8/26). The four-story building will include a mix of 43 one-bedroom units and 27 two-bedroom units.

Developers along Central and other streets that fall under the planning category of "major transit corridor" are no longer required to provide parking spaces - a measure designed to lower the cost of home construction in particular - but Palindrome plans to build 54 anyway, according to a presentation at last week's ADC meeting. The developer also plans to build an unspecified number of motorcycle and bicycle parking spots.

The subsidy passed by the ADC comes in the form of a property tax abatement, which essentially freezes the collection at pre-development levels for 14 years - an estimated savings of $2.4 million. In order to access the subsidy, the developer had to make a case that the project could not happen without it. It is the first such project for which the city is using the expanded form of the tax incentive passed by the state legislature earlier this year.

The ADC voted unanimously to recommend the measure to the City Council, which typically takes up such legislation within a month or two of receipt.

Palindrome, which was also behind the renovations of El Vado and the Imperial Motel plus much of the development on the Sawmill Community Land Trust, hopes to begin construction of an additional 70 units on the site shortly after breaking ground on the first project.

The developer had in 2023 attempted to put up an even larger complex on the same site as part of a project that would have also included the land directly to the west now home to a mobile home park (DAN, 5/1/23). But it put the idea on hold after the city pulled a funding opportunity the organization was hoping to win (DAN, 9/25/23).

I watched this month's ADC meeting as well and was able to get a slightly bigger screenshot of the first phase rendering. I'll post that below along with the site plan and 1st-floor plan that were also presented at the meeting.







I submitted a FOIA request about two weeks ago to the city for the supporting documents for this month's ADC meeting because they are still not posting them directly like they used to on their website.

The city is apparently still dealing with a huge backlog of FOIA requests because they've yet to respond with the requested items.

I'm just wanting bigger and clearer versions of the rendering and site/floor plans.

They say that such meeting documents are now available by searching and using their portal but it hasn't been updated since February's meeting.

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/albuquerque-development-commission

If the city doesn't want to have so many FOIA requests to deal with, then perhaps they should go back to the old way of doing things for these meetings and disseminating such documents on their page with direct links!

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal has a story about the new El Mezquite location on South Broadway. They say that it's scheduled to open in October. They also have an update about the new tenants that will go into the spaces not used by the grocery store. It's nothing terribly exciting, an insurance company and cell phone place. I was hoping for a dollar-type store or other kind of general merchandiser, which I recognize that others might not find exciting either.

The story also gets into the background of the owner and the chain's history and how they arrived in Albuquerque and became a success. It's actually an interesting story and nice read! I'm certainly grateful for his interest and investment in reviving this place that has always figured prominently in my life and holds many special memories for me throughout the years.

I look forward to shopping there in the future!

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/how-...ecame-an-albuquerque-institution/3091588

Sergio Bermudez didn’t have much when he moved to Albuquerque to start a market business with his two brothers nearly 30 years ago.

“We didn’t have a house; we didn’t know anybody. I had no background experience. I didn’t (have any studies),” he said.

Yet, one year later — with one employee and a little ambition — Bermudez and his brothers, Luis and Juan, launched El Mezquite Market out of a 3,000-square-foot space in the South Valley in 1998. Now, the authentic Mexican, immigrant-led grocer has a strong and growing Albuquerque presence, with four locations throughout the city and another on the way.

It was pure happenstance that Bermudez and his brothers ended up in Albuquerque at all.

Originally from Sonora, Mexico, they immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s, landing in Arizona. Bermudez was working in construction when one day he and his brothers visited a mini market their cousins owned in southern Phoenix and noticed people lining up to enter the store.

The brothers had a light-bulb moment and thought to themselves, “We should do something like that; this is a great business,” Bermudez recalled.

With a little help from their cousins, the brothers saved enough money to start the business. All that was left to decide was where they would to plant it. Phoenix was already full of mini markets, so they decided to try out Tucson. It wasn’t a match, Bermudez said, prompting a return to a map.

“We say, ‘Well, Albuquerque. I don’t know what’s in Albuquerque but let’s go to Albuquerque,’” Bermudez said. “Just flipping a coin — that’s basically what it was.”

Launching El Mezquite Market came with several learning curves, Bermudez said. He and his brothers got to know the business by tapping into resources offered by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce — but feedback from customers was their greatest source of education and growth.

“People come and used to say, ‘I wish you can sell more product, I will buy more here. I wish you would sell menudo and carnitas on the weekends,’” Bermudez recalled. “You keep listening and once you listen to the people, you don’t stop growing.”

El Mezquite Market locations now house several departments, including a produce section; a bakery that makes fresh pastries and goods every day; a butcher and deli; a liquor section; a kitchen that serves everything from ready-to-eat barbacoa tacos to seafood; and money services that allow customers to send money to other countries.

With bone-in pork cubes for posole and boneless chuck roll — beef taken from the shoulder and neck area — as well as mango suckers and pecan-flavored toffee, Bermudez said the stores’ meat department and candy aisle feature some of El Mezquite’s most popular offerings.

“That’s the only way we can be alive and do business: being different,” Bermudez said. The business’ emphasis on quality and lower prices also set El Mezquite apart in an economic climate currently marked by more selective consumers, he said.

For customer Meredith Chino, El Mezquite’s frequent deals are enough to keep her driving more than 45 miles from Laguna to patronize the store about once or twice a month.

“They have the good deals that give people more to buy with less money, instead of more money and less product,” Chino said while shopping at the 98th Street store on Monday. “I think places like this are very important.”

A growing presence

El Mezquite’s Albuquerque footprint stretches across the city, with stores on Isleta Boulevard, Fourth Street, San Pedro Drive and 98th Street. The Bermudez brothers also own a store in Los Lunas and at one time had a Santa Fe location before later selling it.

The newest location is situated near the Barelas neighborhood at 1306 Broadway SE. The Bermudez family acquired the site’s existing structure — which formerly housed Stadium Liquors, a First Choice Community Healthcare clinic and Sol Supermarket — in 2024.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Bermudez, who noted it took a decade to convince the property owners to sell him the building. But he was determined. “I like this location. Why? Because this is a food desert. People got a lot of needs to meet, and I saw that after just a few years living here.”

Built in 1963, the property in recent years was primarily a shell largely in need of a remodel. Construction work began last year, bringing all-new electrical and plumbing, a roof and exterior facade.

“Everything,” Bermudez said. “(We) just keep the walls; that’s all.”

Construction crews even added new, additional freezer spaces to the property, bringing the market’s total square footage to 21,000 square feet. That doesn’t include the former liquor store and clinic spaces, which Bermudez said will welcome a Cricket Wireless and Fred Loya Insurance.

As of Monday, the project was making progress but awaiting electricity from PNM. The parking lot also has to be repaved. Permitting delays have been a challenge for the project, Bermudez said, but he’s now hopeful the store will open by October.

“(I’m feeling) excitement and relief,” Bermudez said. “It’s been a hassle.”

The store is expected to hire roughly 55 people, adding to El Mezquite’s pool of nearly 300 employees. Labor has been one of the market’s recent challenges, forcing the Bermudez brothers to start exploring how artificial intelligence can alleviate staffing shortages. But the company’s employees — some of whom have been with the local chain for 25 years — are also the greatest reward, Bermudez said.

Another reward, he added, is seeing people from across the country visit the stores, catch a glimpse of the piñatas hanging from the ceiling and start to question where they are.

“It’s just fun to see how they get excited because they never see stuff like that,” Bermudez said. “They think they’re in Juarez, Mexico.”

The Consulate of Mexico in Albuquerque praised Bermudez for the unique cultural experience that’s been built at El Mezquite and what the market means to the local business community.

"Sergio’s story is inspiring, but what stands out most is his commitment to helping others succeed,” Consul Patricia Pinzón said.

A motivator for Bermudez is family. He hopes to pass the torch to the generation under him someday. But with El Mezquite’s fifth store — and likely last, for now — nearing completion, Bermudez said retirement feels far away at the moment.

“I mean, look,” Bermudez said as he pointed to his bald head. “I lose my hair. I used to have long hair, believe me.”

But Bermudez said the hard work has been worth it — something he hopes other local Latino entrepreneurs can take inspiration from.

“Don’t be afraid,” Bermudez said. “Everybody’s got dreams, and sometimes we don’t follow our dreams. We say it’s going to be too hard. We don’t believe in ourselves. Just believe in yourself. You deserve it like everybody else.”

[ABQalex]

The new Love's Travel Stop opened earlier this year on Broadway just off of the I-25 and Sunport Boulevard interchange. As you can see, it also includes new Subway and Dunkin' locations.

https://www.facebook.com/lovestravelstop...TjJxZ7kpmPZKhLKWeK9jxuw3RgtLzpNeMPESThFl



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122168367998869926&set=a.122128756136869926

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the Woodbury apartments on Mesa del Sol. They were posted earlier this month on LinkedIn by the window supplier for the project.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7480301987381657600/

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First recently had a story about the Solana Nob Hill apartments that are under construction at Wellesley and Silver SE.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2026/07/17/luxury-apartments-solana-nob-hill.html

A $10 million luxury apartment complex is under construction in Nob Hill, with work expected to be completed within the next year.

Construction on the 42-unit Solana Nob Hill project began around May, according to Rex Cohen of C3 Residential, which is developing the project. The apartment complex is being built on a roughly one-acre lot at the southeast corner of Wellesley Drive and Silver Avenue.

"Our estimated project cost is above 10 million, a sizable investment in Nob Hill. We officially broke ground two months ago, though work on the site has been going on sporadically over the last year," Rex Cohen said.

The property is located at 208 Wellesley Drive SE. It is zoned for high-density multifamily development, according to the Bernalillo County assessor's office.

Dan Loy of American Realcorp Construction Services Inc. is leading construction. Albuquerque-based Scott C. Anderson & Associates Architects is also involved in the project.

The land is owned by C3 Residential LLC, with Robert Cohen as the main contact. Cartesian Surveys, on behalf of C3 Residential, requested approval from the city of Albuquerque to combine six existing lots into one new lot. The city approved the request in late 2025.

Rex Cohen has not set a opening date or announced leasing prices. The amenities for the apartment project will be announced closer to the opening.

"A lot of time, effort and resources have been put into Solana Nob Hill. We know Solana will shine brightly, and be a truly wonderful addition to the Nob Hill community,” Rex Cohen said.

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the San Mateo Manor project that Pavilion Construction posted recently on their LinkedIn account. The pics show the foundation work and slab pouring for the 50-unit affordable senior housing facility.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7483889195531534337/

[ABQalex]

Nob Hill News had a story this past week about District 6 City Councilor Nichole Rogers' efforts to increase funding to deal with vacant properties across her district and the city. The story includes official confirmation from her that they are getting ready to announce a new grocery store tenant at Zuni Plaza, which she unofficially hinted at on Facebook earlier this year.

She also says that she believes Walmart will reopen the store on San Mateo and Zuni once the area "rebounds" and she cites as evidence that they have thus far refused offers to purchase the property. She points to redevelopment projects such as the nearby Serenade at Park Central as things which will help turn the area around and lead to the store's reopening.

Other redevelopment projects in the area are San Mateo Manor at San Mateo and Zuni, and the Cosecha project that's coming up soon at San Mateo and Kathryn SE as well.

https://www.albuquerquenobhillnews.com/

Rogers Pushes Plan to Reduce District 6 Vacancies

Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers said last week she’s hopeful that her ideas to reduce the number of vacant and sometimes hazardous residential and commercial properties across the city will pay off. The plans include a ballot measure that first needs to be approved by voters in November—one she said would greatly benefit District 6 and Nob Hill.

Rogers recently shepherded a bill through City Council that will put a reallocation of the city’s public safety tax before voters. If approved, the city’s Code Enforcement division would receive a 5% budget increase to better address nagging vacant properties.

“Code Enforcement’s budget would increase by about $2.8 million a year to specifically help us with vacancies,” Rogers said.

She said the amount that’s currently available for such work isn’t nearly enough.

“We only fund $300,000 a year for board-ups and demolitions,” Rogers said. “There’s a bunch of vacancies in my district that I’d love to see demolished, because then we can begin to redevelop.”

...

'Mark my words'

Meanwhile, some of the most visible vacancies in District 6 continue to be in former big-box store sites like CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. Rogers said her initiatives would help the city move towards faster foreclosures on such properties.

“Honestly, my gut is telling me Walmart’s holding on to [its property] until the neighborhood rebounds, and they’re going to reopen,” Rogers said. “Mark my words, because they’ve had offers, they’ve had a lot of people interested in it, and still nothing.”

Rogers said the recently launched redevelopment of the 10-story San Mateo tower north of Central on San Mateo—Serenade at Park Central—will help the area rebound, as well as a new grocer that’s set to open in a former John Brooks Supermarket that closed in 2013 at Zuni Plaza at San Mateo and Zuni.

“We’ll be announcing that one in the next couple weeks,” she said. “We’ve been working for two years to get them here, so I’m really excited.”

The City Council has been on its summer break this month. Its next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 3. Rogers, who is up for reelection in 2027, said she intends to run for a second term.

“We’ve done a lot in three years. We just have to keep the momentum going,” she said.

[ABQalex]

The city recently gave an update on the progress on the Serenade at Park Central project. They insist that progress is being made on the inside despite the outward appearances. Still, many are skeptical, including local news outlets like KOB-TV and KRQE which both had similar pessimistic reports based on the city’s update.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerq...ect-on-track-despite-outside-appearance/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When you look at the San Mateo Towers on Central, not much has changed. The parking lot still has overgrown weeds, and many windows are broken and boarded up. But construction crews say not to judge a book by its cover.

“Floors one through eight have been cleared and to a point in which we are now working through our mechanical systems and all of our delivery systems,” said Blythe Metz CEO of Metz Kelly.

Crews broke ground on the redevelopment project in January. The $30 million project is financed by the city, but private developer Metz Kelly is in charge of the development.

The plan is to convert what was office space into apartment buildings. As part of the agreement with the city, 33% of it has to be affordable housing.

“This is a great opportunity to provide housing that is connected with transit and the ART line,” said Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner.

Crew hits unexpected snags

But Metz says his team hit some snags in the six months the project has been underway. The buildings have been vacant for about four years. Metz says in that time, it has been vandalized, fires have been started, and as many as 100 people were living inside at least one of the buildings.

“[It] took a lot longer than expected, getting the homeless out of the property in a very safe and proper manner,” he said. “The systems were further destroyed beyond what was usable. Like effectively, we have to put an entirely new transformer pad. It was quite horrendous the amount of damage that a few people can do.”

He also said PNM had to be called to help with electrical issues. When crews first started working, they could barely walk into the lobby. Metz said crews carried out 12 40-foot dumpsters full of debris.

Despite unexpected expenses, Metz said they’re on track for that $30 million.

“We have had issues with vandalism in these two towers,” Brunner said.

Both Metz and Brunner not only hope but also expect safety to improve in the area once the project is complete.

“When you have more people around, it reduces crime. So if you have more people living in these units, parking on this lot, shopping in the area, that’s going to help,” Brunner said.

Not just apartments

The entire project is actually 11 acres, not just the two towers. Metz said his company is now working with the University of New Mexico to fill some of that space.

“We’re only a stone’s throw from the UNM campus, and getting their say and some of the youth involved with the project, as well as Route 66, all ties into ultimately the way we revitalize San Mateo and Central,” he said.

Some ideas include adding a park, more real estate and local businesses.

Next steps

For now, you’ll see less change on the outside as Metz Kelly secures funding for the next construction phase.

“Keep in mind when we do these builds, the very last thing you improve is the exterior. It’s like a dinner bell to attract unneeded problems,” Metz said.

The project is set to be finished by September 2027.

While I myself am trying not to be pessimistic, I must say that the sudden addition and participation of Blythe Metz and his company in the project, which I first noted at the groundbreaking ceremony back in January, has given me reason to be concerned.

Blythe Metz, his partner and their company are also the ones that are trying to renovate and convert Tower Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque. They've supposedly been working on the project for a few years already. The only thing that they seem to have accomplished in that time is painting over the celebrated botanical mural on the base of the structure with battleship gray paint and then repainting it in a tan/beige color again last year.



I have to chuckle and shake my head when they say in the story above that the exterior is the last thing they pay attention to in these projects, when that's all they seem to have done anything with at Tower Plaza.

I'm afraid that these people are those kinds of bullsh!tters that string places along for years but which never actually get anything done. I'd be happier if they weren't involved in this project.

[TheABQJav]

https://reimaginingalbuquerque.com/2026/08/01/nimbyism-in-four-acts/

[ABQalex]

The city council voted to defer the vote on the IRBs for the proposed dual-branded hotel in the Sawmill Area again last night. They will take up consideration of the project again at their next meeting in two weeks on August 17th.

They said this is to give time and a chance for the developer to meet again with the neighbors and those opposed. Supposedly they didn't do enough of an outreach the last time and not everybody opposed got the memo to meet with them, despite the last deferral being explicitly to allow for such a meeting that was stated publicly for all in attendance the last time to see and hear.

Councilor Baca, who represents the area on the city council, also was prepared to insert design and height restrictions into the IRB approval, but was advised against doing so by council attorneys and staff.

For those who don't think that the design and height of the project are issues that those opposed are using to defeat the project, I'd urge you to watch last night's council meeting on YouTube and see the arguments that 2 or 3 stories is their ideal for the project and that 5 stories is too tall and way out of the acceptable bounds for what they deem appropriate for the area.

These people clearly want and won't accept anything more than a 2-story adobe-style project for this property. Basically, a small, boutique hotel or bed and breakfast, not an urban hotel like the developer wants to build. Think Casas de Sueños. They pretty much want to dictate to the developer what kind of project he can build if he gets any kind of help for it.

This is rather disgusting and has never been done before or written into any IRB agreement that's been approved previously. That's why council staff and attorneys urged against inserting such design requirements into the legislation.

I can see where this is going and how it will end up. They apparently have Councilor Baca on their side for such bullsh!t. He's obviously wanting to not to jeopardize his future on the council by pandering to the NIMBYs and the business and development interests of Heritage Real Estate and the Sawmill Community Land Trust.

Representatives from the land trust spoke last night at the meeting expressing their opposition to the project, as well as stating their plans to eventually develop their property across 18th Street from the proposed hotel. This is the property where the Sawmill Arts Center and 50 units of housing were once proposed. Apparently there aren't any concerns about traffic on 18th Street for such a project or similar development of theirs in the future.

Hopefully they won't run into similar opposition whenever they try to bring forth a project on the site across the street. Something tells me they won't and all such strong and heartfelt concerns and convictions will suddenly disappear.

[ABQalex]

Below is a link and direct embed to last night's city council meeting on YouTube. Discussion about the IRBs for the proposed Sawmill dual-branded hotel begins at about the 2:41:30 mark in the video. At about the 3:00:30 mark in the video is the especially egregious and ridiculous demand by a Sawmill Area NA representative that the project not exceed 3 stories.

• Video Link

[ABQalex]

Here's a nice aerial pic of the center of the city, including the Sawmill Area and Old Town on the bottom-right corner. It was taken during a balloon ride and posted by the Rainbow Ryders pilot to his Facebook account this morning.

(Click the link directly beneath the embedded image to see it in its original size)

https://www.facebook.com/kris.braden.9/p...EWCT3fHaMtfNKgK1ZdApt9kwafSVuWhHW7t5cUWl


https://iili.io/CgCtWFI.jpg

The Breaking Bad RV special shape balloon is being manufactured and tested in Brazil. It plans to make its official debut at this year's Balloon Fiesta in October.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/breaking-bad-rv-hot-air-balloon-completes-first-test-in-brazil/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Breaking Bad RV hot air balloon moved a step closer to launch after its first test inflation in Brazil.

Photos showed the first test inflation in Brazil Monday morning. The balloon will ship to the U.S. next and then go through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification.

It weighs more than 600 pounds, and the gondola can carry up to three people.

The owners said they still need about $10,000 for supplies before launch. They hope to have the balloon flying in Albuquerque during this Balloon Fiesta.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589380331338