Albuquerque Development Thread

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4th Street Mall redo bolsters Downtown restaurant prospects

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Although the reconstruction of Downtown Albuquerque's 4th Street Mall created some headaches for pedestrians and businesses last year, the consensus now that it's done seems to be very positive. Two restaurants have opened since the construction was completed late last year, and at least one area stakeholder is sinking $100,000 into prepping a formerly vacant space for new business.
Café Bien just opened at the edge of the 4th Street Mall at 400 and 402 Central Ave. SW in more than 5,200 square feet that owner Lindsay Cavazos re-renovated after Azul Burrito Co. ended a short run there, citing the inconvenience of the 4th Street Mall reconstruction and parking issues. Café Bien, which used to operate in the nearby Simms Building, offers breakfast, lunch and catering and is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Latin-Caribbean restaurant Café Caribe ABQ opened about a week ago in the middle of the 4th Street Mall area at 102 4th St. NW. Owner Alejandro Arteaga is in the space that was formerly Aldo's Pizzeria — which moved to a Central Avenue-fronted space. Menu items include dishes inspired by traditional offerings in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

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Berry expected to sign ‘Complete Streets’ measure

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

An ordinance that would affect street designs across Albuquerque and perhaps spur development appears to be headed for approval from Mayor Richard Berry.
Last week the Albuquerque City Council unanimously adopted the Complete Streets measure — a policy that requires streets to be designed and built to serve not only vehicles, but pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit users.
City Councilor Isaac Benton was the force behind bringing the issue to the City Council after hosting public meetings on the topic. Groups like Urban ABQ and others have voiced support for the measure. Berry's chief of staff, Gilbert Montano, told Business First that when the mayor's office officially receives the legislation, he "doesn't see a reason why [Berry] will not sign."

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City launches ‘major public process’ on zoning and development codes

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

The city is reaching out to the public for input on a metro-wide project that could affect development across the Albuquerque area.
Since taking the helm at the Planning Department about three years ago, Suzanne Lubar has been discussing a unified development ordinance (UDO) that she said would be a game-changer for Albuquerque. The ordinance would update the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan, creating a UDO for the city — streamlining zoning codes, sector-development plans and regulations into one document. The project has already gathered political and private-sector support. The overall intent, the Planning Department says, is to minimize regulatory layers and conflicts and streamline approvals for high-quality development.
Lubar says other cities have successfully done it and that it will spur more commercial projects and much-needed jobs in the city from both in-state and out-of-state developers.

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Downtown ABQ Main Street separates from DAT, takes over growers’ market

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Changes have taken place inside two organizations that exist to promote the economic health of Downtown Albuquerque.
The Downtown ABQ MainStreet organization has separated from its parent organization — the Downtown Action Team. DAT is the manager of Downtown's Business Improvement District (BID). Rick Rennie, the asset manager for the Historic District Improvement Co., has put the MainStreet organization in new offices located at 115 Gold Ave. SW in the Theater District near the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce's headquarters.
In addition to the separation, the nonprofit MainStreet has taken over managing the popular Downtown Growers' Market. The market operates each year at Robinson Park near Central Avenue and 8th Street. Last year it began a second satellite market on Civic Plaza. The MainStreet program is in the process of hiring a new market manager for the 2015 season, according to officials.

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Central Ave. 'road diet' having a positive effect on downtown, Old Town business

By: Caleb James
KOB Eyewitness News 4

For about three years now, a stretch of Central Avenue in Albuquerque has been on a diet – slimming down in an effort to slow traffic by cutting the main drag down from four lanes to just two.
As traffic started slowing, more businesses sprung up along Central – mostly new restaurants on the western part of the thoroughfare, and there are plans for more.
In 2011, Central was repainted from four lanes of traffic down to two, with a turn lane in the middle and a layer of bike lanes on either side.
Restaurateurs like Diego Molina are flocking to the once-barren corrider because slower traffic means more customers. In a few months, Molina will open Mixx, a restaurant and bar on 10th and Central inspired in part by the benefits of the "road diet."
"I like the fact that they added the bike lane because you'd be surprised how many people do ride their bikes and stop at a lot of establishments that are on bike," Molina said.
Just blocks down the road, 5 Star Burger and Draft Station have also opened recently.
City councilman Issac Benton says the city always hoped the slimming of Central would work out to bring new business.
"It really does speak to…the issues of urban planning that are sort of more subtle," Benton said.
Interestingly, the Central "road diet" is still only a test program. Benton says the whole thing was done for under $100,000 by simply restriping the road. There is a chance it will go back to the old way at some point.

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Albuquerque to launch its first bike share program

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Albuquerque will join several major and regional U.S. cities like Phoenix, Denver and Austin that have bike share programs — the first known such initiative in New Mexico.
A bike share is a public bicycle system that makes bikes available to the public on a short-term basis — "borrowing" a bike to get from point A to point B. Some systems offer memberships or discounts for short 30- to 45-minute uses. Smartphone applications are often the way payments are processed.
"For those that perhaps don't want to buy a bike, it will be a way to make short connections with other modes of transport. When I lived in [Washington, D.C.] I could take the bus one-way and use bike share to meet someone for dinner," said Valerie Hermanson, a transportation planner at the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

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ABQ bus rapid transit construction may begin late 2015

By Chris McKee
KRQE News 13

The city’s latest update on a proposed bus rapid transit project shows just how quickly some construction related to the project could happen along Central Avenue, and it may be much faster than you think.

The city’s bus system, ABQ Ride is now circulating a new pamphlet on the “Albuquerque Rapid Transit” (ART) project that shows a new timeline for construction. The timeline calls for some light construction on the project to begin by the end of 2015.

It’s unclear where exactly that work will take place, but it will likely make Nob Hill’s main drag look a lot different with a potential for cones, ripped up streets and sidewalks.

“We’d like to start utilities relocation efforts later this year,” said Bruce Rizzieri, director of ABQ Ride.

According to Rizzieri, the city wants to start moving pipes, conduit and other utitiles along Central by November 2015. That work could happen anywhere along the 13-mile stretch of Central where ABQRide wants to build Albuquerque Rapid Transit between Tramway Boulevard to the east and 98th Street to the west. The work would prep the ground for new dedicated bus lanes and bus stations.

“That’s always a time consuming part of any type of road project,” said Rizzieri.

While the city hasn’t secured most of the estimated $150 million needed to building the project, planners are operating on a new timeline that calls for final design to wrap up by February 2016, and full blown construction to begin by May 2016.

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UNM Regents make major decision on Innovate ABQ's future

Dan Mayfield
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

On Monday morning, the University of New Mexico Regents unanimously approved the next major step for Innovate ABQ that will set the stage for the seven-acre project Downtown.
The regents met in the UNM student union building to accommodate a large crowd interested in design firm Perkins+Will's development framework for the Innovation District and Innovate ABQ. The approval now sets the stage for UNM to take the next steps with developers, UNM President Bob Frank said.
"Perkins+Will is saying to the board, 'We have a plan for not just the seven acres, but the district,'" Frank explained. "It's more of a living blueprint. What we want to say to developers is we want your ideas and come to us."
The idea, he said, is to move forward with a framework that will guide the site's future but not set it in stone.
"We're using the term 'development framework' instead of 'master plan' because 'master plan' sounds so static," Lisa Kuuttila, the CEO of STC.UNM, said. "It's going to evolve."
In his remarks, Frank said Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales invited Perkins+Will to his city to explore adding a second Innovate center there.
"As you can see," Frank told the regents, "the idea is spreading."
The regents heard presentations from several people, including David Green, who is a principal at Perkins+Will. Green said his firm worked with the UNM School of Architecture and Planning, and many of the ideas in the plan came from students.

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Innovate ABQ project could take 10 to 20 years to complete

Dan Mayfield
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

On Monday morning, the University of New Mexico regents took the biggest step to making Innovate ABQ a reality since the school agreed to purchase a seven-acre site Downtown last year. See the accompanying slideshow for a peek at the project renderings.
Though the approval means the project is "off to the races," according to UNM President Bob Frank, it's not that easy. Instead, the framework the regents approved is for a 10- to 20-year project that will cost between $50 and $150 million and could be as large as 850,000 square feet in several buildings spread across four city blocks. It will also rely heavily on commercial partners to build about two dozen buildings that would have more combined space than the Albuquerque Convention Center.
"This is driven by commercial interests, that's important," said David Green, a principal at Perkins+Will, which is the design firm that wrote the plan for the development. "Much could be done in 10 years."

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Silver Moon expects 95% occupancy by May, eatery on the way


Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Downtown Albuquerque's newest apartment complex — Silver Moon Lodges — opened last summer and is on its way to being almost fully occupied.
The $13.5 million public-private mixed-income development was tabbed as an important project to bring further density to the Downtown corridor, something stakeholders say is greatly needed. Silver Moon, located at 901 Park Ave. SW at 10th Street and Central Avenue, was a collaboration that was jump-started by a Bernalillo County bond package. It was under construction for about two-years, headed up by developer DBG Properties.
Silver Moon came on the heels of another mixed-income apartment project — the $16.2 million Casitas de Colores — at 215 Lead Ave. SW. The site is just west of the Silver Gardens development at Second Street and Silver Avenue SW.

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New condos planned for the heart of Nob Hill

By Richard Metcalf
Journal Staff Writer



A three-story, 36-condo building to be called The Carlisle with parking and some retail is expected to break ground in the next 35-40 days at the southeast corner of Central and Carlisle SE in the center of Nob Hill.

Veteran Albuquerque builder and developer Kenny Hinkes, who described the building’s architectural style as “New Orleans meets Hollywood,” said the $8.2 million construction project is aimed primarily at baby boomers who want to “move down in size without moving down in quality.”

The lot at 3600 Central SE was formerly occupied by a car wash that was converted to shop space with a sloped parking lot. After the current tenant, Ascension Body Modification, relocates April 1 to 1916 Central SE, it will be leveled to create what’s often called a garden level, built into the hillside, that will have a 43-space parking structure and 2,000 square feet of retail space.

The upper two stories will have 38,000 square feet of residential condos built in a U shape around a garden courtyard. Although square footages are not yet available, the condos will all be two bedroom/two bath with balconies or patios and separate storage. The building will have a common rooftop patio for residents.

The Carlisle will be just downhill and north of Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 114 Carlisle SE, which was consulted by Hinkes early in his planning process.

“We’re all for it,” said David Cameron, Immanuel’s pastor. “We were hoping something good would happen at that corner. The project will build residential density and create more foot traffic in the neighborhood.”

[PHX31]

Can we sticky this thread, moderators?

It seems only fair to have ABQ's development thread stickied when all other major Southwest cities have their's stickied.

Yeah, it's not as active, but that's just because there doesn't seem to be too many ABQ forumers. mgs11 is keeping it pretty up-to-date it seems.

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Marble Development selected for new project near the Pit

By Jessica Dyer
Journal Staff Writer

Officials will turn to a couple of high-profile New Mexico companies to kickstart the planned “sports and entertainment district” on University of New Mexico property near the football stadium and the Pit.

The Lobo Development Corp. board on Wednesday selected Marble Development — described as a partnership between Santa Fe Dining and Marble Brewery — to develop the site immediately west of University Stadium.

Marble Development was one of five groups that submitted proposals for the property at the southeast corner of the Avenida Cesar Chavez/University Boulevard intersection. The site is now a parking lot.

Marble’s current plan would take up about 1.4 acres of a parking lot estimated at 7 acres.

The plan includes a restaurant, taproom and coffee shop under one roof. The new 13,000-square-foot building would also have a stage, according to Soren Peters of Marble Development. He said Santa Fe Dining — parent company to a number of Albuquerque and Santa Fe eateries including Chama River Brewing Co., Blue Corn Cafe and Rio Chama — will spearhead the food component, while Marble will focus on the craft beer element.

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‘Code Purple’

By Mike Bush
Journal Staff Writer

University of New Mexico health care and administrative officials will soon seek state approval to build a state-of-the-art replacement facility for the flagship but aging and overcrowded university hospital on Lomas Boulevard.

UNM Health Sciences Center Chancellor Paul Roth painted a grim picture of overcrowded conditions at the existing facility to his board of directors Wednesday afternoon. The chief problem at the only hospital of its scope and capabilities in New Mexico is capacity, he said.

Roth described a hospital that was at maximum occupancy – or “Code Purple” – 90 percent of the time last year, turning away hundreds of patients from other hospitals around the state and keeping patients in the emergency department for up to three days because there were no beds available in regular wards.

The hospital has 308 adult beds, and “that’s where the crunch is,” Roth told an audience of about two-dozen administrators and members of the UNM Board of Regents.

At similarly situated hospitals nationwide, the average occupancy rate is about 72 percent, he said. That percentage, at UNMH, would equate to 222 beds. Instead, the occupancy rate at UNMH is often as high as 90 percent.

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Exclusive: ABQ could support a major league sports team. No, really.

Rachel Sams
Editor-in-Chief-
Albuquerque Business First

The Duke City area has the economic capacity to support a major league sports team, according to a new analysis from Albuquerque Business First's parent company, American City Business Journals.
ACBJ analyzed 83 markets in the United States and Canada to determine if they have the financial ability to support new teams in baseball, football, basketball, hockey and soccer. The analysis found that the Albuquerque/Santa Fe/Las Vegas, N.M. metro area has the economic capacity to support a Major League Soccer team. ACBJ's analysis rated Albuquerque's economic capacity to support an NFL, NBA or NHL team as borderline (with the likelihood of being able to support an NBA team highest), and found that the city could not support a Major League Baseball team.
Albuquerque has long shown love to its minor league sports. The Albuquerque Isotopes, recently made a Colorado Rockies minor league affiliate, frequently rank as one of the highest-revenue-generating teams in minor-league baseball. And a developmental soccer league launched the ABQ Sol team last year. But major league sports would be a new frontier, from the economic costs and returns to the recreation options for Duke City residents.

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Bernalillo County wants to consolidates, considers building purchase

By Katherine Mozzone
KRQE News 13

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Bernalillo County is taking another look at a piece of prime real estate up for sale. Commissioners say they could use the building to consolidate their operations and lower costs.

Alvarado Square would offer the county more than 280,000 square feet of space. The county first looked at the property back in 2013, but negotiations fell through. Now, the owners have dropped the asking price by more than $5 million.

Commissioners told KRQE News 13 the county has been looking for a building in which they could fit their operations for at least 10 years now. Alvarado Square looked like a good buy several years ago and the county had money but there were issues, like parking. Now, owners have dropped the asking price from $11.1 million to $6 million.

However, the building still needs work- to the tune of close to $15 million and that doesn’t include $650,000 dollars for parking. Yet, proponents of the purchase say the $21 million price tag isn’t much more than it would cost to renovate the buildings the county already owns- like 415 Tijeras and the Rio Grande Building.

Plus, they say with the sale of those buildings, they could offset the cost of Alvarado Square, dropping it even lower than the original asking price.

KRQE News 13 spoke to Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins who said the purchase makes sense.

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Winrock to be destination to shop, live, work, developer says

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —The next phase of construction is scheduled to start this week at Winrock Town Center.

The pillars came down in January and now the work will begin on a two-level underground parking garage that will accommodate retailers Nordstrom Rack and DSW.

The project also includes renovations for a new Sports Authority.

“Winrock is not just going to be another mall, it's actually a destination,” said Darin Sand, vice president of development for Goodman Realty Group, the developer backing the project.

Sand said this next phase is just the start of plans for a bigger, better Winrock, which would not only be a place to shop, but eventually a place to live and work.

“We'll have residential units on site – over 500, have office space, a hotel, a wellness center,” Sand said.

The $120 million expansion will bring more than 1,000 construction jobs to the area over the next few months, he said.

“This is a significant component to the economic landscape in Albuquerque,” he said.

This phase of construction is expected to take about a year. Winrock a

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Winrock Construction Cam

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Hospital high-rise?

By Mike Bush
Journal Staff Writer

Steve McKernan, CEO of UNM Hospitals, and Dr. Michael Richards, the executive physician-in-chief of the UNM Health System, said the new facility most likely would be a high-rise building, which is more practical than a one- or two-level facility that spreads over a wide area.

Transporting patients is easier and less time-consuming if elevators can replace long hallways, they said. Plus, it would use less land.

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Patel thinks Albuquerque is ready for Major League Soccer, Downtown venue

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Albuquerque entrepreneur Ron Patel says soccer is his No. 1 passion. That's an advantage for someone that wants to bring a Major League Soccer team to a city that doesn’t have one — like Albuquerque.
The specter of such a venture was renewed last week when an analysis from Albuquerque Business First’s parent company, American City Business Journals, said the Albuquerque-area has the economic capacity to support a major league sports team— most viable was soccer.
Patel is president of the two-year-old Albuquerque Sol F.C. minor league soccer team, which plays in the Mountain Division of the 65-team Premier Developmental League of the United Soccer League. He’s the author of “That’s When it Hit Me — How to Take an Idea from a Cocktail Napkin to Reality,” and is the managing partner of his Delivered Dish business. We talked with Patel about what it would take for Albuquerque to land Major League Soccer.