Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

Gallan95 over at SSC today posted this neat project by the UNM Foundation to build a 3-story, 23,500 sq ft facility for their use at Lomas and Yale across from the new UNM Hospital tower. The facility will be called the "Center for Philanthropy" It will go on an awkward and small plot of land directly north of the new Lobo Welcome Center.











Gallan95 in his post also linked to the foundation's RFP for a general contractor to build the project. It includes more renderings and floor plans for the proposed structure. The RFP has closed and submissions were due by March 7th. The notification of award for the RFP will be made on April 8th.

https://www.lobodevelopmentcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/UNM-Foundation-CMAR-RFP-012725.pdf

This is really awesome! What a great project to fill that awkward bit of empty land. I wish this would happen more often across the city. It's great in that it forces them to go up in height as well to fit everything onto the plot of land. It will be great to have Lomas develop a sort of canyon effect with taller buildings or buildings such as this that are built close to the street on eirher side. With the new medical school structure/s and the medical office building along Lomas as well, this feeling will just increase. Hopefully the plans for mixed-use structures along both sides of Lomas west of University Boulevard will get going sooner rather than later as well!

[ABQalex]

The Street Food Institute/Barelas Community Kitchen had its ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday. Below are some pics of the event from Homewise on its LinkedIn account.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311406121078898690/











The Street Food Institute hosted a special preview and community event at their new home this past weekend. Below are some pics of that event that they posted on their LinkedIn account.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310036695742070786/

















Edit: Here's Albuquerque Business First's coverage of the Street Food Institute/Barelas Community Kitchen grand opening which has a few more pics of the facility, including the upstairs studio/office space that's for lease and the actual commercial kitchen space as well.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2025/03/28/barelas-community-kitchen-opens.html

Barlas Community Kitchen, a 20,000-square-foot facility on 1411 Fourth St. SW had its grand opening event on March 27.

The Community Kitchen will serve as the new home of the Street Food Institute and is in partnership with Homewise. It features a fully-equipped commercial kitchen and affordable kitchen space for food entrepreneurs.

“This facility will be a game-changer for local food businesses, giving them the tools and support they need to succeed,” Tina Garcia-Shams, executive director of the Street Food Institute said in a news release.

The Street Food Institute is a nonprofit that supports local food entrepreneurs and small businesses through training, mentorship, and access to affordable commercial kitchen space.

The institute was previously located at Central New Mexico Community College’s main campus. The Street Food Institute is the anchor tenant in its new building and will lease out a 5,500-square-foot commissary kitchen in the facility to its students.

Homewise, a nonprofit organization that helps create successful homeowners and strengthen neighborhoods, own and manage the facility. They will rent the building out to the Street Food Institute for its first seven years.

“The Barelas Community Kitchen anchors our Fourth and Barelas development, providing food entrepreneurs and creatives with a space to learn, create, and engage,” Isaac Hammond-Paul, Community Development Director for Homewise said in the release.

The building also features retail and office space that Homewise will be leasing out to interested businesses, of which there is already a waitlist.

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) gave $2 million in federal community project funding for the community kitchen.

MASS Design Group is the architectural firm and worked with local designers from Scout Architecture & Design on the building. Richardson & Richardson Construction was the general contractor.

“We’re proud to partner with Street Food Institute – where vibrancy and creativity reflect both this neighborhood and our mission at Homewise,” Hammond-Paul said in the release.

[ABQalex]

Here's another nice pic of the Street Food Institute/Barelas Community Kitchen showing the entire 4th and Barelas development project. It was posted by the New Mexico Cheese Guild this past week on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/nmcheeseguild/p/DHuF2U9PckA/

[ABQalex]

The city held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the temporary dog park on the empty lot at 1st and Central in Downtown Albuquerque yesterday. The story below by KRQE reveals some info about the new project that's planned on the site. I'm now less certain that it will be the Artspace project.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-me...g-park-on-vacant-lot-slated-for-housing/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque is getting creative when it comes to using vacant property lots they own. This weekend, they unveiled their brand-new “pop-up dog park” on one of those properties while they wait for the bigger project expected to be there to take shape.

“This is right in the heart of downtown, and this is something the community has wanted,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. Located at the corner of 2nd St. and Silver, downtown residents now have a new dog park to enjoy with their four-legged friends.

“For everyone who lives in places like apartments and studios with no backyard, and they have a dog, which many of them [have], now they actually have a place to walk their dog,” Mayor Keller added.

The city says the park was created as a way to get use out of a property lot they own but is currently vacant. The park is just a temporary place holder for the lot until the city and developers start constructing what was originally supposed to be a large apartment complex.

“It’s something we’re trying to do more of,” said Terry Bruner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency for the City of Albuquerque.

According to city officials, the developers of the project were having issues with funding, causing delays. That apartment complex, the city says, would have about 75 housing units and stand around four to five stories tall. They also talked about the possibility of having commercial uses as well, though design concepts could change as the project inches forward.

“Some of our original designs, there were thoughts of a cafe, a community room, and things like that,” Brunner explained. “So, you’d have more than just the housing use on the bottom floor. Maybe some other elements, too.”

The city is hopeful construction on the complex will begin in the next year or two. But until then, residents will have a space to enjoy, which would otherwise go untouched.

“It would be a pretty significant development for housing downtown,” Brunner added.

By the wording above, I think perhaps it could be a reworked project by Jay Rembe. But remember that the mayor said they were working with "a new developer" in his Q&A earlier this month. So perhaps it's an entirely new developer apart from Jay Rembe and Artspace.

Of course, it could also end up being a collaboration between Artspace and Jay Rembe, which they said they were willing to pursue in their quest to locate their project at this site.

Overall, though, I'm glad to see that the new project (or version of the project) may still have some height of up to 5 stories, and may end up having a bit more units than the 60 that Artspace said was the high end for their project.

Whatever it is, I look forward to the exact details being revealed!

Here's a nice pic of the mayor with a pup during the event and a link to a reel that he posted on his Instagram account showing more of the dog park. I'm glad to see that it looks like they added some kind of play equipment to the dog park as well.

https://www.instagram.com/mayorkeller/reel/DH2Km4GPiyg/

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal has a story confirming that the plans for a basketball academy in the former movie theater space in Downtown Albuquerque have fallen through. They also reference a story by Downtown Albuquerque News late last week which also confirmed the failure of the project and quoted a representative from the academy saying that they will stay at their current site in Old Town for now. The Journal's story includes a few pics showing the gutted interior of the structure.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/article_05e6f510-5fca-469d-9f78-eb7ee81ab52c.html

A significant piece of Downtown property is on the market after plans for a local basketball-focused school to move to the spot fell through.

Plans for Albuquerque Basketball Club Prep, or ABC Prep, to relocate from Old Town to the Albuquerque Theater Block had been gaining traction last year, but a lack of funding ultimately pushed building owners to pivot. The property was put up for sale last week, listing for $14 million.

Jerry Mosher and Dale Armstrong acquired the roughly 90,000-square-foot property about three years ago. The block, which is situated between Second Street, First Street and Gold Avenue at 100 Central SW, has restaurants, retail and office spaces, and upper story offices, as well as floor plans for five basketball courts inside of a renovated Century 14 movie theater.

The listing touts the upper story offices as easily convertible to multi-family housing units or dormitories, making the idea of bringing in ABC Prep appealing to club founder Brandon Mason.

Local officials also supported the effort. Mayor Tim Keller and three city councilors were among those who attended a promotional event for the relocation plans last fall. After the event, the building owners intended to explore city, county and state funding options.

The fundraising needed to bring the relocation fully to fruition was about $16 million, “over several phases, over several years,” according to Mosher, but it would’ve taken “just a few million” to get the school in the building and operating.

Despite the local show of support, the funding ultimately fell short.

“We planned all the engineering. ... The plans were drawn up and everything. We just couldn’t get the funding,” Mosher told the Journal. “Something like that is so big, it needs help from the community.”

Mosher said he was excited about the idea of ABC Prep holding tournaments at the property, bringing in kids and families from out of town and having them pack the local hotels and restaurants in the area.

“It would have really changed the demographics of Downtown,” Mosher said.

Mason told Downtown Albuquerque News last week that ABC Prep will remain at its current location for the time being.

As for what’s next for the former movie theater, Mosher said the space, with 40-foot ceilings, could welcome anything from a grocery store to an athletic facility. The listing stated the property is also “well-suited” for the film industry or charter schools.

The latter has initiated the most recent activity, with two charter schools expressing interest in the space, according to Mosher. So far, the interested parties want to either use the space as an athletic facility for their schools or renovate the entire space into a charter school.

It’s too early to know what will pan out, Mosher said, but he is optimistic about the opportunity the property presents with the renovations.

“We’ve made a lot of improvement in the building. ... It’s a really big empty building — which, people go in there and can’t believe it’s in the middle of town, that big,” Mosher said. “We’ll see what comes up.”

[ABQalex]

Here's a pic of the UNM Center for Collaborative Arts & Technology construction that Duke City Redi-Mix posted on its LinkedIn account late last week.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311386600402210816/



Here's a neat pic that they also posted today on their LinkedIn account showing their concrete mixer truck balloon flying over I-25 and the Big I.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7312458671911776256/



Here's another nice pic of this area taken during a balloon ride and posted by the Rainbow Ryders pilot on his Facebook account this past weekend. You can again see the UNM Cancer Center expansion, in the upper left corner.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=9903684636322220&set=pb.100000423456416.-2207520000&type=3



Here's another crop that I made focusing on the UNM Cancer Center expansion itself, which is on the left side of the pic. You can see the yellow insulating wall panels that will eventually be covered with the final exterior finish. From the renderings it looks like they will be some kind of aluminum/metal or perhaps stone panels.

[ABQalex]

Here's a pic of the new Market Street store in Rio Rancho that Market Street posted on its Facebook account last week. They say that the store will open towards the end of the month on the 25th.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1069523435211903&set=pb.100064627696375.-2207520000



Here are a couple of neat aerial pics showing the construction progress on the Felician Villa senior apartments in Rio Rancho from an apartment listing website. You can see that the first phase is nearing completion and the identical second phase is beginning exterior finishing/stucco work.

https://www.apartmenthomeliving.com/apar...wlark-Ln-SE-Rio-Rancho-NM-87124-25994673

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal yesterday had a story about the new Anytime Fitness location opening on the Westside. If you'll remember, this is the location that was originally supposed to be part of a mixed-use structure on the ground floor with apartments above. The project ended up being developed and built quite differently.

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/article_28e78508-a0ff-4445-be70-8428d39d8202.html

The West Side has a new workout option with Anytime Fitness open on the corner of Coors and Paseo Del Norte.

Anytime Fitness, a Minnesota-based global gym franchise, is open to members 24 hours everyday and carries a variety of cardio, strength and functional equipment. The new West Side location, at 9368 Valley View NW behind the gun shop Calibers, is one of eight across Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, and one of 22 statewide.

The West Side gym had its soft opening Feb. 14 and is holding a grand opening on Saturday. The event will offer special membership rates, DJ music, drinks and food trucks, games, free giveaways, and free body scans, nutrition consultations and fitness assessments from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“The Anytime Fitness brand is a good, solid brand that is growing both nationally and internationally,” said Tim Borror, owner of the West Side and Nob Hill locations. “I bought into the franchise in 2017 and like it enough to expand.”

The West Side’s almost 6,000-square-foot gym is new construction with 24-hour security, said Pascal Mailhebiau, general manager of two Albuquerque locations, including Valley View.

The gym has showers, cubbies, office space for consultations and floor space for group trainings. There are also coaching services available for yoga, Zumba and self-defense classes, fitness consultations, nutrition guidance, recovery guidance and physical therapy.

“It’s more like a community type of gym,” Mailhebiau said, adding that the gym attracts people who genuinely “want to train and develop themselves.”

Anytime Fitness offers six-month, 12-month and 18-month membership plans, as well as a “motivator” plan that allows two people to sign up for a year and pay less per month, which Mailhebiau dubbed one of the most popular memberships.

Non-members can also utilize the gym via a $20 guest waiver, also offered for $10 if accompanied by a member. The franchise also offers a one-time free day pass for those looking to try the gym out.

Mailhebiau said he is looking forward to welcoming members on the West Side and “helping them them reach their fitness goals.”

Here are a couple of pics including an aerial shot showing the overall development on Valley View Drive NW. As you can see, the residential component ended up being built separately behind the Anytime Fitness structure. It all sits rather awkwardly on the site, IMO. Take note especially of the smaller structure in between the two larger structures. What atrocious placement and site planning.





As a reminder, here's what they originally envisioned for this project. It would've been much nicer and a better use of the site, but I suppose it would've been out of place as an urban-style development in a sea of the auto-oriented sprawl that is the Westside.

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/9368-Valley-View-Dr-NW-Albuquerque-NM/20430130/

[ABQalex]

KOB-TV has a story with the latest about the efforts to redevelop the state fairgrounds. The RFP for a master planner for the redevelopment of the site closes later this month.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerq...te-fairgrounds-closer-to-having-answers/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In 2024, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gave a bombshell announcement when she said she wanted to redo the state fairgrounds with something new, possibly moving the state fair somewhere else.

Now that the state is almost one step closer to being able to answer some of the questions.

“I want New Mexicans to know that we don’t take this lightly. We’re very excited about the project, and we’re all a part of it,” said Anna Silva, acting secretary of the New Mexico General Services Department.

To know the state fairgrounds is to love the state fairgrounds.

“It’s something that we all look forward to, something that I’ve looked forward to every year since I was little,” said Silva.

Now, Silva has a front row seat to Expo New Mexico’s changing future.

“We want to maximize space, maximize the land, determine whether or not its current location is the best for the fair,” Silva said.

The General Services Department has an active request for proposal for a master planner to make that decision.

The state wants the planner to address five main issues:

• Facilities and infrastructure
• Economic impact
• Programming
• Land use
• Operations

“The first fair opened in 1938 and so that’s how old the infrastructure is. So we’re hoping that the master planner, whomever we bring on board, has experience with aging infrastructure, aging fairs, and what the benefits have been from any opportunities that they have seen in relocating fairs,” said Silva.

The request mentions “there is substantial potential to increase the usage of the State Fairgrounds on a year-round basis.”

“This is a huge project, and yeah, the sky’s the limit,” said Silva.

Silva says the addition of housing on the 236 acres isn’t out of the question.

“It is part of the table, part of what’s on the table, so it could be, yes,” Silva said.

New Mexicans can expect to have plenty of opportunities to weigh in on the site’s future.

“State fair is a part of us, and we want them to be a part of the process as well,” said Silva.

The request for proposal closes on April 18. Once the state chooses a master planner, there will be site visits, facility assessments, and public meetings where folks can give community input.

Meanwhile, a bill awaiting the governor’s signature will create a special district for the state fairgrounds. It’s set to raise $500 million in bonds for public infrastructure projects to improve the area.

[ABQalex]

Gallan95 over at SSC posted another nice development project by UNM that will replace an underused eyesore of a lot on campus. They will build their new police headquarters on the site of a current surface parking lot at Mesa Vista Road and University Boulevard. The $17 million project will begin construction next week, according to a recent press release by the university.

https://news.unm.edu/news/purpose-built-unm-police-headquarters-construction-set-for-april

The University of New Mexico plans to begin construction of the new Police Department Headquarters (PDHQ) at the intersection of Mesa Vista Rd. and University Blvd. on April 8.

The new facility, funded partially through the $9 million 2023 Institutional Bond with a total project cost of $17 million, addresses the department’s current space limitations in Hokona Hall. The dedicated facility will be specifically built for police functions to enhance campus safety, improve operational efficiency, elevate police visibility on campus, and strengthen community engagement.

“The new police facility will enhance the University of New Mexico Police Department’s ability to serve, protect, and engage the campus community through improved resources, technology, and space for collaboration,” said Joseph Silva, chief of police. “The space will include an updated dispatch center, dedicated training areas, and a public meeting room. Moreover, this new facility presents a major opportunity to enhance safety, strengthen collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, and create a welcoming professional space that reflects our commitment to service.”
...

When I saw Mesa Vista Road I first thought that it might be the site where the apartment building is planned, which is very nearby, on the next block. That project is apparently still alive and working its way through the city's development approval process. It was before the Development Facilitation Team last year for a replat to consolidate the lots on the site into one parcel. I'm hopeful that it may begin construction soon as well!

https://dmdmaps.cabq.gov/DRB/PR-2022-006...a%20UNM%20Apartments)%20RECORDED%20PLAT/

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the Rail Yards and the work being done for the New Mexico Media Academy that Franken Construction posted on its LinkedIn account earlier this week. The first is a nice aerial one showing the work being done to enclose the area at the front of the Boiler Shop structure. This area will house a lab and mill space, according to the site plans for the overall facility.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7312838205366489088/







A hard hat tour of the site was also held last week for members of CREW New Mexico, which is a commercial real estate industry group for women. Mattophoto posted the pics below of the event and the Rail Yards on his LinkedIn account.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311045960321667073/





















Here are a few more pics on LinkedIn from an attendee of the event.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7311024908677890048/

[ABQalex]

Here are a couple of pics showing the new mural at the Rail Yards that was painted on the side of the Pattern House structure and unveiled back in February. It's called "La Puesta del Sol"

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1022618163239153&set=pb.100064729363598.-2207520000&type=3



https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7310841397425631233/



Here are a few pics of the Rail Yards and the area along the tracks from posters on Flickr. The first two are neat aerial views from the same poster and set as the aerial pic showing the Alvarado Transportation Center and Downtown Albuquerque with the dog park that I posted previously.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137595561@N06/54398285169/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/137595561@N06/54400313513/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/142778631@N06/54389536041/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/nmpicshooter/54401976492/in/album-72177720324600394



I really hope the Freight House structure gets rehabilitated soon, it's starting to lose its stucco and deteriorate. The city should renovate it themselves and put offices there or use it as a community center, etc., anything to fix it up and keep it from being unused and deteriorating further.

[ABQalex]

Travel + Leisure posted an article earlier this week about the new Arrive Hotel in Downtown Albuquerque. They praise the city's culinary, cultural and creative scenes as well in the piece.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/arrive-albuquerque-hotel-is-now-open-11703935

This New Mexico City Is on the Rise, Thanks to Great Restaurants and New Boutique Hotels Like This One

Across from Albuquerque's Robinson Park, Arrive hotel is now open, with 137 rooms, New Mexican desert-inspired design, and a fantastic restaurant and bar.

• Arrive Albuquerque, from trendy hotel brand Palisociety, is now open and located in the heart of the city.
• The 137-room hotel has chic design inspired by the high desert—expect earthy tones, wood accents, and fun pendant lights.
• There's also an on-site restaurant, Dwtnr Cocktail Bar & Lounge, specializing in craft cocktails and light bites.

Palisociety, known for its chic, effortlessly cool boutique hotels, just opened its latest outpost, this time in the Land of Enchantment. Arrive Albuquerque is now one more reason to book a trip to one of New Mexico’s most exciting cities.

Arrive is located in downtown Albuquerque across from Robinson Park on Central Avenue, what was once old Route 66. There are 137 guest rooms spread across six stories, a seasonally open pool (plus a swim club), and an on-site restaurant, Dwtnr Cocktail Bar & Lounge.

The building that now houses Arrive was constructed in 1965 and was originally named the Downtowner and, later, Hotel Blue. The Hotel Blue property joined Palisociety’s portfolio in 2021 when the brand acquired Arrive Hotel & Restaurants. Palisociety then spent roughly a year thoroughly—and thoughtfully—renovating the property, transforming it into a modern hotel and injecting a little joie de vivre back into downtown Albuquerque.

“The city is ripe for a creative boom,” said Avi Brosh, Palisociety CEO and founder, in an interview with Travel + Leisure. “We’ve met so many interesting place-makers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives since we’ve been working on the hotel, and we are excited to be at the forefront of the downtown core’s next chapter.”

On the exterior of the building, you can see an expansive mural created by local Diné and Chicana artist Nani Chacon. The mural is reminiscent of the original artwork that once graced the front of the building and prominently features a candy-red lowrider among blooming nopal cactuses.

Within the hotel, guests will find warm, minimalist interiors and a soft pastel color palette inspired by the hues and tones of New Mexico’s high desert and the organic design movement of the 1970s. It’s the first property under the Arrive umbrella with design completely overseen by Brosh and the in-house team. You’ll spot things like pendant lights, wood accents, plush lounge seating, and tilework in earthy ochre, white, and brick red across the common areas.

“We paid homage to the city and its southwestern locale, but in a way that feels authentic, creative, irreverent, and unexpected,” Brosh told T+L. “I think it blends classic New Mexico-inspired influences with the youthful aesthetic that the Arrive brand delivers seamlessly.”

There are four different room types at Arrive Albuquerque: King, Double, Suite, or Accessible. Regardless of what accommodation they pick, guests will be able to enjoy rooms decked out in the property’s signature eccentric aesthetic, Victrola Bluetooth speakers, a curated minibar, soft robes, and Grown Alchemist bath products. A reservation here will also get you access to the 24/7 fitness center and the Zia sun-shaped pool.

Albuquerque is certainly having a culinary moment, with a few ABQ chefs making the James Beard semifinalist list this year, including Kattia Rojas of Buen Provecho and Sean Sinclair of Hotel Chaco's Level 5. However, you don’t have to take a single step out of the hotel to find phenomenal food. Simply head to Dwntr Cocktail Lounge & Bar, specializing in American and Asian American comfort food. Some highlights on the menu include coconut shrimp toast with tom yum seasoning, green chile smashburgers, and char siu ribs. Don’t skip on the fun cocktail menu with inventive drinks like the Rhinestone Cowboy (a mixture of yuzu liqueur, sparkling sake, and Champagne) or the Eastbound & Down, a refreshing little number made of gin and grapefruit juice.

Here's a nice pic of the Arrive Hotel that was posted late last month on Facebook that I thought I'd take this opportunity to share.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1061947753884363/permalink/9501146943297693/

[ABQalex]

Huge and great news today for Downtown Albuquerque! It looks like the former Gizmo building/old JCPenney structure has finally been sold and will be renovated into an arts center with artists studios, exhibition space, art gallery and artist supply store.

The Sanitary Tortilla Factory arts organization announced their plans and the purchase of the building today. They will move from their current namesake structure that was home to the venerable Sanitary Tortilla Factory restaurant and food operation for many years.

Below are pics and a quote of their post today on Facebook detailing their plans for the structure.

https://www.facebook.com/SanitaryTortill...hBz4UtxRJ88saM3RU44EbaaYeduoWc1qw4Ca6hPl

We are SO EXCITED to finally announce our relocation to a new home in the former GIZMO surplus and JC Penney department store building at 410 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, in the heart of downtown Albuquerque. We are thrilled to bring new energy to this historic space and provide an expanded creative hub for artists in Albuquerque. This move marks a significant milestone, allowing us to expand our programming and to foster even greater community engagement.

Phase one of the building’s transformation will feature an all-new exhibition space where we will continue to create platforms for community and artists.

In addition to our contemporary arts space we welcome WONDER + LIGHT, a NEW MEDIA devoted gallery space created by John Mark Collins.

Anchor tenants include an expanded footprint for A GOOD SIGN, a boutique art supply store, and twenty one artist studios.

Renovations are set to begin this spring, with an inaugural opening exhibition planned for Fall 2025. Our full programming will officially launch in 2026. PHASE 2 of our project will create a groundbreaking reentry program based in a visual arts center.

Here are a few pics showing the progression of the building from when it was first built to when it was expanded and remodeled in about the 1940s to recently when the Church of Scientology owned it and added the gate on the ground floor after the Gizmo store closed during the pandemic.

https://www.facebook.com/downtownacd/pos...M5pnugtPZncKoLqH8SGYSkEDCyLksKjoUKD3zuMl







What a relief that this building has gotten out from the death grip of its previous owner and that it will be reborn! No doubt that the vacant buildings ordinance passed earlier this year prompted the Church of Scientology to finally accept an offer to purchase the structure. I think we can count this as the first victory under that initiative!

To celebrate, here's one last pic with the structure and the south end of Downtown Albuquerque from the Downtown Albuquerque Main Street organization. This is one of my favorite vantage points of Downtown Albuquerque showing the density of buildings on this side. How awesome it will be to have a renewed and spiffed up structure in this view going forward!

https://dtabqmainstreet.org/ourwork

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News reported this morning about the plans for the former Gizmo store/JCPenney building by the Sanitary Tortilla Factory. They included a rendering of the renovation plans in their story. Below is the rendering and a couple of quotes from their story detailing more of the plans and possible funding and timeline for the project to come to fruition.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

GIZMO BUILDING IS SOLD, OPENING NEW ERA FOR NOTORIOUS VACANCY

New owner Sheri Crider, the driving force behind the Sanitary Tortilla Factory, plans several arts-based operations there

Sheri Crider, the founder and director of the Sanitary Tortilla Factory (Lead and Second), concluded the purchase of the Gizmo on Wednesday, and she plans to install an array of arts-related ventures throughout the building. The ground floor is set to house two art galleries, one of which will be overseen by Electric Playhouse co-founder John-Mark Collins, plus an art supplies retail store called Gizmo Paints. The basement will be devoted to Wonder + Light Studios, a media production firm affiliated with one of the galleries, plus the print shop A Good Sign.

The second and third floors are set to be converted into 24 artist studios (13 at 350 square feet and 11 at 800 square feet). The fourth floor is to include six new housing units - the future homes of participants in a program that helps people coming out of jail reintegrate into society by "using the visual and performing arts as a tool for reentry, recovery, and transformation," according to this write-up.

Crider plans to break the project into roughly two phases, focusing on lower floors first, but declined to share a specific timeline.

...

Mayor Tim Keller put the sale in the same general big-good-news category as the new Arrive Albuquerque Hotel, Ex Novo's opening, and the potential entry of UNM into the Downtown core.

"The particular location and size of the Gizmo has just made it the opposite of a shining star," he said. "It has been that albatross around Downtown's neck."

"Downtown, in a couple years, is going to be vastly different," he added.

The extent to which public money might be needed to get the new Gizmo Artspace venture off the ground is not yet clear, though City Councilor Joaquín Baca said he had requested a total of $2 million in funding from the state and federal governments on the project's behalf. As for the city itself, "we want to help however we can," Keller said, adding that while there is "not a ton of money available" for such things, he sees the forthcoming tax increment financing district as potentially a good source of money.

The project's execution, however, is not contingent on government help, Crider said.

It looks like they're planning to cover most of the facade in a mural. Perhaps they will work with the artist that does botanical murals, the same one who painted the mural on the side of their current location and the former one on the base of Tower Plaza that was painted over.



It also looks like they will be going with the Gizmo name (Gizmo Artspace and Gizmo Paints) for the space and operations, instead of Sanitary Tortilla Factory (which totally makes sense).

Note that the description of the plans for the structure in the quote above is slightly different than what they themselves wrote on their Facebook page, with the DAN story indicating a few more artist studios and two art galleries instead of one. They also laid out a more firm timeline in their Facebook announcement than what the DAN story indicates.

No matter, I'm just thankful something is happening here! I'm especially excited about the involvement of the Electric Playhouse co-founder in the project. I really look forward to all of this coming to fruition!

[ABQalex]

Another great reuse project and renovation of a long-vacant building in Downtown Albuquerque had its groundbreaking ceremony last week. Christina Kent Early Childhood Center's expansion across the street from its existing space at 3rd and Coal has been underway since the beginning of the year and is expected to be completed as early as the end of August.

https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaKentEC...Na9Q2iB6sh8oPfCUPtVkzbZuDF2ZvXA7ce9mhmrl



Below are some pics of the groundbreaking ceremony and work that has been done so far to transform the structure. You can see that the kids got to take part in the ceremony as well. The pics are from Homewise, which helped secure financing for the project.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7315101319483047936/











Here's a story from KOB-TV last week about the groundbreaking ceremony.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerq...aks-ground-on-massive-expansion-project/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ask any mom or dad, and they’ll tell you it’s not always easy finding child care in Albuquerque, especially for the really young kiddos.

Now, a massive expansion project at the Christina Kent Early Childhood Center at Second and Coal will hopefully make things a little easier.

Construction crews are transforming an old building across the street into new classrooms and nurseries, allowing the downtown daycare to double its capacity, and welcome infants for the first time since the 1930s.

“With this new space, we will expand our reach, support our educators, and strengthen the foundation we provide to our youngest learners,” said Kim Legant, board president of the Christina Kent Early Childhood Center.

The million-dollar project is expected to be completed by the end of August, and construction crews are reportedly two weeks ahead of schedule.

There’s a major push on the state level to expand childcare resources like this one to working New Mexican families. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told state lawmakers she wants New Mexico to be the first state to offer universal free child care.

While we’re not there yet, Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky says the Legislature’s extra $105 million investment in childcare this year is a big step forward. It’s allowing the state to offer universal pre-K for 3 and 4-year-olds.

“We are leading the nation in early childhood because of these incredible, visionary leaders who are strategic and know that if you don’t support families who need to go to work or get an education, your economy is not going to thrive. Your children aren’t going to be ready for school, and they’re not going to thrive, and we want all of our families in New Mexico and young children to be thriving,” said Groginksy.

Groginsky told KOB 4 the Legislature’s recent investment will allow the state to help another 6,000 families with childcare needs.

The mayor was at the ceremony as well. Below is a pic and link to a short video that he posted showing and talking about the project.

https://www.instagram.com/mayorkeller/reel/DH_9KxmT-Bu/

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First had a story and update last week about the Industrial Revenue Bonds for Jim Long's Sawmill District projects. The Bernalillo County Commission at its meeting on April 8th extended the time to consider the request until October 8th. They were facing an expiration date of later this month to vote on the matter after the request was introduced in October last year.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...ill-district-projects-irb-expansion.html

Three Sawmill District projects on the verge of losing $162.4 million in incentives got a reprieve April 8 when Bernalillo County Commissioners unanimously agreed to extend the industrial revenue bonds related to them.

An industrial revenue bond is an economic tool that provides tax relief for projects in exchange for meeting requirement, such as job creation in the region.

The IRB amounts for each project were:

• $15.7 million for a 139-unit mixed-use apartment complex for the commercial use ground floor only.
• $70.4 million for Chaco Residences, a 109-room extended-stay hotel.
• $76.3 million for Sawmill Hotel, a 119-room boutique hotel.

The Bernalillo County Board of County Commissioners approved the original IRBs of up to $162.4 million for the Sawmill District projects at an Oct. 22, 2024, meeting and adopted them on Dec. 10, 2024.

These three developments have been led by Heritage Real Estate Co. LLC, a local real estate development firm, and Jim Long, the company's CEO. Long owns the Sawmill Market, Hotel Chaco and Hotel Albuquerque. He also owns Park Square, which is in the midst of building its own food hall.

All three projects will be in the Sawmill District off Bellamah Avenue NW and Rio Grande Boulevard NW.

This reason given for the extension was that additional time was needed to continue the IRB process for these projects.

Each of the IRBs was originally set to expire on April 20. With the additional time granted, they are currently set to expire on Oct. 8.

“I urge everyone’s support to extend these IRBs as we continue negotiations with the developer,” District 1 Commissioner Barbara Baca said.

Note that the story above has incorrect information. The county commission never "adopted" or voted to approve the bonds in December. If they had done so then the bonds would have been issued and there would be no delay or timetable getting ready to expire now.

Below is a link to the agenda for their meeting on December 10th, which does not show anything about considering or voting on whether to approve the IRBs. If you remember, I even posted multiple times about them not taking any action or considering the IRB request after it was first introduced last year. Last week's meeting is the only time they have had anything to do with the IRBs on their agenda since last year when it was first introduced.

https://bernalillocountynm.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=3350&Inline=True

Apart from yet another example of our stellar local media getting things wrong and making things clear as mud, I'll just say again that I don't know what the hold up is and what exactly we are debating here and so apprehensive about when it comes to issuing these bonds. What's with the big "negotiations" that we are apparently having?? I just don't get it.

Here are a few pics of the Sawmill Area showing the work to reconstruct 20th Street and build the Rail Trail. They were taken from the Hotel Albuquerque and posted a couple of weeks ago on Facebook by guests of the hotel.

https://www.facebook.com/nm.junior.foodi...8nchFN1mKs2vPN2NRPmw8FDHu3zxuECkx2vBMBhl







And here are some close-up pics of the Rail Trail construction in the Sawmill Area that the landscape designer posted on its social media accounts late last month.

https://www.instagram.com/plandcollab/p/DHoUJG1TA40/

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News had an update about two items pertaining to Downtown development this morning.

The push for a tax package that will go before voters to fund a performing arts center and other quality of life projects passed a city council committee and will be introduced for consideration by the full council next week.

The city council has also voted unanimously to include the two properties at Lomas and Broadway within the new Downtown 2050 Metropolitan Redevelopment Area boundaries. They did so at last week's council meeting after the administration had initially caved under opposition from the Martineztown NIMBYs to the parcels' inclusion within the new Downtown MRA boundaries.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Tax proposal to fund performing arts center is one step closer to the ballot, but the true test comes Monday

Legislation by City Councilor Joaquín Baca that would ask voters to raise the gross receipts tax by three-eighths of one percent - thus funding a Downtown performing arts center, an aquatic center in the Northeast Heights, and an array of other "quality-of-life" projects to be hashed out later - cleared a key committee Monday but faces an uncertain future as it heads to the full body next week.

The proposal, which is spread out over two bills (here and here), looks to have picked up the support of Councilor Brook Bassan, who has long championed the aquatic center. She told the panel this week that voters have repeatedly approved of the project by previously signing off on smaller pieces of funding through the city's general obligation bond program and that it would be fitting to have them sign off on full funding if they so choose.

Councilor Dan Lewis, by contrast, looks to be a hard "no." He said Monday evening that the city ought instead to reduce its overall operational spending and use the difference to fund new infrastructure projects.

"No city has ever taxed itself into prosperity," he said.

Public comment this week was limited and mostly came from representatives of the New Mexico Philharmonic, which expects to play a key part in a future Downtown performing arts center.

"With this funding, the city will give our residents a world-class performing arts venue, which will be a catalyst for economic development, attracting visitors, spurring surrounding businesses, and giving our youth a place to dream big," philharmonic CEO Marian Tanau told councilors.

Recalling a previous quality-of-life tax passed in the 1980s that built the botanic garden, aquarium, and Explora, philharmonic Board President Maureen Baca said that the "decision shaped the Albuquerque we know and love today, and now it's time to do it again."

In the end, the four attending members of the Finance and Government Operations Committee voted to forward the measure to the full council, which is expected to take it up on Monday. The discussion will give six of the nine councilors who have not yet publicly aired an opinion on the matter a chance to do so. It could also be an opportunity for councilors other than Baca and Bassan to insert their own project ideas into the bill.

As currently written, the legislation would divide the revenue from the tax among city council districts, with councilors making the final call about how it is spent. The measure does not, however, mandate that they spell out such projects in the near term, or even before the November election where voters would decide the matter.

Key properties at Lomas and Broadway could be redeveloped faster as council reverses administration's earlier retreat

Long-term efforts to redevelop vacant land at the northwest corner of Lomas and Broadway got a boost last week as the City Council reversed a course set late last year by Mayor Tim Keller's administration.

The city had originally planned to place the properties - a former detention pond and the neighboring Burger King - into a newly expanded Downtown metropolitan redevelopment area, something that would open the door to an array of redevelopment subsidies - potentially even money from the forthcoming tax increment financing district (DAN, 12/17/24). But while officials from the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency argued last October that the properties fit with the Downtown vibe and could thus benefit from inclusion in its broader development plans, the land happens to be located within the borders of the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association. That group saw the expansion not as some routine redesignation but as a power grab and a threat to neighborhood identity.

Talks between the city and the neighborhood hit an impasse, and so in December the MRA announced that it would not push to include the properties in the Downtown zone after all. The administration duly sent legislation to that effect to the City Council for final approval.

But the council had other plans. Echoing the administration's initial arguments, Councilor Joaquín Baca proposed an amendment putting the properties back in. It and the larger bill passed on a unanimous vote.

The legislation now goes to Keller for his consideration, though the administration has already applauded the modified bill's passage, noting in a news release that "this move strengthens efforts to revitalize and connect Albuquerque’s urban core."

[ABQalex]

Bernalillo County on its social media accounts yesterday posted these nice pics of the Windforms mural at Alvarado Square.

https://www.facebook.com/BernalilloCount...fb6fiaubugFTX3PTCzAVugYWybYnaFigjYDdaExl







They also recently linked to a short video on YouTube about the mural and its artist. It includes footage of the lighted movement effect at night.

• Video Link

The city yesterday also announced a mural project in Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas along Central Avenue for the Route 66 Centennial. They will select six properties to receive a mural painted by a local arts collective and students from APS.

https://www.krqe.com/always-on/route-66-...albuquerque-applicants-through-april-30/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — In preparation for the centennial celebration, applications are now being accepted for a mural to be added to properties along Route 66. The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency has partnered with Creative Campus Collective – Albuquerque Public Schools for this beautification project deemed “Route 66 Centennial Murals: Past, Present, Future.”

Six properties along Route 66 will be selected to receive a mural by Creative Campus Collective. Property owners have to paint the wall white, then choose from pre-approved mural designs. Applications are due by April 30 at 1 p.m. You can submit online.

https://www.cabq.gov/mra/mra-boutique-bu...6-centennial-murals-past-present-future/

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque City Council at its meeting yesterday unanimously approved the Mesa Film Studios project on the Westside at Double Eagle II Airport. They rejected the appeal and arguments of the Westside NIMBYs and Native groups against the project.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/west-mesa-film-studio-one-step-closer-to-approval/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The fight to stop the creation of a new film studio on the West Mesa in Albuquerque is nearing its end as the city says those appealing the project have no standing. The City of Albuquerque’s Environmental Planning Commission presented its findings on the development near Double Eagle Airport to Albuquerque City Council on Monday.

Councilors asked them to review an appeal to Mesa Film Studio after several organizations complained the decision was rushed without community input, and the studio would threaten the nearby Petroglyphs. The EPC found the city is fully justified and cleared to move forward with the project, saying the city has followed all regulations, including laws that will protect the petroglyphs. The council approved their findings.

Here's a rendering of the project that I found on the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's website.

https://greaterabq.com/building-the-west...l-planning-commission-hears-plan-dec-19/