Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

For its part, the City of Albuquerque is hoping to keep at least some parts of the metro economy moving and also take advantage of less traffic on the roads to get important infrastructure improvements done. It was announced last week that the city will be kicking off $70 million in various projects, ranging from $3 million for pinned medians along the ART route to the much-anticipated $15 million International District library. The list also includes two new community centers on each side of the river, pedestrian and landscaping improvements to 1st Street between the Rail Yards and Downtown, cosmetic improvements to the Central Avenue railroad underpass downtown, the $4 million Explora X-Studio expansion and the $17 million Arno/Marble pump station for flood control downtown, which is the most expensive single project on the list.

The entire list of projects is below in a story from KRQE about the construction.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...d-19-outbreak/

International District Library


Marble/Arno Pump Station


Westgate Community Center

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First reported yesterday that Intel has confirmed in filings to the state that it now employs more than 1,800 people at its site in Rio Rancho. This comes after hiring 509 people in 2019 and 168 people in 2018. Intel had gotten as low as about 1,100 employees in Rio Rancho in the early part of the 2010s. Many of the new hires are tied to the new 3D Xpoint Technology development which Intel based in Rio Rancho.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...e-most-in.html

Another good jobs story from last week in Business First is that Fidelity Investments will be hiring more than 64 new people at its location in Albuquerque on Mesa del Sol. The company currently employs more than 800 people in Albuquerque.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...eople-for.html

The Sunport released February passenger numbers yesterday. They show continued growth over the previous year with a 4 percent overall gain over February 2019. This should be the last month of good growth at the Sunport for awhile due to the dramatic downturn in air traffic caused by the Coronavirus that began in March. The Sunport reportedly is seeing only about 8 percent of its normal traffic right now.

https://abqsunport.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/

Business First yesterday also reported that the federal government has mandated that JetBlue retain service at the Sunport and other airports during this downturn. This mandate is tied to the payroll help they will receive as part of the CARES Act. The airline was planning to temporarily halt flights between JFK and ABQ because of the downturn in traffic. In February passenger traffic on the flight was up 11.9 percent over February 2019.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...-airports.html

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First has a story with pics about construction projects that are continuing in Albuquerque during the Coronavirus pandemic. Pretty much every construction project in the city has been able to proceed without interruption during the crisis.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...-covid-19.html

Hilton Garden Inn/Homewood Suites hotel, Downtown


Marriott SpringHill Suites hotel, The Highlands


Tru by Hilton hotel, North I-25


Lovelace Medical Group Independence Square clinic expansion, North I-25


Markana Reserve apartments, Northeast Heights


Tin Can Alley shipping container community, Northeast Heights

[ABQalex]

More pics of the Tin Can Alley shipping container community that is nearing completion in the Far Northeast Heights along Alameda Boulevard. It will be the city's second such project, after the Green Jeans Farmery in Midtown Albuquerque. Both projects are by the same developer.






https://www.instagram.com/p/B-S8RYml419/




https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NFpEwnWjq/














https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GJgmeDrQS/

The overall development also includes another location of Albuquerque's Stone Age Climbing Gym with 26,500 sq ft of indoor rock climbing and a 3,500 sq ft location for the popular small local restaurant chain Vinaigrette. Tin Can Alley itself will have 11,000 sq ft, with at least nine tenants announced so far. They include Santa Fe Brewing Co. taproom, Amore Pizzera, Nitro Fog Creamery and a 505 Southwestern restaurant kiosk.

Stone Age Climbing Gym exterior rendering


Vinaigrette restaurant interior rendering

[ABQalex]

Construction pics of the downtown food hall, 505 Central Market. The building is a former Sears store and includes offices for the architect/developer of the project and 34 residential units on the top two floors. The existing Humble Coffee Co. location will be integrated into the new food hall space.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B9-nNPqFRv5/


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sa0pAl1Gs/










https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8Hy-dFmaa/


https://www.instagram.com/p/B-3XtWwFjQ9/












https://www.instagram.com/p/B_THVVYFen7/








https://www.instagram.com/p/B_VxyYVloBp/

Renderings and layout of the finished project.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by ABQalex

Construction pics of the downtown food hall, 505 Central Market. The building is a former Sears store and includes offices for the architect/developer of the project and 34 residential units on the top two floors. The existing Humble Coffee Co. location will be integrated into the new food hall space.

It's a small detail, but I'm digging those metal awnings on the new food hall. It definitely gives you the retro look of striped awnings (traditionally cloth) you would've seen on a lot of storefronts back in the day, but these will be way more durable and I think they'll age well. Excited to see the finished product inside, looks promising.

Also, thank you for continuing to do these updates during Covid! We're planning a move to ABQ and since we can't visit right now, these photos are a very nice consolation. Cheers and stay safe, good sir.

[ABQalex]

Originally Posted by kemachs

It's a small detail, but I'm digging those metal awnings on the new food hall. It definitely gives you the retro look of striped awnings (traditionally cloth) you would've seen on a lot of storefronts back in the day, but these will be way more durable and I think they'll age well. Excited to see the finished product inside, looks promising.

Also, thank you for continuing to do these updates during Covid! We're planning a move to ABQ and since we can't visit right now, these photos are a very nice consolation. Cheers and stay safe, good sir.

Thanks very much! I hope you'll enjoy Albuquerque as much as I do whenever you get here!

Albuquerque was really beginning to hit a stride before this crisis. So many projects recently announced and that were beginning planning. I'm hoping it will be able to weather the storm and emerge strong after this is all over to continue its momentum of recent years.

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by ABQalex

Thanks very much! I hope you'll enjoy Albuquerque as much as I do whenever you get here!

Albuquerque was really beginning to hit a stride before this crisis. So many projects recently announced and that were beginning planning. I'm hoping it will be able to weather the storm and emerge strong after this is all over to continue its momentum of recent years.

Yeah there are a few projects I'm really rooting for - namely the Sawmill Market being able to successfully reopen with all of those local vendors, and the renovation of the Hotel Blue getting off the ground (Arrive ABQ), as I think the design is tasteful and honors the mid-century modern legacy of the building.

Above all I really want to see the Railyards come to life, beyond just the summer market occuring there now. That complex of buildings is so awesome, it would suck if they did not find a new life.

[gman116]

Another big project that is still ongoing in Albuquerque is the downtown Presbyterian campus expansion. The circled area on this Google Maps image is starting to be demolished to get ready for the new tower they are going to build. I really hope we can get a tower crane put up there right next to I-25 when they finally start building the tower.



Also, they have started demolishing the parking lot on Spruce between Central and Silver in preparation to build the new parking garage.

[gman116]

A 158-unit multifamily residential development is being planned at the Journal Center. The project will be called the Journal Center Lofts. It will be four stories and include a pool, spa, fitness center, among others. The Development Review Board reviewed the project on April 29, but has deferred further consideration to the May 13 meeting. It will be located at 7800 Headline Blvd NE.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer..._news_headline

[DesertRay]

Originally Posted by gman116

A 158-unit multifamily residential development is being planned at the Journal Center. The project will be called the Journal Center Lofts. It will be four stories and include a pool, spa, fitness center, among others. The Development Review Board reviewed the project on April 29, but has deferred further consideration to the May 13 meeting. It will be located at 7800 Headline Blvd NE.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer..._news_headline

It's about time that they added more housing to the Journal center. Nice to see that this is happening.

[ABQalex]

ABQUrban on Instagram posted this construction pic of Broadstone Nob Hill this past week showing the elevator cores beginning to rise.

https://www.instagram.com/abqurban/



Downtown Albuquerque News reported this past week that Anthea @ The Granite has converted to apartments from an extended-stay hotel. It has 23 units and was built in 2015 just north of the courthouses downtown.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/



Updated renderings of the Markana Uptown project with the additional floor added. It will now be 7 floors with 243 apartments. I've included a site plan and illustration as well to give a better idea of how the project will fit into the area.







Rendering of the 108-room Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel that is proposed near the airport at 3201 Flightway SE..



Renderings of the 124-room Element by Westin hotel that is proposed in Uptown Albuquerque as part of the 24s @ Uptown redevelopment. It will be mostly six stories but will have a partial seventh floor featuring a bar and outdoor space.





A better 3-D rendering of the hotel from the architect's website.


https://www.base-4.com/portfolio/ele...lbuquerque-nm/

[ABQalex]

Originally Posted by kemachs

Yeah there are a few projects I'm really rooting for - namely the Sawmill Market being able to successfully reopen with all of those local vendors, and the renovation of the Hotel Blue getting off the ground (Arrive ABQ), as I think the design is tasteful and honors the mid-century modern legacy of the building.

Above all I really want to see the Railyards come to life, beyond just the summer market occuring there now. That complex of buildings is so awesome, it would suck if they did not find a new life.

The city early last month put out an RFP for re-developing some of the structures on the north side of the Rail Yards, most notably the old Firehouse structure. Proposals are due this summer. And some of the $70 million in projects the city is doing right now are part of the re-development as well, namely the improvements to 1st Street, which is meant to help better connect downtown proper with the Rail Yards.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...redevelopment/



The Arrive Hotel project was a bit delayed even before the crisis hit. It was supposed to start construction in January, but that date was changed to April back in February. It's now early May and the work still has not started. The building permit application that was submitted in January is still being reviewed and has not been issued.

https://posse.cabq.gov/posse/pub/lms...ctId=108959441





The Sawmill Market only got to enjoy a week of being open before having to shut down due to the crisis. It got rave reviews while it was open and it's an exciting addition to Albuquerque. It will be great to have it open up again, hopefully this month!

https://alibi.com/food/60633/Sawmill...l-For-All.html

[ABQalex]

The nearly 40 year effort to establish a national cemetery in Albuquerque has finally succeeded. A 200 acre site in Sandoval County near U.S. 550 and Paseo del Volcan has been selected as the location for the cemetery.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1454550/o...e-project.html

I had always hoped it would be located on the old base housing area at Kirtland Air Force Base near the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, U.S.S. Bullhead Memorial Park and the VA Hospital. That area just made the most sense, but I'm just happy we finally will have our national cemetery in metro Albuquerque.

The effort for a national cemetery in Albuquerque was first started in 1983 when Santa Fe National Cemetery was first running out of room for burials. Extra land was purchased in Santa Fe and that allowed it to remain open for burials another 40 years. However, it is now nearly out of room again. The new national cemetery should be ready for burials towards the middle of this decade, which is when the Santa Fe National Cemetery is expected to run out of burial plots.

[gman116]

Looks like TopGolf has delayed their openeing, with no official date set now. TopGolf was originally supposed to open this summer. Work continues though.



https://www.krqe.com/health/coronavi...mains-unclear/

[ABQalex]

It has been confirmed by Bernalillo County officials that Amazon is building a fulfillment center in Albuquerque at I-40 and Atrisco Vista Boulevard near the existing Tempur-Pedic manufacturing facility and FedEx Freight facility. The county approved $6.5 million for infrastructure improvements at the site. It began construction in March and is expected to open by the end of next year. It will employ 1,000 workers. It will be multilevel and is reported to be only 465,000 sq ft, which I believe is in error. It's likely that figure is the size of the building's footprint, not the actual building size. Regardless, this is great news, and I'm sure we will get better info and more firm details as time goes by.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1459734/a...abq-metro.html

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...in-new-mexico/

[kemachs]

Originally Posted by ABQalex

It has been confirmed by Bernalillo County officials that Amazon is building a fulfillment center in Albuquerque at I-40 and Atrisco Vista Boulevard near the existing Tempur-Pedic manufacturing facility and FedEx Freight facility. The county approved $6.5 million for infrastructure improvements at the site. It began construction in March and is expected to open by the end of next year. It will employ 1,000 workers. It will be multilevel and is reported to be only 465,000 sq ft, which I believe is in error. It's likely that figure is the size of the building's footprint, not the actual building size. Regardless, this is great news, and I'm sure we will get better info and more firm details as time goes by.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1459734/a...abq-metro.html

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...in-new-mexico/

Good news on the jobs front, right? I do think this is a net positive, I just hope the 1-day delivery doesn't hurt local retail. In general I don't love Amazon's business/worker-treatment practices, but if it's a necessary evil and every metro is going to have one - then I guess welcome to town! Phoenix and Denver already have them, so I suppose it was just a matter of time.

[ABQalex]

Originally Posted by kemachs

Good news on the jobs front, right? I do think this is a net positive, I just hope the 1-day delivery doesn't hurt local retail. In general I don't love Amazon's business/worker-treatment practices, but if it's a necessary evil and every metro is going to have one - then I guess welcome to town! Phoenix and Denver already have them, so I suppose it was just a matter of time.

Yes, it's absolutely necessary. These are the jobs that are replacing and will make up for the loss of retail jobs due to the shift in where people buy stuff. This will help make up for the jobs lost at places like Kmart, Sears and Macy's that have closed locations in Albuquerque over the last six years. Each of those locations employed about 150-200 people. This would make up for the 3 Kmarts, 2 Sears and 1 Macy's that have closed in the last six years in Albuquerque.

The important thing is to have these jobs in Albuquerque and not someplace else. Every city of considerable size or which is a regional center for a large area will eventually have one. Right now and within the last couple of years places like Tucson, El Paso, Colorado Springs, Boise and Spokane have completed, are building or are planning a fulfillment center just like this. Like always, they started out in larger cities and major markets and are now working their way down to smaller cities and middle markets.

This fulfillment center in Albuquerque will probably serve and have the same coverage area of our media matket, which is most of New Mexico and parts of Arizona and Colorado. El Paso will also soon start work on a fulfillment center and that would take care of Las Cruces and much of southern New Mexico, I'm sure. But northern New Mexico, northeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, and perhaps even extending into the panhandle of Texas and southeastern Utah, will be served by this fulfillment center in Albuquerque.

That's what's really good about this project, to keep Albuquerque as the center of distribution for these areas and have these jobs here.

[ABQalex]

I looked on Bernalillo County's website and found the building permit details for the Amazon fulfillment center in Albuquerque. It confirms that the building will be 5 floors. The building will be located at 12945 Comfort Way NW and is being built under the code name of "Project Chico" which is a hallmark of the secretive Amazon fulfillment center projects.

http://epermits.bernco.gov/CitizenAc...howInspection=

If the building is only 465,000 sq ft, as was reported, then that means it would have a footprint less than 100,000 sq ft (93,000 sq ft), which is 1/3rd smaller than a Walmart Supercenter and smaller than the size of a Home Depot as well. Looking again at the rendering which was posted to Twitter earlier this year and I don't believe it depicts a building with only a 100,000 sq ft footprint:



I really do believe the 465,000 sq ft figure is the size of the building footprint. Times that by five levels and you get 2,325,000 sq ft, which is close enough to the original rumored size. When looking at the rendering you see that the ground floor has an entrance area and at least one other 'bump out' on the side which do not rise the full five floors. Allowing for that difference in the top 4 floorplates then I'd estimate that the buiding is just slightly smaller than 2.3 million square feet.

That size is in the ballpark of the fulfillment center under construction in Spokane that has 2.6 million sq ft and is gearing up to open. The Spokane fulfillment center will have 1,500 employees, so perhaps that is more like what Albuquerque will have.

https://www.kxly.com/progress-report...n-west-plains/

This is absolutely a huge project and major win for Albuquerque. Again, we needed to make sure we got one of these fulfillment centers here and did not continue to be served by ones in other cities, and to make sure we made up for and got back the jobs lost here in the national retail shift.

[ABQalex]

Aerial drone video of the Amazon fulfillment center under construction in Albuquerque. The project is being built just north of the massive Tempur-Pedic manufacturing facility. This will help to gauge the size of the Amazon facility as it moves along. The Tempur-Pedic facility has a footprint of 740,000 sq ft with an interior partial mezzanine level that brings it up to 800,000 sq ft.

Video Link

Looking around on that account and they have older videos chronicling the fulfillment center construction in Albuquerque going back to March when it first started construction. The videos are pretty much weekly. This is especially awesome to see, because it looks like they will regularly chronicle the construction with aerial drone footage!

The prior week's video:

Video Link

The very first video from March when the project got started:

Video Link

Looking further around on that account and they also have videos of the Albuquerque TopGolf location. Below is the most recent one from a few days ago:

Video Link

A video from last month showing the interior of the Albuquerque TopGolf:

Video Link

Below are two pics of the TopGolf locations in Omaha and Northwest Arkansas that are replicas of Albuquerque's location and are a bit further along. They give a good idea of what the Albuquerque TopGolf will look like when it is further along and completed. I think the design is awesome!