Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

Here are a couple of screenshots and links to two really cool videos capturing the Rail Runner in Downtown Albuquerque. The first one shows a neat passing of trains going in opposite directions at the Marquette crossing. The second shows the last Rail Runner train from Santa Fe heading toward the maintenance facility for the night. The videos were posted on Twitter at the beginning of the week. Spot the plane landing at the Sunport in the upper right corner of the first video as well!

https://x.com/RAILMag/status/1901801895293055348



https://x.com/RAILMag/status/1901820743241146593



Here also is a nice pic that I thought I'd take this opportunity to share. It's of the Rail Runner at the Downtown Albuquerque station getting ready to depart for Santa Fe. It was posted by the Albuquerque City Council’s account on Instagram and shows them taking the Rail Runner to advocate and lobby for the city’s interests at this year’s legislative session in Santa Fe.

https://www.instagram.com/abqcitycouncil/p/DGDqBgzJhY1/



Here's a pic of the Rail Runner at the Downtown Albuquerque station in the snow. It was posted earlier this month on Flickr by Rio Metro but was taken back in January.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/riometro/54363584655/



Here's another nice pic of Rail Runner trains in Downtown Albuquerque also posted fairly recently by the Rail Runner Twitter account. It was taken during one of our foggy mornings back in January as well.

https://x.com/NMRXExpress/status/1877755707941958103



Finally, here are a couple more awesome pics of the Rail Runner that were posted on Flickr earlier this week. I thought I'd also take this opportunity to share them. That first pic with the train emerging from the tunnel/box culvert into the median of I-25 absolutely kills me. We are incredibly lucky to have this piece of infrastructure in New Mexico!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137595561@N06/54393240642/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/137595561@N06/54394491180/

[ABQalex]

The city earlier this year signed off on an agreement to help build off-base military housing in the city for Kirtland Air Force Base. It's all part of ongoing plans and projects to upgrade and increase housing options for the base and its service members.

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/city-approves-plans-for-more-military-housing-in-albuquerque/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Plans are moving forward to add more military housing as the City of Albuquerque signed off on it Wednesday night.

A spokesperson for the city said the limited housing options at Kirtland Air Force Base make it challenging for service members.

The next step is for the city to begin negotiations with the Military Housing Authority. Leaders didn’t say what the final cost will be but said federal funds will cover the whole project.

https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment...d-with-plan-to-increase-military-housing

City Moves Forward with Plan to Increase Military Housing

Project to address housing shortage for military members and boost the economy

January 22, 2025

ALBUQUERQUE — Albuquerque needs more housing for all segments of the market, including housing to support military personnel and families at Kirtland Air Force Base. Tonight, the City’s award to the Military Housing Authority to build and manage off-base housing was approved by City Council. This is an important step forward to build the housing needed in our city and to meet Kirtland Air Force Base growth.

Kirtland Air Force Base is one of the largest and most significant military bases in the region, but the base’s limited on-site housing options have created significant housing challenges for service members, particularly for Junior Service Members who have to compete in the broader Albuquerque housing market. Building dedicated off-base housing for military members will help alleviate the strain for service members.

“Albuquerque is committed to addressing the housing needs of all our residents, including those who serve at Kirtland Air Force Base,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. By advancing this partnership with the Military Housing Authority, we are taking a critical step in ensuring that our military personnel and their families have access to the affordable, high-quality housing they deserve.”

“The collaboration between the City, Department of Defense, and the Military Housing Authority represents a win-win for our service members and the Albuquerque community. It’s a step toward ensuring that our men and women in uniform have a place to call home while also contributing to the local economy. We’re excited to see how this partnership will improve the quality of life for our military families,” said Kirtland Partnership Committee.

The City of Albuquerque will now begin negotiations with the Military Housing Authority to develop and operate off-base housing, so service members have access to affordable, high-quality accommodations

While the final cost is yet to be determined, federal funds will cover the entirety of the project, making it a sustainable solution that meets the housing needs of military personnel without relying on local resources.

The project will foster job creation during development and ongoing economic activity. The impact on Albuquerque’s social and commercial life is expected to be significant as military families join the community, contributing to local businesses and enhancing the city’s cultural vibrancy.

Here's a pic of the new base housing area that was built about 10-15 years ago and which replaced scores of old single-story, flat-roofed tract housing from the 1950s and 1960s.



Pershing Park is one of the older base housing areas (from the 1990s) and it is currently undergoing an extensive remodel of more than 200 of its homes. They recently celebrated the first of these renovations with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event. More renovations are scheduled to be completed into next year.

https://www.kirtland.af.mil/News/Article...force-base-completes-first-phase-of-per/

Supporting Those Who Serve: Kirtland Air Force Base Completes First Phase of Pershing Park Renovation

Published Jan. 24, 2025
By Britianie Teston
Kirtland Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Kirtland Air Force Base hosted a ribbon-cutting and “key turnover” ceremony on Jan. 23 to mark a significant milestone in the renovation of the Pershing Park neighborhood. The event celebrated the completion of the first 14 homes in a large-scale project designed to modernize housing and improve the quality of life for military families. Base leadership, housing officials, and residents gathered to commemorate the event, highlighting the base’s commitment to improving the quality of life for military families.

Originally built in 1997, the Pershing Park neighborhood comprises a mix of single-family and duplex homes with two to four bedrooms. These homes, which serve as Staff NCO housing for E5 and E6 ranks, had never undergone renovations prior to this project. The $18.5 million effort, funded through Kirtland Family Housing’s reinvestment account, began in October 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in 2026, ultimately updating all 211 homes in the neighborhood.

“This renovation project is a testament to our commitment to reinvesting in our community and supporting the families who serve our nation,” said Col. Jason Okumura, 377th Mission Support Group commander, during his remarks at the ceremony. “By bringing these homes in line with the rest of the base housing, we are ensuring that our residents have modern, comfortable, and energy-efficient living spaces that reflect the gratitude we have for their service.”

The scope of work for the renovation includes new flooring throughout the homes, updated kitchen and bathroom cabinets featuring granite countertops, modern plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient LED lighting, interior and exterior painting, and refreshed xeriscaping to improve curb appeal and align with New Mexico’s unique environment.

These upgrades address the outdated condition of the homes, bringing them in line with other neighborhoods on the base. The renovations not only enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of the units but also prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability.

“Hunt Military Communities is committed to delivering quality housing and exceptional service for those who serve our nation,” said Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hunt Military Communities. “The Pershing Park renovations reflect our ongoing dedication to creating modern, comfortable, and sustainable homes that meet the needs of today’s military families.”

Pershing Park’s namesake, General John J. Pershing, holds a historical connection to New Mexico. As a young officer, he served with the U.S. cavalry at Fort Bayard and commanded the Buffalo Soldier unit, earning the nickname “Black Jack” Pershing. He later led U.S. forces during the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1916. The neighborhood’s name and its Army heritage honor his distinguished military career and ties to the region.

During the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to tour one of the newly renovated homes, showcasing the upgrades made throughout the neighborhood. Families who have already moved into the updated homes have expressed their appreciation for the improvements.

The project’s completion will ensure that Pershing Park continues to serve as a vibrant, supportive community for military families. By reinvesting in the neighborhood, Kirtland is not only improving housing but also strengthening the base’s ties to the greater Albuquerque area and reinforcing its mission of service and support.

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal has a story about UNM's recent purchase of the problematic Motel 6 property on Avenida Cesar Chavez and I-25 which is also next to its Lobo Village student housing complex and at the gateway to the South Campus sports facilities, Science & Technology Park, etc. They plan to begin demolishing the structure at the end of the month.

They don't have any firm plans for what will replace the motel, but say that they want it to fit into their overall plans to attract restaurants, retail and other commercial uses for the area. The story also gives a bit of an update about the plans for the state’s first In-N-Out location on the South Campus further down I-25 at Gibson Boulevard.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/article_7c33d780-5e40-44ea-8db0-1b0236a7479c.html

A local hotspot for crime is on its way to becoming part of the University of New Mexico’s effort to revamp the South Campus area.

UNM regents last month acquired the Motel 6 on Avenida Cesar Chavez for $5 million following years of what officials described as criminal activity that posed a threat to the safety of students and the surrounding community. Demolishing the motel, university officials say, is a key step toward redeveloping the area into a vibrant hub for food, retail and housing.

“I can’t understate the importance of removing that property from the area in terms of reduction in criminal activity,” Tom Neale, UNM’s director of real estate and interim executive director for Lobo Development Corp., told the Journal. “What we found after we acquired the property just reinforced all that we’ve heard about.”

Among the university’s discoveries were vandalized rooms and evidence of recent manufacturing of methamphetamine, Neale said. A report shared by Lobo Development Corp. officials, put together by the Albuquerque Police Department, shows nearly 300 police calls — 150 for violent crimes, 124 for property crimes — from 2019 through 2024.

Criminal activity at the property and potential solutions have been on the university’s radar for years.

The property is now in the hands of the Lobo Development Corp., UNM’s private development arm and master developer of its South Campus Tax Increment Development District, or TIDD. The TIDD incentivizes growth on land that UNM owns by giving developers a share of future tax revenue for their investment into the land’s public infrastructure.

The corporation will handle demolishing the 22,224-square-foot motel and marketing the site to developers looking to bring projects to the area.

Neale said demolishing the motel should eliminate much of the crime threat, but that officials also have plans in place for future crime mitigation.

“I don’t envision that we will sell any of those parcels,” Neale said. “We will either develop those parcels along (Avenida) Cesar Chavez ourselves or build-to-suit agreements or potentially ground leases.”

He added that UNM can restrict what uses are brought in and ensure “any use we put in that area will have a benefit and not bring any element or use ... that’s adverse to our goals.”

Neale, who has been with UNM for 19 years, said the site is designated for commercial development and will likely bring in restaurants, retail or a combination of both.

“This area of Albuquerque is really, really underserved with retail and restaurants, Neale said. “We’re starting to see a lot of interest in our lands at South Campus.”

He added, “Coming out of COVID and the COVID hangover, now retailers and restaurants are starting to focus on development opportunities again, and we’re seeing that in South Campus.”

Some of the university’s land was sold to Raising Cane’s and a site on Gibson is currently under contract with In-N-Out Burger, Neale said, adding he expects the In-N-Out transaction to close in May.

Neale said the corporation has many more developments in the works and that removing Motel 6 is an important piece in moving UNM’s vision for development and creating a revitalized gateway into South Campus.

The timeline of the Motel 6 site’s development will depend on the market. But UNM is “targeting a transformational development in that corridor over the next few years,” Neale said.

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Fire Rescue has now also posted pics on Instagram of the construction progress for Station 23 on the Southwest Mesa. This is a completely new fire station, the first created in about 20 years, as the post notes. The city has built lots of new fire stations in that time but they were new structures for existing stations. This station is part of an overall public safety complex that will include new APD and ACS facilities as well to serve this area, which is the fastest-growing part of Albuquerque proper.

Be sure to click the link and scroll through for a short drone video of the construction as well!

https://www.instagram.com/abqfirerescue/p/DHdsowiuEjV/













Here's a neat aerial pic of one of the biggest subdivisions that's fueling growth in this area, the Aspire development, with lots for over 500 new homes.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...nt-group-thousand-homes-albuquerque.html



Further up on the Westside, here are a couple of neat aerial pics showing the Ativo Senior Living project at Coors and Western Trail NW. The pics were recently posted on a 55+ apartment listing site. It looks like the project has been completed.

https://www.after55.com/nm/albuquerque/ativo-of-albuquerque/txc1jyc

[ABQalex]

Here are a few pics of the Calle Cuarta project that Pavilion Construction has posted on its Facebook account this month.

https://www.facebook.com/pavilionconstruction







Here's a screenshot and link to a short video showing and talking about the project that the mayor recently posted on his social media accounts.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/910375554375477



Finally, here's another awesome aerial pic taken during a balloon ride and posted yesterday on Instagram by a travel-blogging couple who raved about the experience. It shows a similar view looking toward Downtown Albuquerque from the North Valley as the previous pic that I posted last week. You can see the apartment buildings including Calle Cuarta that have been built in this area along 4th Street recently.

https://www.instagram.com/rv_bigadventures/p/DHaBE_zxrS5/?img_index=2

[ABQalex]

Here's a construction pic of the Farolito Senior Community apartments on Central Avenue in the East Gateway area. It was posted yesterday by Chavez Concrete on their social media accounts.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/624781093773853



And here's a rendering of the project from a similar perspective to compare with what's been built so far. It looks like they eliminated some of those horizontally-oriented windows shown in the rendering, and perhaps that little wall at the entrance, although I suppose they could still build it.

https://www.solhousing.org/communities/farolito-senior-community

[ABQalex]

Below are a couple of screenshots from a video that Bernalillo County recently posted on its social media accounts. They show the San Roque and La Serena affordable apartment projects under construction on the Westside.

The overall video is talking about the county's collaboration with the city for the Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative and their efforts to lobby the state legislature for funding towards the various affordable housing projects and opportunities that they have identified to help tackle the affordable housing shortage and crisis in the area.

Today is the last day of this year’s legislative session. I have yet to see a good breakdown or report about what exactly the state legislature has passed with regard to funding for affordable housing projects.

https://www.instagram.com/berncounty/reel/DHMssRIIv_V/

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[ABQalex]

Here are the floor plans and a cross-section for Titan Development's boutique hotel project in Nob Hill on the former Hiway House Motel property. They were part of a supplemental submittal before the Development Facilitation Team. I keep hoping to find an actual rendering, but no luck so far. The floor plans and infobox show that the hotel will actually have 112 rooms.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2024-010...pdated%20-%20Hiway%20Hotel%20project.pdf

Parking Garage



Ground Floor



Second Floor



Third Floor



Cross-section



Infobox



The project is also going before the Development Hearing Officer this coming week for a request to vacate part of Bryn Mawr Drive to accommodate their on-street parking spaces. That would of course make the street parking on that stretch private instead of public.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2024-010...Letter-2025-02-14-L-Justification_v1.pdf

[ABQalex]

Formative Architecture posted a reel this past week on its Instagram account showing animated and still renderings of its design for the permanent home of the African American Museum & Cultural Center of New Mexico. An event was held earlier this month at the South Broadway Cultural Center where the design was revealed. They are hoping this will help to accelerate funding and fundraising efforts to bring the facility to fruition.

Below is a link to the reel and some screenshots that I made of the renderings. I've not been able to find out where this project may be located or if there is a site selected and secured yet.

https://www.instagram.com/formativearchitecture/reel/DHWNHmIK4Qe/











































Here's the link to the AAMCCNM's website, which features another rendering showing the back of the project. You can click or scan a QR code on the site to see a project narrative with more of the renderings and floor plans for the project.

https://aamccnm.wixsite.com/website



Here's a screenshot that I made showing the floor plans for the proposed facility.

[ABQalex]

Updated renderings for the first phase of the Uptown Connect project were recently revealed in a video by the Bernalillo County Economic Development Department on the county’s social media accounts. Below are screenshots of the new renderings and a link to the video. They talk with Palindrome Communities' director of development, Rebecca Velarde, about the project in the video.

https://www.facebook.com/BernalilloCounty/videos/2121107418336326











This is really cool! I'm glad that they more or less stuck with what was shown in the early renderings that first envisioned the project. It looks like there will be a food hall in the Plaza Tower and pavilion structure that extends onto the plaza and looks over the adjacent dog park and fountain. The dog park here looks very nice and substantial and is exactly what I'd like to see Downtown if one were ever to be developed down here.

Here are a few more screenshots showing the food hall area and ground floor/northern entrance of the Plaza Tower. A neat feature to go along with the dog park is a food hall vendor geared towards dogs, where I imagine they will sell doggy treats and maybe toys, clothes, leashes and other gear.







Palindrome also submitted some of these renderings and floor plans to the city's Development Facilitation Team earlier this month for review. As you can see, the North Tower will have 217 units and the Plaza Tower will end up being residential as well, with 22 units, for a total of 239 units in this first phase.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2022-006...lopment%20Sketch%20Plan%2003.05.2025.pdf















One issue I do have with the design is that I'd like to see a more substantial and full courtyard above the ground-floor of the North Tower/affordable apartment building. I'm sure they're wanting to open up that ground floor and lessen the feeling of it being hidden and dark, etc., especially for the bank/credit union branch, but I think it's a missed opportunity to give residents a larger amount of shared open space and a place to hangout outside.

It would be nicer if the courtyard here was more like the two at the nearby Markana Uptown. I know that this is going to be an affordable housing structure and the Markana Uptown is more upscale, but still. It does look like there is going to be a pool at the Plaza Tower, that they say will be open to residents of all the apartments, giving them a very nice amenity, so I guess I can't complain too much.

Overall, it's a very nice project! I can't wait to see it come to fruition!

[ABQalex]

Mark Baker’s architecture firm posted a disappearing video story on its Instagram account a couple of weeks ago. It showed their office/studio at 505 Central and projects that they are working on currently. You could see some of the site plans for the Route 66 National Research Center and the overall redevelopment plans for the area northeast of Central Avenue and University Boulevard.

The video is unfortunately no longer visible but I did get a few screenshots where we can get a peek at what UNM is currently planning for this area. They aren't the greatest, but I tried to get the clearest view of each element and its description, as well as one with the entire overall site plan. The video was them passing over the boards with the renderings and plans on their wall, so they never much stayed still to get a good look at each element.

Looking at the screenshots, it looks like there will be a new mixed-use structure directly on the corner of the intersection with a "neighborhood grocery" on its ground floor and residential above. They also have plans for two other residential structures and a parking garage in the areas north and west of the old Galles Motor Company structure. All of the structures look like they will be 3-4 stories.

An interesting element is a "projector screen" on the south side of the parking structure. I assume that is for outdoor movie/film screenings on the plaza.

https://www.instagram.com/baker_a_d/









Albuquerque's Sister Cities Foundation recently hosted a delegation from Ukraine. One of the stops they made on their tour was at Baker Architecture + Design where they apparently viewed a presentation including the plans for the Route 66 National Research Center. They also apparently were hosted by Titan Development and toured the Highlands development including the curved skywalk across Central Avenue.

Below are a couple of pics that the foundation posted on its Facebook account today. I think the visit must've been the same day that Baker A+D posted the story on their Instagram account. If you notice, you can see the same design boards on the walls of their studio.

https://www.facebook.com/ABQSisterCities...kqvhwor3jon3qMBKfFmDkKyT8MJXh6ygKNXerYbl





Kharkiv is of course Albuquerque’s newest Sister City. The cities were joined together in this special and symbolic way back in 2023 in the midst of the war in Ukraine. Albuquerque has donated an ambulance and made various other gifts, exchanges and gestures of goodwill and support for our Sister City since the relationship was born.

https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment...er-city-partnership-with-kharkiv-ukraine



Here's a nice aerial pic of Kharkiv from its page on the Albuquerque Sister Cities website.

https://www.abqsistercities.org/kharkiv-ukraine-2/

[ABQalex]

Here also are some more nice aerial pics of Albuquerque posted recently by the Rainbow Ryders balloon pilot to his Facebook account. You can see the area around Balloon Fiesta Park in the first pic. The Honeywell/Maxeon site is visible on the right side of the pic. There are also two nice pics of Downtown Albuquerque. The second of those two pics with a full view of Downtown proper is just awesome! Then there’s a nice pic of the CNM Main Campus/UNM South Campus area. The last pic is of the area around the airport, with Mesa del Sol just beyond.

(Click the links directly below the embedded images to see them full-size)

https://www.facebook.com/kris.braden.9/p...MRyZdwKorB79UwVpeq3xPijzCVjUAZhzYbpSADhl


https://images2.imgbox.com/16/f3/kidm30Z9_o.jpg


https://images2.imgbox.com/69/a3/P8MLLeG0_o.jpg


https://images2.imgbox.com/98/31/8qmifJ19_o.jpg


https://images2.imgbox.com/8f/1c/gDPSY8WZ_o.jpg


https://images2.imgbox.com/b6/31/K6exIWj2_o.jpg

[ABQalex]

It looks like the basketball academy in the former Century Theaters space in Downtown Albuquerque has fallen through. Portions of the Theater Block including the former movie theater space have been put up for sale. Below is a listing that was created yesterday for the space. The listing does mention the possibility of a setup with plans for basketball courts, but also touts it as a site for a charter school or movie studios.

A total of 91,189 sq ft of space is available for sale in the structure, which includes the upstairs office space on the north and south ends of the structure, which they tout for residential conversion. They also mention Tucano's long-term lease until 2034 and Diaz Kitchen & Sushi Bar's lease that runs through this year as possibilities for sale of space with tenants in place on the ground floor. Three Sisters Kitchen is the other main tenant that I know of in the structure on the ground floor.

Interestingly, Three Sisters seems to have expanded to the Imperial Building. I'm wondering if they are planning to eventually move their entire operation there.

https://www.crexi.com/properties/1842235/new-mexico-former-theatre-block





I must say that I'm sort of glad to see this. I never liked the basketball academy idea or use for this space. They gutted the structure and demolished everything that made it recognizable as a theater (sloped floors, etc.), but I'm still hopeful somebody and some theater chain might ever swoop in and return the space to a movie theater. I don't like to see so much space empty for years, but I'd be willing to wait awhile to see if that might ever shake out and come to fruition.

If somebody came along with a better and more exciting proposal than a basketball academy, I'd be okay with that as well.

Maybe another destination restaurant or something like a dinner theater, escape room, arcade/playplace akin to a Dave and Busters, etc. Or maybe even finally a bowling alley here instead of One Central, which has unfortunately never come to fruition. It needs to be something that at least is a draw with wide appeal that brings people from other parts of the city down here to be really great and worthy, IMO.

Here's a post that I made over at SSC just now in response to poster Cactus Hibs' comments about this that I wanted to copy over here as well. It introduced even more ideas for the space. The idea for a Meow Wolf outpost in Albuquerque I especially liked. They of course just announced a new location for New York City. I also mention the possibility of Albuquerque’s own Electric Playhouse making a comeback to the heart of the city in this space.

Originally Posted by ABQalex

I agree completely! The city has to help resurrect this space in any way necessary. A Meow Wolf outpost would be awesome, I really like that idea!

It's too bad Electric Playhouse moved to the Westside a few years ago after starting up Downtown. Electric Playhouse is making waves in other places and becoming known nationally as well. Their Las Vegas operation is very popular, I see it all over social media. Perhaps they could make a comeback Downtown as well, whether moving back down here or creating a second location. That sort of fits with the experiential/destination-type dining use that I envisioned as well.

Electric Playhouse was supposed to have moved its offices to the historic Occidental Life Insurance Building on Gold Avenue with the help of a city storefront grant. I'm not sure if that ever came to fruition, though.

We have outfits, entities and creative people like this in Albuquerque and New Mexico that could surely do something good here with this space.

We just need to dream big and try to enable it as best we can as a city!

[ABQalex]

Here's a bit of an update on another movie theater that closed during the pandemic, but which will thankfully remain a theater under a different operator. The renovations for the new Flix Brewhouse location at the former UA High Ridge 8 theater on the east side are coming along and the poster of the pic below on Reddit in the comments says that it may open as early as this summer.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Albuquerque/comments/1jg54v6/new_flix_coming_soon/

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First has a story about a new $400 million structure that's planned at Sandia National Laboratories. The structure will have 136,000 sq ft of space and will replace an existing 75-year-old structure. It is designed to be expanded by up to 40,000 sq ft. It will house 200 employees of the Labs' Power Sources Technology Group. They say that it may begin construction as soon as August if the design is approved. They also say that they have more such replacements of aging facilities on the horizon at the labs.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...dates-progress-on-new-400m-facility.html

The final design of Sandia National Laboratories' new $400 million power sources capability building was finished in the first quarter of 2025, and the project will now go through a government review process.

Sandia National Laboratories is the sole research, design, surveillance and primary production agency for power sources within the National Security Enterprise, a Sandia National Laboratories' document shows. Its portfolio includes primary batteries, thermal batteries and energy conversion systems, the document shows.

If the new 136,000-square-foot building gets approved in that review process, construction on the building is anticipated to begin this August, according to the document.

The construction contractor for the project is Colorado-based Hensel Phelps, and the architect is Detroit-based SmithGroup, Senior Manager of the Power Sources Capability Project Perry D’Antonio said.

At the peak of construction, it will employ over 300 support staff, Power Sources Capability Project Manager Savannah Torres said. Hensel Phelps prefers those support staff come from local organizations, Manager of Capital Acquisitions Project Management Alex Riebli said.

The new power sources capability building will be on Sandia National Laboratories’ campus at Kirtland Air Force Base and will replace the existing 75-year-old building, D’Antonio said.

The current building requires significant capital investments just to keep it operational, and many of its systems are at or beyond end of life, D’Antonio said.

“Every time there’s a heavy rain, the researchers have to get tarps out and cover their equipment because the roof is not effective anymore,” Riebli said regarding the current building. “To fix one of the big issues, there’s 30 root causes to that issue. It just becomes inefficient to invest that much capital into a 75-year-old building.”

There are approximately 200 people working in power sources capability at Sandia National Laboratories. About 150 of those employees work in the current power sources capability building, and the remaining employees work in other buildings on the campus, D’Antonio said.

The new building, which is designed to house about 200 people, will allow the national laboratory to locate all its power sources capability employees under one roof, Torres said.

It will also give the employees new amenities, such as natural lighting, outdoor seating areas and landscaping features, Torres said.

“(The employees) are very excited,” D’Antonio said. “We’re basically in a 75-year-old building now. It’s clearly run its course, and ... it’s certainly time to replace it.”

The new facility is designed to have a 50-year operating life, Torres said. It will have office, general-use, storage and specialized lab space.

It’s also designed so that it can be expanded to the east or west by an additional 20,000 square feet to support the agile approach to the facility, Torres said.

Many of the other buildings on Sandia National Laboratories' campus are outdated, Riebli said. Given the importance of the work done at the laboratory, coupled with its aging facilities, the laboratory is “positioning itself for an era of renewed investment,” he added.

Sandia National Laboratories is exploring “a handful of capital projects” beyond its minor construction portfolio, which is projects less than $35 million, Riebli said.

“We want to continue to make sure we have the infrastructure to provide the very best for the nation,” Senior Manager of Capital Acquisition Projects Robert Wright said. “As mission demands are developed, we want to right fit the mission requirements of today with the buildings and infrastructure required.”

[ABQalex]

KRQE has a story about the efforts to redevelop the former Rio Rancho Country Club property. The developer behind Mesa del Sol in Albuquerque purchased the property a few years ago and is now preparing to present his plans for redevelopment before Rio Rancho's Planning and Zoning Board next month. He of course is already running into opposition from neighbors.

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/rio...-redevelop-old-country-club-golf-course/

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) – A once-prized and long-closed golf course in the heart of Rio Rancho may finally be primed for a makeover. Developers are unveiling new plans to fill what was Club Rio Rancho with new homes, shops, offices, and more.

Nearly a decade after it closed, it could be a major redevelopment in the backyards of hundreds of Rio Rancho homes. “I’m very sensitive to it because we back up to it, if it’s gonna be open space, plant some nice plants, cut down the dead trees, do something,” said a resident near the property. Neighbors are reacting to the new master plan outlined for more than 280 acres of the former club Rio Rancho. The old golf course and country club were shut down in 2016. A few years ago, developers behind Mesa Del Sol bought the property with the idea of rejuvenating the area.

Developers are now requesting city approval for a series of changes to the property, including a plan to divvy up the golf course into multiple new developments for hundreds of multifamily houses and town homes, a business park, and a shopping center. The north end of the property would also be refreshed, but kept as open space. Some neighbors said that while it’s early, they’re worried about traffic and maintenance. “You’ll have people walking all over the place, which it’s suppose to do. You’ll have people not keeping after their dogs, it’ll have to be raked from time to time, trash picked up. Whose gonna do that?” said a resident in the north area.

KRQE News 13 heard from other neighbors on Tuesday who didn’t want to go on camera, who raised concerns about traffic and the amount of outreach from developers. The developer didn’t return our call about the project. The new master plan will go before the Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board on April 8.

These same neighbors and NIMBYs who are complaining about a plan to redevelop the property are also the same ones who have complained about the weeds, dust and the dangers that come with it being in an abandoned and derelict state. The abandoned clubhouse was set on fire a few years ago, for example.



Wouldn't this redevelopment solve those issues??

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First has a story about the approvals this week of developments in Rio Rancho with a total of 1,137 homes across two subdivisions. The homes will include a mix of single family, townhomes and multifamily units.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...ho-p-z-approve-1-000-home-community.html

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning board gave key approvals to two master-planned communities in its March 25 meeting.

D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) and Coal Bank Ltd. were the applicants for the master-planned communities.

D.R. Horton Vista Grande development

D.R. Horton requested approval of the Vista Grande Master Plan and approval of a zone map amendment through its agent, Consensus Planning, in the March 25 Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning meeting.

The Planning and Zoning board approved the requests unanimously. The Vista Grande community would create 201 new single-family homes on 79 acres of land east of Unser Boulevard NW and north of Northern Boulevard, a planning and zoning document shows.

The community is planned to support families with a wide range of incomes and lifestyles, the document shows, but it did not list a price range for the homes. The planning process for the development began in 2023.

The community will be built in three phases, the document shows. The completion of Phase 2 and beginning stages of Phase 3 occurred in 2025. Each part of the development will be built in the three phases as follows.

• Phase 1: Construction of major infrastructure, drainage and transportation improvements, homebuilding and community development.
• Phase 2: Construction of major infrastructure, drainage and transportation improvements, homebuilding and community development.
• Phase 3: Rezoning of the land and replatting of existing lots with a new layout. Construction of major infrastructure, drainage and transportation improvements, homebuilding and community development.

The community will also have retail and commercial space. Permitted uses of that space include but are not limited to office for professional services, artisanal manufacturing, health and wellness, restaurant or bar, financial institutions or bakeries.

Amenities in the community will include a pocket park of 0.4 acres and improvements to the community park and adjacent open space areas, the document shows. It’s expected the total population in the planning area will reach approximately 549 people.

The homes will mostly be stucco, with four model home types. The descriptions of the model homes are as follows.

• The Tesuque is one story, 1,274 square feet, and has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
• The Chama is one story, 1,537 square feet, and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
• The Gabrielle is one story, 1,791 square feet, and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
• The San Juan is two stories, 2,452 square feet, and has four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-car garage.

Coal Bank Ltd. Stonegate development

Coal Bank Ltd. requested approval of a master plan amendment to the Stonegate Master Plan and approval of an amendment to the Lomas Negras Specific Area Plan through its agent, Consensus Planning.

The Planning and Zoning board approved the requests unanimously in its March 25 meeting.

The Stonegate community would create about 936 housing units across 402 townhome or multifamily units and 534 single-family lots, a planning and zoning document shows. The multifamily units will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom options.

The community, located on 150 acres a half-mile north of Northern Boulevard and halfway between Unser Boulevard and Broadmoor Boulevard, will be developed in seven phases, according to the document.

Phases 1 through 4 and Phases 6 and 7 will average 137 dwellings per phase. Phase 5 will include townhouse development at an average of 12.6 dwelling units per acre, and multifamily at 27.5 dwelling units per acre.

There are four neighborhood parks proposed for Stonegate in Phases 4 through 7. They feature age-dependent amenities. Two of the neighborhood parks are approximately a half-acre and two are approximately an acre.

Coal Bank Ltd. and its agent did not respond to Albuquerque Business First’s request for comment prior to the meeting. D.R. Horton’s agent also did not respond.

https://www.facebook.com/RioRanchoGov

[ABQalex]

The plans for a new subdivision by Pulte Homes with 212 lots on the Westside near the Petroglyphs was approved last week by the Environmental Planning Commission. It will go on former Albuquerque Public Schools land where a high school and other educational facilities were once planned. This area is growing fast with the Del Webb Mirehaven development and a few other big subdivisions nearby as well. Some people were of course opposed to the development, but it was approved unanimously by the EPC.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...ent-gets-key-approval-for-200-homes.html

An over 200-unit, single-family residential development on the Westside got site plan request approval in the Albuquerque Environmental Planning Commission’s March 20 meeting.

The EPC voted unanimously to approve the Pulte Group site plan request at 9601 Tierra Pintada Blvd. NW, which will create 212 single-family homes, Consensus Planning Principal Jim Strozier said during the March 20 meeting.

The residential subdivision will go on a 60-acre portion of a 110-acre tract with two gated entrances. The homes will be priced “at a variety of price levels,” a planning document shows.

The build-out or implementation year for the project is listed as 2025. The subdivision will be built in two phases, city of Albuquerque Staff Planners said during the meeting. The first phase will include the neighborhood park and the first half of the residential lots, and Phase 2 will include the second half of the residential lots. Pulte also agreed to provide a pedestrian trail to the existing trailhead for resident access to the Petroglyph National Monument.

The property is currently owned by Albuquerque Public Schools, and APS originally planned to build a high school, early childhood development center and a K-8 school on it. APS no longer plans to develop the high school, the planning document shows, so it conducted a bid process, selected Pulte Group and is now in the process of selling the land to Pulte Group for the development of single-family residential lots.

Planning staff received letters from WSCONA and other groups in support of the development.

But there were neighbor concerns that homes in the development located in the lots closest to Petroglyph National Monument may be visible to people visiting the monument. A neighbor requested no homes be built in that area. The two parties compromised so that homes on two of the lots nearest the trailhead and three of the adjacent homes will be single-story to attempt to reduce visibility of the houses from the trailhead and monument.

Several other concerns regarding the subdivision's potential impacts to the environment surrounding the monument were raised in a meeting that took nearly three hours for just one agenda item.

Those concerns included the development threatening the Laguna Pueblo's ability to use the site for religious purposes, damaging two hills that abut the development and overly increase the number of users at the monument, among several other concerns.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310686690992353280/



Here's another subdivision in the general area that's working its way through the city's planning approval process. It will have 55 lots and go on an awkward plot of land near Coors and I-40 along Miami Road NW.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2023-008...l%20Packet%20for%20Playa%20del%20Sur.pdf









The overall project was approved late last year by the Development Hearing Officer with conditions having to do with noise reduction efforts for the lots closest to the freeway interchange. The developer had to show that the noise levels will be acceptable or that they will mitigate the noise with a noise wall, etc. They have recently submitted a plan to go ahead and build a full noise wall along the I-40 and Coors Road frontages.

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2023-008...l%20Sur%20Perimeter%20Wall%20Package.pdf

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the completed ABB Elastimold expansion project on the Westside. They were posted last week on LinkedIn by the builder. The 94,500 sq ft expansion cost $40 million and will create 55 manufacturing jobs.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7308185278068768769/

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the CNM Skilled Trades Facility. Franken Construction posted them today on their social media accounts.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311026196505403392/