Albuquerque Development Thread

[mgs11]

One Central ready to roll

By Steve Sinovic
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer
[IMG]One Central Complete by mgs11, on Flickr[/IMG]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The first residents will be moving in this weekend at One Central, the Downtown mixed-use project that broke ground over a year ago.

Nearly one-fourth of the 68 apartments have been leased, said David Stroud, One Central’s director of operations and marketing. With a ribbon cutting slated for today,construction workers were busy Wednesday with myriad tasks: installing lighting, vacuuming construction dust and making the apartments ship-shape for the new tenants.

Studio apartments, which feature floor to ceiling windows, are the most popular units so far, said Stroud, especially ones with views of the Sandia Mountains and the train tracks of the Alvarado Transportation Center across the street. The tenants are a good mix, and include UNM professors, hospital workers and young professionals working Downtown. The building comes with a fitness center, gaming space and media room.

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Albuquerque cuts ties with Rail Yards' developer
By: Rebecca Atkins
KRQE News 13
• Video Link

It's been more than a decade since the city bought the historic Rail Yards, but after years of delays and no movement from the developer, the city is now cutting ties and moving forward on their own.

"I've seen it deteriorate. Seen more and more crime, more and more destruction of the buildings," said Ron Romero with the Barelas neighborhood.

People have wondered if the Rail Yards would ever become the attraction the city has always hoped it would be, including shopping, cafes, an amphitheater, and even housing.

"Almost every mayor has tried to do something with the Rail Yards and every mayor has made a little bit of progress," said Mayor Tim Keller.

[DesertRay]

Looks like Albuquerque is trying to up their shipping container game.


https://www.abqjournal.com/1228811/g...w-project.html

Green Jeans developer launching new project
By Steve Sinovic / Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at 2:20pm

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The guy behind the Green Jeans Farmery, the innovative shipping-container development near Carlisle NE and Interstate 40, is on to his next commercial project, which he describes as a future destination spot featuring noteworthy players from the town’s restaurant and brewing community.

Citing nearby businesses and residential communities as the potential customer base, Green Jeans owner Roy Solomon recently purchased five acres at Alameda and San Pedro for a development that will have a strong food focus. Already committed to the project is restaurateur Erin Wade of Vinaigrette and Modern General fame, who will set up shop with a “new concept” at the site, as well as restaurateurs expanding to second stores beyond their current Green Jeans location. Opened nearly four years ago, Green Jeans is a multiple-option destination of eateries, confectioneries, adult drinkeries, shops, plazas and places to hang out, said Solomon.

He said he’ll subdivide the Alameda project into four parcels. One is earmarked for Wade to open a standalone eatery and another will house a Stone Age climbing gym.

Smack in the middle will be Solomon’s baby called Tin Can Alley, anchored by Santa Fe Brewing Co., which also has a location at Green Jeans.

With suds in hand from Santa Fe Brewing, customers can then purchase grub from eight to 12 purveyors Solomon expects to recruit for an indoor food market, which he said will be about 11,000 square feet in size. There, they can dine at communal tables inside, on several patios or on Tin Can Alley’s rooftop, another 8,000 square feet, which will be handicap accessible. Some of the construction materials also will feature recycled shipping containers.

Tenants coming to Tin Can Alley include Green Jeans alums Amore Pizzeria, Rustic on the Green Burgers and Nitro Creamery, according to Solomon. Also doing business at the food emporium will be a Vietnamese-style eatery called Pho Cup, Guava Tree Cafe and “something incredibly cool which I can’t announce yet,” Solomon added.

“We’ll have double the amount of parking than we did at Green Jeans,” said Solomon, referring to 330 parking spots projected for the site.

He said all the food-oriented spots should prove popular with the lunch crowd near the Alameda corridor, folks grabbing food on the way home to the West Side or neighbors wanting to hang out on the weekends. Other than fast-food joints, there’s very little in the way of “quality” food providers in the area or recreation-oriented outfits like the climbing gym, said Solomon.

Solomon, who said Tin Can Alley still is in the conceptual phase, was unable to estimate final construction costs.

A ground breaking at the site is scheduled for Oct. 22, when more details about development partners, tenants and the build-outs will be announced.

[mgs11]

I'm not a huge fan of shipping container developments, but it sure beats looking at a dirt lot.

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by mgs11

I'm not a huge fan of shipping container developments, but it sure beats looking at a dirt lot.

Agreed. I'm happy to see construction in Albuquerque, regardless.

Have you walked around UNM's downtown Innovate buildings? I see that they are hiring folks to activate the facilities.

[mgs11]

I haven't to been to the Innovate Abq campus in several weeks. Hopefully we'll see more progress very soon.

[mgs11]

Netflix buying Albuquerque Studios

By Adrian Gomez
Albuquerque Journal Arts and Entertainment Editor

Netflix is making Albuquerque its home away from home.

The entertainment giant is in negotiations to purchase Albuquerque Studios and will make it the streaming giant’s principal production hub in the United States.

Albuquerque Studios has been for sale for a few years. Officials did not release details about the sale price of the studio.

The state is contributing $10 million of Local Economic Development Act funds. Albuquerque is contributing $4.5 million of LEDA funds. Because the city is acting as fiscal agent for the LEDA funds, the project will be sent to the City Council for approval.

Albuquerque Studios includes nine sound stages, production offices and a backlot.

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Developers seek $26.4M in bonds for hotel

By Marie C. Baca
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two local real estate developers are requesting a total of $26.4 million in metropolitan redevelopment bonds from the city to build a Marriott Springhill Suites near Presbyterian Hospital near Downtown.

The proposal by Titan Development and Maestas Development Group, applying under the name Urban Hospitality NM, will come before the Albuquerque Development Commission on Thursday. Final approval by the City Council is required before the deal is executed.

The bonds are a mechanism for providing a property tax abatement to developers working in distressed neighborhoods. In this case, the abatement totals about $3.2 million over a seven-year period, according to city filings. The developers estimate the project will create 123 full-time construction jobs for one year and between 50 and 58 full-time jobs once the hotel is complete.

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by mgs11

Netflix buying Albuquerque Studios

By Adrian Gomez
Albuquerque Journal Arts and Entertainment Editor

Netflix is making Albuquerque its home away from home.

The entertainment giant is in negotiations to purchase Albuquerque Studios and will make it the streaming giant’s principal production hub in the United States.

Albuquerque Studios has been for sale for a few years. Officials did not release details about the sale price of the studio.

The state is contributing $10 million of Local Economic Development Act funds. Albuquerque is contributing $4.5 million of LEDA funds. Because the city is acting as fiscal agent for the LEDA funds, the project will be sent to the City Council for approval.

Albuquerque Studios includes nine sound stages, production offices and a backlot.

I saw this story yesterday. I'm really hopeful that Netflix is able to build this out. Hopefully, this might be the catalyst that pushes Mesa Del Sol to be built out. It's time for Albuquerque to get out of the doldrums.

[Obadno]

Good Job ABQ.

I really hope to see New Mexico get some of the growth of its neighbors. Literally all of its bordering states are growing rappidly.

[mgs11]

City again seeks ideas to develop Downtown site

By ABQJournal News Staff

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The City of Albuquerque’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency has issued a request for proposals for development of a mixed-use project Downtown.

The site being offered in the RFP by Mayor Tim Keller’s administration is a 2-acre parking lot at 400 Fourth St. NW near Civic Plaza.

Former Mayor Richard J. Berry had offered the same site as part of a competition to transform the city’s skyline with the tallest building in the state. But the Albuquerque Development Commission rejected the two proposals submitted under that effort.

The new effort calls for a project that will be “a point of place-making, bringing together residents and tourists to add to the current excitement and energy in Downtown Albuquerque.” According to the RFP, it must offer some kind of public amenity such as a park or gathering space, recreational facility, performance space or museum.


City of Albuquerque
Civic North Project
Request for Proposals

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New indoor skydiving park breaks ground in ABQ

By Christopher Ortiz
Managing Editor
Albuquerque Business First

A new entertainment venture has broken ground in Albuquerque — with a really big hole.

Texas-based Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Parks broke ground on its new 35,000-square-foot Urban Air facility, which will offer indoor skydiving, an indoor trampoline park, indoor roller coaster, climbing walls and a ropes course along Interstate 25 next to Main Event.

To construct the 60-foot skydiving facility, crews had to dig a hole deep into the earth.

Upon completion, sometime in the second quarter, Urban Air will employ over 60 people. Information about the project's general contractor was not immediately available Thursday.

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Winrock redevelopment slowly moving forward

Ryan Laughlin
KOB 4

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Developers claim they are making progress on the Winrock project.

"We're really building a little town, with residential units, office components, potential medical component, retail, entertainment, hospitality right here at this site," said Goodman Realty’s Darin Sand.

In 2008, when the original Winrock redevelopment was supposed to get started, the economy took a turn for the worse.

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New, massive project could turn the metro into transportation hub
• Video Link

By: Brittany Bade
KRQE 13

A new project could set Albuquerque apart from other growing cities and make the metro a hub for distributing products.

"It's good for Albuquerque. It's good for Bernalillo County," said Bill Robertson, the VP of Colliers International and one of the developers for 'Sunport South.'

The project plans to transform 350 acres of dirt along University south of Rio Bravo into an ideal location for e-commerce and logistic companies and warehouses.

"Really a high-tech, first-class business center," said Robertson.

They're hoping to bring in big businesses by highlighting the site's proximity to the Sunport, railroad, and Big-I.

"We have all the major logistics, road, rail, and land," said Robertson.

The future hub borders the Mesa Del Sol housing development. At full capacity, Sunport South would employee 15,000 people.

When you combine that with the growing Mesa Del Sol community and new Netflix headquarters, there could be around 100,000 more people in this area.

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New developer picks up plans for Mesa del Sol community

• Video Link
By: Jackie Kent
KRQE 13

Ten years after developers announced Mesa del Sol would be the next big thing, the area is seeing movement again.

A new developer is picking up the plans for the Mesa del Sol community that promised to bring thousands of jobs and 30,000 homes.

"Mesa del Sol was designed to be the next place Albuquerque grows — our future development — and then the bubble happened," City Councilor Pat Davis said.

Now, a decade after the original developer pulled out, the reality is there's only a smattering of homes there and they sit on one patch of land.

"There are already a couple hundred houses there. It's full, there's not a single lot available for sale," Davis said.

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Bernalillo Planning and Zoning Commission to review new development project

Brittany Costello
KOB 4

More development may be on the way for the booming town of Bernalillo.

A few months ago, developers broke ground on a new Riverwalk and restaurant complex called @Rio. It will be built next to the Rio Grande, north of Highway 550.

If developers have their way the @Rio project won't end there. The developer, Zach Snyder, is looking to bring the same concept to the Southside of Highway 550.

[mgs11]

Albuquerque moves ahead with Rail Yard redevelopment

Patrick Hayes
KOB 4

The Albuquerque Rail Yards could be getting a face-lift in 2019.

Last year, Mayor Tim Keller ripped up a deal with an out-of-state contractor hired to redevelop the site and pledged to take back control.

Since then, the lot has stayed the same but moves are being made behind the scenes.

Carmelina Hart, a spokesperson with the city’s planning department, said the city is submitting a remediation plan to the state.

Once that gets approved, the city can find a new contractor.

Even though the mayor has pushed for going local, it's not clear whether the new developer will be from New Mexico or outside the state.

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by mgs11

Albuquerque moves ahead with Rail Yard redevelopment

Patrick Hayes
KOB 4

The Albuquerque Rail Yards could be getting a face-lift in 2019.

Last year, Mayor Tim Keller ripped up a deal with an out-of-state contractor hired to redevelop the site and pledged to take back control.

Since then, the lot has stayed the same but moves are being made behind the scenes.

Carmelina Hart, a spokesperson with the city’s planning department, said the city is submitting a remediation plan to the state.

Once that gets approved, the city can find a new contractor.

Even though the mayor has pushed for going local, it's not clear whether the new developer will be from New Mexico or outside the state.

I don't care if it's local or not, I would love to see this get moving. I'm hopeful that this happens, since the Mayor needs to hang his hat on something (and to keep backing away from ART). It's time to get that place cleaned up.

[mgs11]

City moves forward with $26 million bond request for Central hotel project
[IMG]dusk-no-logo by mgs11, on Flickr[/IMG]

By Ron Davis
Reporter,
Albuquerque Business First

Wheels are in motion for more than $26 million in bonds.

The City Finance & Government Operations Committee moved for a "Do Pass" on $26.4 million in metropolitan redevelopment bonds for the Marriott Springhill Suites project Monday night, which is a nearly 93,000-square-foot, 118-room hotel on Central Avenue. In addition, 20 rooms will be specifically designated for use by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico.

The project is being developed by Albuquerque's Titan Development and Maestas Development Group. Together, the companies make up the group Urban Hospitality NM LLC.

"We are delighted to develop a project that will help families facing unimaginable hardships while investing in and reinvigorating a neglected area of our city," Steve Maestas said in a statement to Business First.

[mgs11]

Six-story hotel planned for East Downtown

By Ron Davis
Reporter
Albuquerque Business First
[IMG]
sundowner-full-corner-rendering by mgs11, on Flickr[/IMG]

East Downtown Albuquerque is set to get new hotel.

Albuquerque-based Legacy Development and Management LLC plans to build a six-story, 130,000-square-foot, dual-branded hotel at Central Avenue and Broadway Boulevard. Todd Walters, vice president of operations, confirmed in a phone call to Business First on Thursday. The hotel will feature a two-story, above ground, parking structure.

The dual-branded hotel will be inhabited by a Hilton Garden Inn and a Homewood Suites with 90 rooms designated for Hilton and 80 for Homewood Suites. The Hilton Garden Inn rooms are designed for business and leisure travelers while the Homewood Suites rooms will be catered to extended stay guests with fully equipped kitchens.

Walters said he expects to break ground in March with a timeline of around 14 months. In total, the price tag for the hotel will be around a $25 million investment, Walters said. The property is owned by Sundowner Hospitality LLC, an affiliate of Legacy.