Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

I received the submittals to the 306 Yale RFP. Below are renderings and more information about the winning proposal by Sunlight Properties. Datura Village will have 13 townhomes in a compound-like setting. The information includes the proposed timeline for developing the project, with an estimated completion date in October 2027.













Below is the project site plan and layouts for the structures and units. The three structures will be clustered with their west faces along Yale Boulevard, with a u-shaped driveway along the other sides, providing access to the parking spaces at the back of the property.





Here are some more renderings of the project. The design of the structures is pretty much a mix of all their other projects in the area and also Ocotillo Ridge, with similar design elements and materials.

[ABQalex]

Below are the other two proposals submitted to the 306 Yale RFP that the city deemed responsive. Both are townhome projects as well.

The first is a proposal by Piru Group for another project using Boxabl modular structures. Remember that they previously won the scattered-site affordable housing RFP with similar projects using these pre-fab structures. The second is a proposal by B Square Construction under a separate LLC. It would use traditional construction and they said it would be a modern take on traditional adobe building styles.

Piru Group - 26 units







DR Investments, LLC - 20 units









There was another submittal to the RFP which also was the only one that featured an urban-style structure and proposal. It was proposed by the developer of the Comfort Suites Airport Hotel. Unfortunately, the project and submittal were deemed incomplete and unresponsive as they didn't include necessary and required information such as renderings for the proposal.

They only included an overall description of the project. It states that it would be a 4-story structure with ground-floor commercial space. The ground floor would have a commercial kitchen and small food hall with 3 tenants. They say that this would be in collaboration with the Street Food Institute. The upper three floors of the structure would have 30 residential units, presumably 10 per floor. The overall structure would have 24,000 sq ft of space.



It's truly unfortunate that this project wasn't responsive to the RFP. This is more like what I'd want to see developed along Yale Boulevard between the university and the airport. Still, I certainly won't oppose any kind of new housing, especially on empty and eyesore lots such as this one.

[ABQalex]

McClain + Yu Architecture posted on its LinkedIn account this past week about the new UNM School of Medicine project that they are working on in collaboration with ZGF Architects. In their post they linked to the project page on their website. It includes a couple of other renderings we've never seen before showing more aspects of the project.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mcclain-y...m-hsc-activity-7442001416677908481-TXle/

https://www.mcclain-yu.com/feed/2025/8/7/unm-hsc-school-of-medicine







Note that the rendering above showing the actual atrium of the project is different than what I thought was the proposed atrium in my previous post about the project. I've since realized that the image of an atrium shown in that post was actually a picture of past work for a health sciences project at the University of Colorado by ZGF Architects.

https://www.zgf.com/work/232-university-of-colorado-anschutz-health-sciences-building

In the rendering above of the actual atrium space for the new UNM School of Medicine structure you can see that wood/mass timber is indeed a defining feature of the atrium and project. The floating spiral stairs with no obvious support are another defining feature of the atrium. I sort of see this as being evocative of/a nod to the "Miraculous Staircase" at Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, whether intentional or not.

I still think that the atrium will be stunning. I hope that the public will be allowed and encouraged to hang out in the space. It deserves to have the amount of traffic shown in the rendering!

[ABQalex]

The state fairgrounds redevelopment commission this past week officially adopted the redevelopment plan which includes a stadium on the southwest corner of the fairgrounds. They also approved a further $114 million in funding for the 1st phase of the redevelopment plan, that's in addition to the $92 million previously earmarked for the project. It includes $30 million dedicated for affordable housing. The plan calls for over 400 units of housing to be built, along with a hotel, office and commercial space.

The New Mexico United continue to state that they are open to the idea of building a stadium at the site, but they are denying that they have officially decided to pivot to this site over one at Balloon Fiesta Park. The governor, who initiated the redevelopment efforts, who sits on the redevelopment board, and who voted to adopt the plan, says that she expects them to be the entity who will build a stadium at the site, but that they will have to present a proposal and go through a selection process before that will happen.

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/phase-one-plans-approved-for-fairgrounds-what-do-they-include/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After months of anticipation, state leaders took a major step Monday toward redeveloping Expo New Mexico — home of the annual New Mexico State Fair.

The Fairgrounds District Board — which includes Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller — approved funding for Phase One of the massive redevelopment plan. The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours.

In total, more than $200 million is planned for Phase One. Today, the board voted to release $114 million of that for housing, a new stadium, and other major upgrades across the fairgrounds.

Officials also revealed the project’s new master plan, though significant steps and additional votes remain before the redevelopment is finalized.

What is in Phase One?

The funding triggers the start of Phase One construction, which includes:

• New housing
• A sports stadium
• Park Plaza public spaces
• Pedestrian safety improvements
• Infrastructure upgrades

Representatives with Stantec, the consulting company behind the project, said the investment covers a wide mix of long‑needed improvements.

This marks the first time in 40 years that the state has made a multimillion‑dollar investment in Albuquerque’s International District, according to the governor.

“We’re going to do something about it, so that the people who live here now and the people who want to live here have something meaningful to look forward to,” Lujan Grisham said.

Phase One is expected to create nearly 1,000 jobs. At least $30 million of the budget is dedicated specifically to housing.

The governor said she believes the redevelopment could finally bring long‑awaited economic momentum to the area.

“I think what the International District needs more than anything is a serious economic development shot in the arm so that it’s more than just the State Fair property.”

Concerns from neighbors

While community leaders say they see the potential benefits, many want a Community Benefits Agreement — a binding set of protections for local residents — put in place before construction moves forward. That discussion is scheduled for May 7th.

District 6 City Councilor Nichole Rogers said the protections need to be specific.

“Actually putting in binding language that says the people that get to purchase the homes here are not out‑of‑state investors… things that say 30% of the homes built here go to residents of District Six first.”

A new stadium?

One of the most contentious parts of the proposal has been the planned stadium.

Monday’s vote confirmed that a stadium will be part of the Expo redevelopment — but no teams are currently tied to it. Any franchise interested in playing there will need to submit a lease proposal.

“There is a sense that United is in a really good position to make a proposal, and I certainly I, as the governor, expect them to do so, but I don’t know that they will,” Lujan Grisham said. “I would be shocked if they aren’t first at the table with a proposal.”

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa recently claimed a new New Mexico United stadium would be built at the fairgrounds and that plans for Balloon Fiesta Park were over. After speaking with United leadership and both the mayor’s and governor’s offices, it became clear that information was incorrect. The governor’s office called Barboa’s claims “fear mongering” and “gossip.”

The board also approved a motion requiring stadium lease proposals to come before the board for review. Dan Mourning, general manager of Expo New Mexico, said the State Fair Commission will have the only legal vote on that matter.

New Mexico United’s statement

KOB 4 also received a statement from New Mexico United saying the team is prepared to bring forward a $30 million proposal if it decides the project is the right move. Peter Trevisani, the owner of New Mexico United, said the following:

“We’re encouraged by the State Fairgrounds Board taking this important step toward a comprehensive master plan that includes the potential for a stadium. This is a public process, and it should be, because the future of this site belongs to the entire state and the surrounding community.“

“For New Mexico United, a stadium has always been about more than soccer. It’s about creating a year-round, shared space that brings people together in meaningful and lasting ways. We’re excited about the possibilities, and for the right project, we’re prepared to bring forward our $30 million private commitment as part of a broader public-private partnership.”

“What matters most is that any development here is thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding neighborhoods, reflecting the shared values of this community and serving as a true catalyst for positive change. This has to work for everyone. That means incorporating green space and trees, creating opportunities for affordable housing, supporting local art and culture, prioritizing safety and delivering an anchor event center to create jobs, drive commerce and support local business that are working hard to thrive.”

“We look forward to continuing to listen, engage, and collaborate as this process moves forward.”

Here's another story by the Albuquerque Journal before the adoption of the redevelopment plan which I think fills in more of what's actually going on despite the public denials and accusations of gossip and fear-mongering. I've always thought that $30 million is an absurdly low figure for a soccer stadium with about 10,000 seats in this day and age. It would have to be very bare bones and value engineered to within an inch of its life to get fo that figure, I think.

The figure below of $110 million is more in line with what I would expect for a stadium of decent quality with that capacity (and with the ability to expand to 15,000 seats for USL Premier standards). Time will tell who's telling the truth here and whether these are the actual plans and what's being worked out behind the scenes. But I have a tendency to believe gossip and rumors when it comes to these things.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/could-new-mexico-united-anchor-state-fairgrounds-upgrade/3000779

New Mexico United has emerged as a prime candidate to become the "major anchor" at the state fairgrounds as officials finalize a master plan to redevelop the 236-acre tract in Northeast Albuquerque.

A Bernalillo County commissioner critical of the plan said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham plans to build a stadium at the fairgrounds as a permanent home for the popular Albuquerque soccer team and has raised $70 million to pay for the project.

Lujan Grisham quickly dismissed Commissioner Adriann Barboa’s allegation as “gossip and fear mongering” and responded that no decisions have been made about how to use the funding.

But at a public meeting Friday, officials with Stantec Consulting Services, the state's design contractor, recommended a sports stadium as the preferred option for spurring development in the southwest portion of the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

The firm appears to have abandoned an earlier proposal to relocate the New Mexico State Fair in response to public opposition to moving the decades-old annual event.

“A sports stadium is the recommendation that we're including here for the reasons that it can be the quickest to stand up,” said Ben Lewinger, a representative of Stantec. “It punches above its weight class in terms of what it costs versus the GRT (gross receipts taxes) it can generate.”

Gross receipts taxes ultimately determine how much bonding capacity the state can use to fund other developments for the fairgrounds project, including housing and retail, he said.
Lewinger and others did not mention New Mexico United as a possible anchor tenant for the stadium on Friday but others were quick to fill in the blank.

Barboa posted a statement on her Facebook page Friday alleging that Lujan Grisham obtained $70 million in discretionary funding in February through the state’s $11.1 billion budget bill, House Bill 2.

The bill appropriates $100 million to the General Services Department for “state fair redevelopment,” including $30 million for housing as part of the fairgrounds project.

Barboa, a member of the State Fair District Board, contends the remaining $70 million is the governor’s discretionary funding that she plans to use for the soccer stadium. Barboa first raised the allegation at a news conference Wednesday.

Lujan Grisham responded quickly to Barboa’s allegation this week in a statement issued by her spokesman Mike Coleman.

“The governor is disappointed that Commissioner Barboa has resorted to attention-seeking gossip and fear mongering to pre-empt a public process that exists precisely to give every community member a voice in the Fairgrounds’ future,” Coleman said.

“Anyone who has been paying attention knows that some type of public events facility has been a part of this discussion for months,” Coleman said. “But no final decision about an arena or stadium, or the master plan itself, has been made.”

New Mexico United spokeswoman Bella Finley declined comment this week on plans to build a stadium for the team at the fairgrounds.

In a separate measure, lawmakers in February authorized the issuance of up to $92 million in bonds to revitalize the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque's International District. Lujan Grisham signed the bill into law on March 5.

The measure authorizes bonds backed from state gross receipt tax revenues and gaming tax revenues. The measure takes effect May 20.

Barboa said she opposes building the New Mexico United stadium at the fairgrounds because it doesn’t generate high-paying jobs.

“I know firsthand that stadiums do not bring opportunities to neighbors,” she said. “Fans simply want to get in and get out as fast as they can.”

New Mexico United would contribute an additional $40 million for a total project cost of $110 million, Barboa said. She contends that she learned of the plan from former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, who is spearheading the fairgrounds project for the Governor’s Office.

Chávez, who attended the public meeting Friday, said the $70 million funding isn't designated for any particular purpose.

“I think they’re definitely moving in the direction of some sort of stadium as one component,” Chávez said of Stantec and the Governor's Office. The master plan is nearing the end of a six-month process, he said.

“Now they’re starting to bring all the different ideas that have come together,” Chávez said. “This isn’t the first time you heard about stadiums. We’ll have the recommendations next week, and we'll see what they recommend.”

Stantec will not get involved in recommending what team should occupy the stadium, which will likely involve a variety of tenants and uses, Chávez said. But New Mexico United is a prime candidate in a state that lacks major league sports teams, he said.

Any plan to build a stadium for New Mexico United could conflict with the city of Albuquerque’s announced plan to build a soccer stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park.

The city is actively defending a lawsuit filed by three neighborhood associations that oppose the project. That lawsuit is pending at the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

Mayor Tim Keller appeared to steer clear of the issue this week.

“I’ve been clear since I ran for the State Senate 17 years ago that I love the State Fair, and the Fair should stay,” Keller said. “Beyond that, we will support plans that can boost the grounds and benefit the community.”

New Mexico United has sought a permanent stadium since 2020 to replace its current home at Isotopes Park, home of Albuquerque’s Triple-A baseball team. An earlier proposal for a new stadium at a Downtown location using bond funding was defeated by voters in 2021.

Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta Park was selected in 2023 as the location for a privately financed stadium on land leased from the city.

Three neighborhood associations near Balloon Fiesta Park filed suit in state district court after the Albuquerque City Council voted 8-1 to deny their appeal in August 2024.

Second Judicial District Judge Erin O’Connell ruled in July that opponents of the Balloon Fiesta Park location failed to demonstrate that they were denied due process.

Plaintiffs appealed the district court ruling on Aug. 19. The state Court of Appeals this week assigned a three-judge panel to hear the case.

Stantec in December unveiled three preliminary designs for the fairgrounds, all of which include a hotel and event venue, parks, retail space and mixed-income housing. One of the designs proposed relocating the fair.

The state-owned tract has hosted the annual State Fair since 1938, but the state and its consultants say that the area is underutilized and its infrastructure is crumbling.

While I disagree with Commissioner Barboa's opposition to a soccer stadium at the fairgrounds and whether it will be good for the area, I do appreciate that she may be letting us in on what may actually be going on behind the scenes.

If there's one thing I agree with NIMBYs on, it's the right of the people to know what's going on in the city with regard to development and to have access to this sort of information quickly and easily, rather than it be reserved for a privileged few and only come out after the fact and with a fight.

The biggest mistake that's always made in these sorts of projects utilizing public funds is to try keep it under wraps for as long as possible and also to present it as something different than what it actually is. That's why I've always hated calling these arenas and stadiums "multipurpose facilities" I'd rather we be honest and call it a soccer stadium, football stadium or basketball arena. Always be upfront, direct and sincere. That's the way to build support and excitement for a project!

[ABQalex]

Array Technologies has completed its new headquarters and manufacturing facility on the Westside. The story by the Albuquerque Journal below says that the facility is operational and ramping up as they transition work from their old facility in North I-25. At full operation, the story states that they will have more than 300 employees on site. The story includes a few nice aerial pics of the completed project.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/construc...west-side-manufacturing-facility/3011397

If you’ve driven on the far western edge of the city lately, you’ve likely noticed that Amazon and Shamrock Foods have a new neighbor.

That neighbor is Array Technologies, a publicly traded renewable energy company and global solar tracker technology leader based in Albuquerque.

A little more than two years after announcing plans for a major manufacturing campus on Albuquerque’s West Side, the facility is now complete and operational, according to Array’s vice president of advanced manufacturing, Tracy Metzger.

“We have a certificate of occupancy, and in (the first quarter of) 2026 we began initial manufacturing and shipping from the facility,” Metzger said. “We are in the process of shifting manufacturing from our existing Albuquerque facility in a phased approach over the coming months.”

Array has been in business in the Duke City for more than 30 years, manufacturing solar tracking hardware that enhances the efficiency of solar panels within large-scale projects by moving them in coordination with the angle of the sun. The technology helps to maximize energy production and minimize land use, Metzger said. It’s also designed to protect solar power plant sites during extreme weather events.

The company went public under the symbol ARRY in 2020, making it one of New Mexico’s few publicly traded companies. It is providing its technology to sites across the globe and — with the acquisition of Ohio-based APA Solar in August — the company reported $1.2 billion in revenue for the full year of 2025, according to an earnings report released in February.

The completion of Array’s new West Side facility comes nearly two years after the project broke ground at an empty 22-acre site in April 2024. Ryan Companies served as contractor on the project, and BDG Architects was the architect.

The building, at 701 Atrisco Vista NW, spans 216,000 square feet and includes designated manufacturing and office space. The manufacturing area will be used for production and assembly of steel and aluminum components for Array’s solar tracker systems, and office space will facilitate design, engineering and customer service work.

An estimated $50 million was invested into the facility, covered by Array, Garrett Development Corp. and government funding. The project received support from federal credits, partial property tax abatements through an industrial revenue bond, a $2.5 million Local Economic Development Act award from the state and two $250,000 LEDA awards from the city and county.

When fully operational, the campus is expected to bring Array’s total employment in New Mexico to more than 300 people; it’s unclear how many new jobs will be created at this time, the company said. The facility will offer salaries ranging between $35,000 to $127,000, according to the 2023 announcement.

At the time, a state analysis also estimated the expansion would fuel an economic impact upward of $300 million over 10 years.

The facility’s completion is “a proud moment for everyone at Array,” Metzger said, adding it will help strengthen the company’s domestic supply chain.

“This project reflects who Array has always been,” Metzger said. “(We are) a company rooted in New Mexico, committed to building the infrastructure that powers the energy transition, and proving that American manufacturing and clean energy go hand in hand.”

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal has a story about Jim Long's plans for revamping the historic Nob Hill Business Center. It includes the possibility that he may partner with La Montañita Co-op to build them a new location nearby at Amherst and Silver SE and open up their existing anchor space at the center for new possibilities. He also expects the New Mexico United's team store to eventually move to their new stadium whenever it's built.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/rout...-the-works-for-nob-hill-landmark/3017526

New Mexico businessman Jim Long remembers the awe he felt as a kid traveling along Route 66, enamored by the neon signs, unique diners and history he encountered along the way.

Long — now the founder and CEO of Heritage Cos., which owns many of the state’s prominent hotels and culturally significant properties — is hoping to instill that same sense of discovery into Nob Hill Center, formerly Nob Hill Business Center, at 3500 Central SE along old Route 66.

Heritage acquired the 47,315-square-foot property in March of last year, announcing plans to “preserve and revive the historic shopping center,” Long previously said. Now, more than a year later, Long shared that Heritage’s vision for the property includes a renovation and leasing revamp effort slated to begin this year.

In addition to the new name, the project will include upgrading the property with a new patio, classic awnings, fresh bold accent colors, new signage, Route 66-inspired murals commissioned by local artists and an enhanced street presence through improved softscaping, lighting and pathways.

The aim of the upgrades is to create “a walkable, light-filled destination that feels both nostalgic and newly alive,” according to a flyer outlining Heritage’s vision for the property.

Heritage will get started on the property’s new awnings in about two to three months, but construction on the remaining architectural upgrades will likely begin this fall and wrap up early next spring, pending the necessary permitting and a review from the city’s Landmark Commission.

The U-shaped property, built between 1946 and 1947, was New Mexico’s first modern suburban shopping center, according to its website. Today, Nob Hill Center is home to several tenants, including a New Mexico United shop, Gecko’s Bar & Tapas, La Montañita Food Co-op and Organic Books — but the tenant lineup will look a little different in the coming years.

In the coming months and years, Heritage will be looking for tenants to fill both the property’s existing vacant spaces and spaces that they expect to be vacant soon.

One of these spaces is a former Italian restaurant by the name of Scalo, which closed in August after the owners were hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit and failed to find a buyer for the eatery.

The space will remain a restaurant in Heritage’s plans for the property, Long said. Several prominent chefs have toured the space and are considering it, he added, but nothing official has panned out yet.

The center also has two small retail vacancies, but the majority of the tenant revamp will occur in about two years — when the bulk of the center’s current leases expire, Long said.

Heritage is also expecting the departure of some tenants for other reasons, including New Mexico United, which will close its Nob Hill shop when the soccer team’s new facility is built. The company plans to add a patio to the space and fill it with a dining option, Long said.

La Montañita’s presence in the center is also up in the air, as Long said the community-owned grocery store’s growth is making the Nob Hill location a difficult one to operate out of for logistical reasons. But the co-op is a tenant Heritage hopes to keep, so Long said the company is in talks with La Montañita about building them a new location on the corner of Amherst and Silver SE to help meet their and their customers' needs.

If that occurs, it’s unclear who would fill that space. Long said it probably wouldn’t be a grocery store, but it would be a tenant that aligns with the company’s overall vision for the property.

“We see this as an opportunity to revitalize the center, invest some capital in the property to bring it to a different level of physical condition and then carefully curate a collection of tenants that we feel will be the right mix for the future of this asset,” Long said.

In Heritage’s view, the right mix includes tenants that are all local, independent and offer “something rare, nostalgic or handcrafted,” the company’s flyer says.

“We're not necessarily looking for big brands with a big balance sheet, we're looking for somebody who does something very unique and very special,” Long said, adding that Heritage is seeing high demand for rare finds and experiences across its properties.

In addition to handcrafted, the company wants to “play off the strengths of the area” and create a vintage retro feel at the center by attracting tenants that fit in some of the following categories: antiques and found items, records and vinyl shop, retro game store, comic books, candy store, leather goods and hat shop. Supporting local startups will also be a priority for the center, Long said.

“The Nob Hill Center is not a mall or marketplace,” the company’s Nob Hill Center flyer says. “It’s a curated community of local visionaries, artisans and local chefs who embody the timeless appeal of Route 66: adventure, authenticity and Americana.”

Over the last several years, the center “lost some of its luster,” due to challenges with ART bus construction, COVID closures and a shifting retail landscape, Long and the flyer said. But with a selective tenant plan and some of those challenges now behind Nob Hill — as well as this year being the centennial of Route 66 — Long said he thinks now is the time for a project like this.

“It’s all positive going forward,” Long said. “There’s a lot of new food establishments that have been opening, and they’re doing well. So things are really shaping up nicely for Nob Hill, and it’s exciting to be part of that.”

Nob Hill News has had various stories over the past year which generally indicate a distrust of Jim Long and unhappiness with his stewardship of this historic landmark so far, especially with the recent changes to the parking setup and introduction of $75 fines for violating the parking rules at the center. Let's see if the revelation of these plans for the center's revamp and renewal changes any of that, especially among the residents of Nob Hill.

If he's thought that he's faced skepticism, distrust and pushback in places like the Sawmill Area, just wait until the NIMBYs in Nob Hill unleash their full wrath and opposition to changes such as these.

As I've said before, I'm hopeful that he eventually plans to develop the surface parking lots of the shopping center. I'm really excited about the possibility of a new store being built for La Montañita on one of those lots, and I hope this indicates an overall willingness and intention to develop them into better uses.

But, as I said, he faces a unique, powerful and connected NIMBYism in Nob Hill that can and will thwart any of his plans which they don't like. I wish him luck and I'm hoping for the best in his efforts to transform this awesome property that has tons of potential. For the good of the area and our entire city!

[ABQalex]

Here's an update by the Albuquerque Journal about the Lobo Crossing development on the UNM South Campus. The developer says that they have officially closed today on the purchase of the property from UNM for about $12 million. He also states that they plan to break ground on the project this month, with expected completion in Fall 2027. They are still not confirming Target as the major anchor but they do reveal other tenants and minor anchors. However, the Journal says that they've reviewed lease documents today confirming Target as the major anchor. They give a total development cost of $150 million for the project.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/target-o...project-in-southeast-albuquerque/3018025

The sale of a major piece of property on the University of New Mexico’s South Campus is complete, moving the area one step closer to welcoming a major retail hub.

Arizona-based developer SimonCRE is officially the new owner of roughly 38 acres of land previously owned by UNM after a transaction that began last year closed on Tuesday, founder and CEO Josh Simon told the Journal.

Simon also confirmed a portion of tenants slated to join Lobo Crossing Shopping Center — a 363,000-square-foot, open-air food and retail development planned for the land SimonCRE has acquired.

The tenants officially leased so far include Sierra, HomeGoods, Marshalls, Michaels, Burlington, Boot Barn, Five Below, Spencer’s and Jersey Mike’s Subs.

Target will headline the list, according to a memorandum of lease document reviewed by the Journal on Tuesday.

“This is a pretty powerful lineup,” said Tom Neale, chief operating officer of UNM’s real estate arm, Lobo Development Corp. “This is also the first major retail center in Albuquerque in over two decades, and we’re really proud that it’s in the South Campus and it’s helping out the southern tier of the city.”

The Target lease document ends months of speculation and years of conversations — the first of which were made public when university officials revealed talks to potentially incorporate a Target into UNM’s South Campus Tax Increment Development District, or TIDD, in 2023.

Simon could not comment on Target but said the project’s anchor tenant “does offer grocery” and will help to address UNM South Campus’ current existence as a food desert.

Target’s inclusion marks a significant moment for the project, which Simon called “by far the biggest thing that’s been built in Albuquerque, from a retail standpoint, in decades.” As Lobo Crossing’s anchor tenant, Target is the national, large-scale food and general merchandise retailer that SimonCRE had to secure for the deal with UNM to go through.

“I think a lot of people in town were doubting if this thing was even going to happen,” Simon said. “We’ve been working on this project for several years, and there’s been plenty of times where I thought the same. So I think it’s great to finally see this first hurdle pass, now that we’ve closed on it.”

The sale comes several months after UNM announced last year that its Board of Regents had approved a transfer of ownership for the vacant South Campus property, located east of Interstate 25 in Southeast Albuquerque near the UNM Lobo Sports Complex, Lobo Village and the Science & Technology Park.

Lobo Development Corp. had been working with SimonCRE on the project for about two years prior to last year’s announcement.

SimonCRE agreed to purchase the property for $11.75 million, which Simon said is roughly where the final acquisition cost landed. With the sale finalized and the project almost fully permitted, the developer currently plans to break ground this month with the aim of opening the majority of Lobo Crossing next fall.

The milestone is especially meaningful for Neale, who said the university’s efforts to get a project like Lobo Crossing underway in the South Campus stretch even further back than SimonCRE.

“This was a decade in the making,” Neale said, citing an unsuccessful attempt to get a project similar to Lobo Crossing off the ground several years ago before the creation of UNM’s TIDD. That attempt is what made the need for a TIDD evident, Neale said.

UNM’s TIDD sets aside up to 75% of incremental gross receipts and property taxes from the state, city and county for public infrastructure projects. It was created in 2023 to incentivize development and transform UNM’s largely undeveloped South Campus into a hub of activity.

Lobo Crossing — expected to be the South Campus TIDD’s single largest revenue generator — “wouldn’t have happened” without the district, Simon said.

When all is said and done, Simon said Lobo Crossing will cost “probably in excess of $150 million” to develop. SimonCRE will fund the majority of the project, with support from the TIDD.

Other tenants slated to join the shopping hub are Old Navy, Ross and Skechers, with those leases currently pending. Leases are also in the works with a national cellular company, dental office and cable provider, while a national dessert company and a breakfast tenant have submitted letters of intent, a flyer for Lobo Crossing shows.

“For the big box spaces, the pre-leasing that we’ve done is incredible,” Simon said. “Being (more than 90% leased) before closing is very rare. It speaks to just how there has been just a dearth of (new development) activity and high demand for retail space in the Albuquerque market.”

Neale said that paucity of activity has been particularly dramatic for UNM’s South Campus due to “challenging site conditions,” including the presence of a major drainage structure and uneven terrain. These challenges have left the area “completely underserved” and lacking in retail services, Neale said.

To see Lobo Crossing reach this hurdle after years of conducting analysis and trying to justify why a TIDD was needed is “rewarding,” Neale said. The COO said Lobo Crossing is an example of people and entities across the city, county and state working together to make a project happen.

“I think this is going to be a real big benefit to the community, as well as UNM and our aspirations for really creating a vibrant sports entertainment and technology district,” Neale said.

The milestone comes as the university moves forward with other efforts to revamp one of the area’s major complexes, University Stadium. UNM announced in October that it had retained Albuquerque architecture firm Dekker for a planning and feasibility study to renovate the stadium, and it asked the Legislature for $50 million to help fund the project in January.

SimonCRE will now turn its attention to finding local and regional businesses and restaurants to fill the remaining space — an undertaking that local brokers with Albuquerque’s Base 5 Retail Partners will assist with.

“It’s been a long road to get to this point, and we’re excited,” Simon said.

Here's a site plan for the project from a real estate listing that was recently updated. I first saw it last week. It identifies and gives the leasing status of spaces at the development. A few more of the tenants are identified and revealed for the first time, such as Michaels. You can see that the presumed Target space is identified as being "at lease" I'm assuming this is why the developer is hesitant to name it as the major anchor, the leasing process is not officially complete.

https://carnm.realtor/listings/7401fcb6-lobo-crossing/



Here's the full list of identified tenants so far, both confirmed and assumed.

Lobo Crossing:

Target
HomeGoods
Marshall's
Burlington
Old Navy
Ross
Michaels
Boot Barn
Skechers
Sierra Trading Post
Five Below
Spencer's
Jersey Mike's

The listing map also identifies a few tenants with a general description, one of which we can assume is a Comcast/Xfinity store, the "national cable user" space.

Again, this is hardly an earth-shaking line-up of tenants, but it's exciting for this area of the city and good for our entire city to continue to have these sorts of developments within the city proper.

Albuquerque does very good compared to other cities in keeping major commercial developments such as this within its city limits. We have a very strong core city in comparison to other metro areas in this regard. We remain the shopping destination and hub of the metro area and indeed the entire state with developments such as these being located here.

And for that I'm entirely grateful and happy to see continue!

[ABQalex]

UNM issued a press release today about the Lobo Crossing development on its South Campus. They name Target as the major anchor of the new shopping center. The developer and development company also link to this press release naming Target as the anchor in posts on their LinkedIn accounts. The development company even put a Target symbol after the announcement. I think we can now safely say that Target is indeed the major anchor of this development.

https://news.unm.edu/news/unm-finalizes-agreement-for-lobo-crossing-advancing-south-campus-vision

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7447409050843230209/

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7447415206059835392/

One thing I'd like to point out as being incorrect in the press release from UNM above is that this is the first major shopping center built in Albuquerque in decades. In truth, it's actually more like the largest shopping center built in Albuquerque in almost 25 years. That's since the 350,000 sq ft West Bluff Shopping Center at Coors and I-40 was built back in 2003.

In that time we've certainly built new shopping centers and retail strips, both large and small. Major to me implies something more than a single strip or a small neighborhood shopping center. Something which draws people from a large area or from across town.

Below are some of the major ones built in that time which easily come to mind.

Village at Rio Rancho 100,000+ sq ft
Plaza at Enchanted Hills 165,000 sq ft
Andalucia Shopping Center - 76,000 sq ft
Coors Pavilion - 200,000 sq ft
Las Estancias - 136,500 sq ft
Avanyu Plaza - 65,000 sq ft

You could even count the 220,000 sq ft ABQ Uptown outdoor lifestyle center, which was opened in late 2006, and the new sections of Winrock Town Center, which were built beginning in 2015 and continuing on until today. These all have major national retail tenants, including some of the same ones as Lobo Crossing.

Major retail projects such as the elevated Target store in Uptown Albuquerque or the Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops store in North I-25, also would count, at least in my view. They were both largely standalone projects, but they do both have smaller adjacent pad sites or strips, even if they're not exactly power centers.

You also have the various major shopping center rebuilds and redevelopment projects, such as Carlisle Crossing, La Mirada/WyMont, West Central Plaza, etc.

[ABQalex]

Somebody asked me what I would think were exciting names and tenants for Lobo Crossing as opposed to what has been revealed. I said really unique or rare stores or names that are new to the city and state. Something like Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco, etc.

I even was hoping for something like the small-format Ikea stores that are now being announced for cities in our size range. These new, smaller Ikea stores have recently been announced and opened in places like Huntsville, Colorado Springs and Tulsa. I really don't see why Albuquerque couldn't be among those cities.

However, most of these stores seem to be going into existing spaces that were previously occupied by other stores.

Perhaps Lobo Crossing as a new build didn't fit into that seeming strategy of theirs to utilize existing space.

Most of these new, smaller Ikea stores are in the 40,000 to 60,000 sq ft range. I'm hopeful maybe one day we can see them locate in a vacant space like that in Albuquerque.

Nothing immediately pops into my mind other than the old Kohl's spot at Coronado Center that would be in the ballpark of that size. I believe it's something like 76,000 sq ft. It would be awesome for Coronado Center to land something like this.

I've been happy that Coronado Center continues to be very busy and land new stores and fill empty spaces, such as with the new Lovesac location, etc.

https://www.instagram.com/coronadocenter/p/DUULwHWDQZe/

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News had an update last week about Palindrome's La Curva project west of Old Town along Central Avenue. The project has been reduced in size from the previous plans and will now only occupy the original Motel 21 site that they own. Remember that they had plans for a larger project extending onto the adjacent mobile home park as well. That project would've had over 300 units of housing, but was facing pushback over displacement concerns. Not all of the property owners were on board with selling the property, either. The new project will have 142 units in two phases with 71 units each. The end of the story also has a bit of an update on Palindrome's project in Barelas across from the Rail Yards.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Developer revives, slims down plan for West Central apartment complex

The developer behind the top-to-bottom renovations at El Vado and the Imperial Motel plans to begin construction of a 70-unit apartment complex this fall on West Central and hopes to add a separate building with a further 70 units soon thereafter.

Palindrome Communities had in 2023 proposed a development at the same site with more than twice that number of units - 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).

The group's luck has since changed. Rebecca Velarde, Palindrome's director of development, said it has obtained a $15 million loan from a state initiative called the Opportunity Enterprise Fund, which formerly dealt only with commercial projects.

With that room to maneuver, the plan is to put up a mix of one and two-bedroom units in a building that will front Central. While construction is slated for October, Velarde said it was possible that crews would begin site preparation work over the summer.

In May, Palindrome intends to apply for more financing such that phase two - a building set to be located further back from Central - may well overlap with phase one. Construction of one building, in any event, is slated to take 12 to 14 months.

The amount of parking the complex might have has not yet been nailed down, Velarde said, but the first iteration of the development called for 266 off-street spaces to serve 315 housing units. The politics of parking have changed substantially since then, and developments along "major transit" corridors like Central are no longer required to build any new parking at all (DAN, 2/23/26). Velarde said, however, that she is still expecting off-street parking to feature in the plan.

The previous iteration, called "La Curva" for the notable turn Central takes along that stretch, was also supposed to have an eight-stall food hall and a taproom. Velarde said that the commercial component had been scrapped in the new version, noting that very similar food and drink opportunities are located very close by.

The aesthetic emphasis on lowrider and Route 66 culture envisioned in 2023, meanwhile, is set to stay, though the exact form it will take is still to be determined.

Palindrome's other Albuquerque projects include the Monterey Motel and many of the buildings on the Sawmill Community Land Trust. A forthcoming development in Barelas called The Romero is still pursuing financing, Velarde said.

Note that the DAN story above is incorrect with regard to the number of units in the new project. Below is the site plan for the project from their sketch plan and sketch plat submittals last month before the Development Facilitation Team. The site plan lists the correct number of units. It also is much more descriptive and illustrative of the parking plans for the project as compared to what was stated in the DAN story.

In fact, they are exploring the vacation of right of way along the two existing streets for parking spaces. It’s similar to how the new hotels in Nob Hill have requested right of way to accommodate the parking schemes for their projects. Basically, it turns what would be public parking along the street into private parking to satisfy the parking needs of their projects.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2026-000...-000026_PA-2026-00057(Sketch%20PLAN).pdf





Unfortunately, no updated renderings for the scaled-down project have been released. Below is a link to the architects' Instagram account. Like Palindrome, they are based in Portland, and have designed various apartment projects. Their designs are mostly modern with angular elements and I'm hoping we get something along those lines in Albuquerque. I'll include a few examples of their work with elements that I like.

https://www.instagram.com/scottedwardsarchitecture/







Here's an awesome aerial pic that I've posted before showing the Motel 21 site. It's on the bottom middle to left of the pic, across Central Avenue from the developer's previous projects at the El Vado and Monterey motels. I can't wait until this empty lot and this side of Central Avenue is developed in a similar manner!

[ABQalex]

This year will mark ten years that the Downtown grocery store opened. Like with the movie theater, I had a hunch that this anniversary rather than being a happy occasion would instead mark the lease period ending and the owners looking to get out of the location and business.

The space has now officially been listed for lease and the listing says that the entire business may be available for purchase.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7450282856926404608/



I just pray that a new operator will be found, but I truly have doubts that will happen. The grocery store is always busy but I just don't think there will be many people interested in taking it on with low margins and all the challenges inherent with the location. Hopefully, I'm wrong, though.

I also dont have any faith in our current leadership's ability, effort or interest in recruiting a new operator and dealing with this situation. Again, hopefully I'm wrong.

This is just another unfortunate setback for Downtown Albuquerque and its continued revitalization. It can never catch a break. It makes me yearn for the days when we had leadership that truly cared about its success and times when we triumphed in its revitalization. Those days seem so far away and that sentiment and those accomplishments pretty much gone now.

[ABQalex]

Here are a few pics showing the progress on one of the current bright spots in our downtown revitalization efforts. The new sign for the Gizmo Arts space has been added. It features a pink dino as a nod to the one that stood in front of the old Gizmo store for years. It looks wonderful!

https://www.instagram.com/gizmo__arts/p/DXLUKmGFNGL/

[ABQalex]

Here are a few pics of the Central Crossing project that the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency posted in its monthly Crossroads newsletter for April. I've included the caption for the pics which gives an expected completion date of this summer for this section of the crossing. The entire crossing isn't expected to be completed until late next year.

https://www.cabq.gov/mra

The Rail Trail is Rising at Central Crossing

The southwest ramp at Central Crossing is expected to be completed this summer, providing safe, accessible access to the rail tracks and setting the stage for a future connection between East Downtown and the Downtown Core.

Here also is an awesome aerial pic showing the Alvarado Transportation Center and the area of the Central Crossing with Downtown Albuquerque in the background. It was taken recently and added to the New Mexico Rail Runner's Wikipedia article.

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

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News and KRQE recently had stories about the Rail Runner's new maintenance and operations facility in Downtown Albuquerque. The design is expected to be completed by the end of the year. They say they are considering a design which would resemble the historic structures of the Rail Yards.

The two-story facility is expected to cost $50 million to construct, nearly half of which will come from a $22.4 million federal RAISE grant which it won in 2024. They say that they fully expect to receive that grant money despite the current administration's focus on auto-related transportation projects and cancelation of other grants for projects such as the Rail Trail.

A groundbreaking ceremony will take place and construction on the project is expected to begin in summer next year.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-me...ility-for-shielding-crews-from-outdoors/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s a New Mexico transit icon, at nearly 20 years old. However, decades later, the Rail Runner is still without a modern place for fixing its fleet of trains. Now, they hope to soon get started building a place where workers can get out of the weather for the first time.

“We’ve been in the elements for the last 20 years. We’re doing a lot of intricate work on our trains, servicing our trains. So, they’ve been out in these elements forever,” said Director of Operations for the Rio Metro Regional Transit District Robert Gonzales.

Two decades in the making, the Rail Runner is still looking for a better place where their maintenance crews can do critical work.

“I think right now what we’re looking at is kind of getting them a better quality of life and make it more productive,” said Gonzales.

Since they started service, those crews have worked in an open-air shelter, no matter if there’s wind, rain, snow or heat. However, the Rail Runner is now closer than ever to finally getting an indoor operations and maintenance facility. The facility would shield crews and equipment from the elements.

The plan calls for a new building off Broadway and Iron. Along with shelter, Rail Runner said the building would help speed up maintenance and reduce emissions.

“It’s a big facility. It’s going to have all the cranes for lifting equipment and all the specialized tools to do all the specialized work we do on the train and on the equipment,” said Gonzales.

Their design is now about 35% complete, with a goal of finishing the design phase by the end of the year.

They’re also planning to get community feedback for what the building should look like. One idea so far is making it resemble the Rail Yards.

Rio Metro hopes to break ground next summer. The project is set to cost more than $50 million with around half of that coming from a federal grant.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Rail Runner to build large maintenance facility in South Broadway

The Rail Runner turns 20 this year, an occasion that will in the coming months be marked by various celebrations. But amid the revelry, the agency that runs the commuter train service is also maneuvering to build something that it has lacked since the beginning: A maintenance facility that can, at long last, shield both workers and sensitive train components from the elements.

"It's 20 years in the making," said Robert Gonzales, the director of transit operations for Rio Metro. Back in the mid-00s, "we were just trying to get this thing up and running."

Then as now, the Rail Runner's passenger cars and locomotives require an extensive array of inspections and maintenance that happen daily, every 90 days, and at other regular intervals. A team of 20 to 25 workers makes it all happen under an open-air shelter with a red roof that can be seen from the Coal overpass.

The current setup is tough on the staff, to be sure, but it also slows them down. When they need to replace a rubber seal, for example, the crew must make sure that it's not windy, lest some bit of blowing dust or dirt get in and gum up the works.

For work that involves getting under the train cars, there is a 40-foot pit at the current facility, but that comes with its own inherent problem: The train cars are twice that length. Workers spend lots of time just positioning the cars so they can be worked on, something that involves locomotives and thus more local diesel emissions in the neighborhood.

The new facility will, by contrast, feature four 85-foot pits.

"You'll be able to do the whole inspection of the car on one pit," Gonzales said. "Productivity is going to go through the roof."

If all goes to plan, construction crews will get to work on the maintenance building just over one year from now. It will be located a little over 100 feet east of the red open-air shelter, with dimensions measuring 48 feet tall, 100 feet wide, and 280 feet long.

Some reconfiguration of track will also be required to get the trains to the new facility. Today, one track splits off from the mainline near the Downtown Rail Runner station, then divides again into two "service tracks" as it heads south to the yards. When all is said and done, two additional tracks will split off from that and go through the new building.

The exact look of the structure is still TBD, but one option under consideration is to somehow make it resemble the Rail Yards, Gonzales said. He added that the agency would conduct community outreach to get feedback on the aesthetics.

The project is presently about 35 percent designed, with a final draft expected by the end of the year. Gonzales expects a groundbreaking to happen in the summer of 2027.

The project is set to cost in the neighborhood of $50 million. It will be paid for with a mix of local sources and a $22.4 million federal grant that has been awarded but not finalized - a detail that was once just a formality but took on new significance last year when the Department of Transportation canceled a similar grant that it had promised to the Albuquerque Rail Trail (DAN, 9/12/25).

Gonzales said, however, that he is in regular contact with federal officials and that they have given no indication that the project is in trouble.

"They have not said 'you're not getting the money,'" he said.

The building is set to be located roughly where the small warehouse at the left is now. Anyone who crosses the Coal overpass and glances off to the right will be able to monitor construction progress.

https://www.riometro.org/510/Rail-Runner-Operation-Maintenance-Facili

[ABQalex]

KOB-TV recently had an update about the new state film school at the Rail Yards. They say that it is scheduled for completion and its first classes to be held in September. The video story includes nice views of the interior progress at the facility.

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/cnm-on...s-digital-media-training-center-by-fall/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new era for the historic Albuquerque Rail Yards may be under construction now but it is almost ready to begin.

After around three years of renovations and remodeling, Central New Mexico Community College is set to start classes at the new state-of-the-art digital media training center in September.

“We talked to the people that are hiring and we asked them, ‘What do you need in this facility in order for us to make the next transition to new technology?’, and that’s what we put in here,” said Alan Trever, the department’s director of academic affairs.

The Rail Yards’ former boiler shop is getting transformed into a nearly 10,000-square-foot space. It’ll include three professional-grade sound stages, a state-of-the-art educational theater and a recording studio with a built-in foley floor.

“That is where you put rocks or other materials and record the sound you make so you could like record footsteps and things like that,” CNM Facilities Project Manager Adrianna Casas said about the foley floor.

There’s even a makeup studio with a costume shop right next door.

“Our goal here is to become future-proofed for this evolving industry and sort of a major majorly disrupted time in our industry,” New Mexico Media Arts Collective Executive Director Mateo Frazier said.

CNM, the city and the state all pitched in to make the $73 million facility a reality. The New Mexico Media Arts Collective also plans on using it for professional productions.

“What we hope to do is attract smaller productions that are interested in producing content here and then great opportunities for students to work and get their hours on those shows,” Frazier said.

The memory of railroad’s past will live on. Two cranes that were in the building will remain, for you to imagine the people who used to work there with these big locomotives.

CNM estimates construction is about 75% done and will be done this fall. By mid-September, they expect classes to begin in the new facility.

[ABQalex]

Here are a few more nice pics showing the progress at the Rail Yards film school. They were posted this afternoon by the city's film office on their social media accounts. I've also included a few more pics with nice views from another recent tour by the Urban Land Institute of the site. They were posted on Facebook at the end of last month by a participant in the tour.

https://www.instagram.com/abqfilmoffice/p/DXP1-y1Gu0D/

https://www.facebook.com/DonaldAliRobert...HAUH8jm8yrZmctZ5ebMDaYhHSD6KmxaDKZgJ7sEl

[ABQalex]

Below are some pics showing the construction of the Woodbury apartments on Mesa del Sol. The first two are aerial pics added recently on the Homes.com neighborhood profile for Mesa del Sol. You can also spot what looks like a new archway being constructed for the Netflix Albuquerque Studios entrance. It is going in above the existing "N" monument visible in the upper-left corner of the first pic.

Remember that Albuquerque Studios previously had an archway, which is traditional for film studios. I was disappointed that it was removed with the studios' expansion project, but glad that it looks like it will be replaced at the new main entrance.

They've also recently added a monument sign along the corner of University Boulevard and Eastman Crossing. I posted about the plans for the sign previously. I saw a picture of it on Facebook last month, but unfortunately never saved it and haven't been able to find it again to share.

The middle two pics below were posted by Pavilion Construction on their Facebook page late last month.

The last three pics were posted by a window subcontractor on his LinkedIn account earlier this week and show the project further along than the other pics.

https://www.homes.com/local-guide/south-valley-nm/mesa-del-sol-neighborhood/





https://www.facebook.com/pavilionconstru...zRv1YWMfDUwHxPPGzw9K9xBeiiGfFnsxQS6UCgZl





https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7449588136453648384/

[ABQalex]

The Hartman + Majewski Design Group posted some nice construction and site visit pics last week on Facebook of the SOMOS Apartments project that they designed. It includes a neat sequence of pics showing the progression of construction on the entryway/corner/focal point of the structure.

https://www.facebook.com/designgroupnm/p...EP7wUUtN9qeEx6RCgiULpgDCEm1j5N8g2R8TEsHl

[ABQalex]

The city earlier this month issued a request for proposals for an empty lot it owns at 12201 Central Avenue NE in the East Gateway Area. They are looking for and hoping to get proposals with housing and services, similar to the RFP for the lot at Kathryn and San Mateo last year. That RFP was won by Sol Housing with its Cosecha proposal that includes a fresh food market/source and housing.

Proposals are due next month on May 13th.

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/request-for-proposals/rfp-02-2026-east-central-lot-disposal

Information on Request for Proposals (RFP) #02-2026 East Central Lot Development Opportunity

Issued April 6, 2026

The City of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) is seeking qualified developers to transform a vacant, City‑owned lot at 12201 Central Ave NE, in the East Gateway Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. The City will donate the land to support a project that brings needed housing, services, and investment to this high‑priority corridor.

[ABQalex]

Here's another blow for Downtown Albuquerque. The city has ordered closed Lindy's Diner due to structural concerns for its overall structure, the Bliss Building. The city says that it is in danger of collapse due to failed lateral supports. The city conducted inspections yesterday after receiving concerns about the structure through the 311 system this past weekend.

The KOB-TV story below says that they also received concerns from a viewer last month that also triggered an exterior/surface examination of the structure by the city, which didn’t raise the same concerns.

The city says the inspections yesterday were different and more thorough and did raise concerns about the structural stability and safety, including that the roof and second story were sagging. They also note that the northeast facade is bulging/buckling outward and could collapse onto the sidewalk/public right of way, thereby endangering the public.

The owners of Lindy's, who also own the overall building, have been given until early next month to hire a structural engineer to come up with a plan to address the issues.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/lindys-di...osed-amid-concerns-over-building-safety/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lindy’s Diner downtown has been red-tagged and shut down after a city inspection raised new questions about the more than 100-year-old building.

City employees arrived and placed a red tag on the diner window Monday afternoon.

Concerns over the building

KOB 4 got a tip from a viewer one month ago raising safety concerns about a bow in the building’s outside wall.

When KOB 4 asked the city about that tip, the city told her no reports or complaints had been made. The city then sent an inspection team that day.

At the time, the city said its crew found only cosmetic issues, had no structure concerns and gave the building the green light.

What changed?

City leaders said the Code Enforcement Division inspected Lindy’s Diner again on April 20 after 311 complaints about the building’s condition and an initial inspection last week.

The owners told KOB 4 this morning’s inspection was the latest in a handful of recent inspections.

During Monday’s follow-up inspection, the city said inspectors found violations of the Uniform Housing Code, Integrated Development Ordinance and the Uniform Administrative Code.

“These older buildings are attractive landmarks throughout the city, and we are hoping that the owner will step in quickly to preserve to building,” said Planning Department Director Alan Varela.

The city said the violations were severe enough that code enforcement issued an Emergency Vacate Order, which means Lindy’s Diner must stay closed until the problems are fixed.

A faulty initial inspection?

As for what changed, the city said the first inspection only looked at the outside of the building and did not show enough evidence to close it at that time. The city said code enforcement workers also did more research before the second inspection to better evaluate the building’s condition.

The owners of Lindy’s Diner said they had been told there were no concerns about the building’s safety until now. They also said this inspection included a larger group of people and a drone.

Downtown Albuquerque News this morning also had a story with pics about the closure and concerns for the building's structural stability.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Lindy's Diner is shuttered as city warns its building is in danger of collapse

Lindy's Diner, a Downtown core fixture for nearly 100 years, closed abruptly Monday as city inspectors warned its wall along Fifth Street was in danger of collapsing onto the sidewalk.

The city's report said that inspections conducted yesterday morning found "hazard conditions" that were the result of "years of neglect and lack of maintenance." It added that "lateral supports have been severely compromised, and now the roof and the second floor are sagging and [are] in hazard of collapse. Structural supports were installed in 1995, however, those applications are starting to fail as the exterior wall is leaning further out into the public right-of-way."

Such signs of trouble were hard to miss Monday afternoon at the corner of Fifth and Central. The northeast corner featured a prominent outward bulge and there were cracks in the wall, while various pieces of molding attached to that same wall had come apart at the joints.

The report, which doubles as the city's official notice of the infraction, makes clear that Steve and Dawn Vatoseow - the owners of Lindy's and the larger building - have their work cut out for them: "You shall supply the city with an engineer's report for the abatement of the life safety hazards," it said. "A building permit is required to build or repair the unsafe commercial structure. Fencing is required to barricade the public from the unsafe structure. Failure to do so will result in the city erecting the fence and a lien will be placed on the property for the associated costs for the fence."

Lindy's has until May 4 to resolve the broader list of issues, the report said. There was no fence along Fifth as of Monday just after 5 p.m.

The cascade of inspections began with a tip received by KOB, which then put questions about the property to the city, the station reported Monday.

The city said in a news release also published Monday that the "initial inspection was limited to the building's exterior and did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant closure at that time. Code enforcement staff also needed to conduct additional research before the follow-up inspection to better assess the building's condition."

"These older buildings are attractive landmarks throughout the city, and we are hoping that the owner will step in quickly to preserve the building," Planning Department Director Alan Varela said in the news release.

Jesús Muñoz, the executive director of Flamenco Works, which is located in an attached structure immediately to the west, said that he had been concerned about the Lindy's building for months but that the bulging and cracking had gotten much worse in the last few weeks. He added that code enforcement officers had also inspected the Flamenco Works building Monday and given it a clean bill of health.

Lindy's and the larger Bliss Building were put on the market in recent weeks for $1.2 million - the third sale attempt since 2018, according to the listing. Steve Vatoseow told the Journal in a recent interview that the second floor of the building features 22 rooms "screaming to be developed into condos or apartments."

The Bliss Building dates back to 1906, and the restaurant began in 1929 as the Coney Island Café. It was renamed Lindy's in 1960 when it was purchased by Vatoseow's father, Narke.

Vatoseow didn't return a message seeking comment Monday. A handwritten sign posted on the front door, however, read "It's Been A HELL of A Ride!!! We Love You Albuquerque."

In many of the pics you can also notice what looks like staining or discoloration in the building facade. This has been noticeable even before the building was repainted several years ago, so it has to be something which affects the actual structure and facade.



I've seen people who've been inside the structure say that the second floor suffers from water intrusion from the roof. I wonder if this is what's causing the discoloration and indeed the overall structural issues.

As has been mentioned in the stories above and in the city's inspection report, the building has had shoring measures put in over the years to stabilize the structure.

New window openings on the ground floor were cut into the walls over time, perhaps after those shoring efforts, sometime in the late 1990s. This most likely worsened and led to the current issues as well.



I've noticed and have been concerned about the structure and its buckling facade since about the beginning of the pandemic. When a structure in Davenport, Iowa collapsed about three years ago, I really became concerned, because it showed similar signs of failure before it collapsed.

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

A building facade also collapsed in Downtown El Paso about three weeks ago.

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/downtown-el-paso-crash-damages-building-facade-wednesday-morning

This again made me worry about Lindy's and the Bliss Building. Coincidentally, the Albuquerque Journal ran a story around that time which featured a picture of the owners standing in front of the entrance to the structure where you can see some of the issues with the structure, including the cracks, bulging and misaligned elements of the facade.

The story was about the owners again putting the building up for sale and expressing a desire to retire.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/hist...or-sale-as-owners-eye-retirement/3015514



This is a rather unfortunate situation and I feel terrible for the owners. I hope a resolution and fix can be found and carried out quickly. I hope it doesn't devolve into a legal fight between the city and the owners and we end up with a hazard and sidewalk closures for years, such as has happened with a building in Downtown Boise.

https://www.kivitv.com/downtown-boise/pe...d-as-union-block-building-saga-continues