Albuquerque Development Thread

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First has a story about the old church property at University and Gold SE going up for auction. The existing owners are touting it for its redevelopment potential, including plans for a 100-unit project that could be built on the site. I believe this is what they themselves were planning to build before running into NIMBY opposition from the Silver Hill neighborhood.

They also mention that the property could continue to be used as a church or daycare facility, though that's not its best and highest use, being located less than a block away from the UNM/CNM ART station and along Central Avenue, which is supposed to be our densest and most urban corridor.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2026/05/28/abandoned-church-listed-for-auction.html

A church built in 1979 that sits across from the University of New Mexico is on the auction block, and its owners say it could make way for up to 100 housing units if demolished as New Mexico continues to experience housing shortages.

The 12,991-square-foot church building at 111 University Blvd. SE once operated as the Church of Christ. It now sits vacant on 0.82 acres of residential multifamily high-density zoned land.

The property hit the market for auction on May 26 with a starting price of $100,000.

A backdoor valuation method estimates the land value at approximately $1.37 million, according to the listing.

Dan Rowe and Rahim Kassam bought the property in 2022 at an undisclosed price. It had been vacated as the church's congregation gradually aged out over time.

The two partners are Albuquerque-based real estate developers doing business as Juniper Properties Southwest LLC.

The owners said they see three potential uses for the property: Sell it to a congregation to restore it as a house of worship; convert it into a daycare; or demolish it to build housing.

Rowe would ideally like to find another church to occupy the location. However, he also views it as a strong site for housing that could help with the ongoing shortage in the community. He said that is the most likely result of the auction.

“If it’s not going to serve spiritual needs, then it's going to serve physical needs. It's going to put a roof over a lot of people's heads,” Rowe said.

The church would likely be demolished and rebuilt if new owners decide to develop it as housing, Rowe said. It would be too cost-prohibitive to bring the older building up to code and convert it for residential use, given its age and condition, he said.

Todd Clarke of NM Apartment Advisors and Anita Maestas of Maestas Real Estate Services are representing the owners in the auction.

Clarke said he sees the site’s best use as an apartment development that could help with the housing shortage in Albuquerque.

He said the site could also potentially be used as a daycare under New Mexico’s new no-cost universal child care law signed on March 10. It is also in proximity to the University of New Mexico, making it convenient for students or staff seeking child care.

Qualified buyers may submit bids to NM Apartment Advisors through June 18.

“I think the unknown variable is how much money someone will spend renovating that property and making it work for the configuration they need,” Clarke said.

Here are a couple of infographics and a site plan from the auction listing. You can see what a nice project they were envisioning for this piece of property. They did a great job of both accommodating and hiding the parking. They also placed the amenities along University Boulevard to try to activate that frontage of the property.

If you'll notice, they also stepped back the fifth floor to try to lessen the visible height of the structure.

It's pretty much an ideal, sensitive and accommodating infill project, yet the NIMBYs still hate it and claim that these are evil developers trying to ruin the neighborhood with a "highrise" monstrosity.

https://www.crexi.com/properties/2527989/new-mexico-111-university-1701-gold-se







Remember that the owners have been trying to develop this property for the last few years. They've run into rabid opposition every step of the way. The Environmental Planning Commission even withdrew consideration of one of their proposals due to that neighborhood opposition.

The developers and owners of the property are local, despite rumors and claims to the contrary on disgusting local NIMBY Facebook groups where people like the vile Patricia Willson like to spout off and disseminate uninformed and paranoid nonsense.

Rahim Kassam is also currently proposing and is behind the Aztec Hotel and The Sixty Six developments in Nob Hill. He lives in Nob Hill and is obviously not a developer from California.

But facts, honesty and good intentions don't matter to these aggressive and deranged NIMBYs.

Here's one last pic from the listing above. It's a great aerial pic of the property and surrounding area, including Central Avenue and the main UNM campus. You can see the site across Central where UNM has plans for a mixed-use project and the Route 66 study center. You can also spot the CCAT construction site and its mobile cranes in the upper-right corner of the pic.

(Click the link directly beneath the embedded image to see it in its original size)


https://images2.imgbox.com/e9/d8/KR5S2u2F_o.jpg

[ABQalex]

The owners of Lindy's Diner and the Bliss Building have now agreed to demolish the structure on their own. They applied for and received a demolition permit from the city by yesterday's deadline. The deadline had been extended by the city to yesterday from the original date of May 15th.

The owners seem to have been resigned to the building’s fate after a person they hired to evaluate the structure and the possibility of restoring and fixing it said that it couldn't be done. This person went into his evaluation disagreeing with the city’s position and saying that he could save the structure. But once inside and with a better look he said the structure was too far gone, especially the roof and second floor.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-me...-the-process-to-demolish-bliss-building/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – More than a month after the front wall of Albuquerque’s historic Bliss Building collapsed, it has been decided that the owners of the building will move forward with the demolition of the entire building. The 121-year-old building is home to Lindy’s Diner, which has become an icon on Route 66, but since late April, the whole intersection of Central and Fifth Street has been closed off. On Friday, the owners of the building secured a demolition permit, saying it’s been a difficult process.

“I guess people look at it like it was just a building, it was just a restaurant and stuff, but you know, to us it was more than that. And I think you know there are certainly some people in Albuquerque that feel the same,” said Dawn Vatoseow, co-owner of Lindy’s Diner.

After a portion of the Bliss Building collapsed last month, the City of Albuquerque gave the owners, Steve and Dawn Vatoseow, until May 15 to apply for a permit to either demolish or renovate the building, saying something needed to be done quickly, because of the danger further collapse would pose to the public. The city then extended that deadline until Friday. In a statement, the city told KRQE News 13 that the owners were able to secure a demolition permit before their deadline, and they will now handle the process.

“Being a part of this community has been an honor for us, it really has, and every one of our customers means the world to us, and I would love to see a better outcome than what seems to be going to take place,” said Vatoseow.

The city said that it will continue coordinating with the Vatoseows throughout the demolition process. The city said that it will also continue the 24/7 security and fencing that’s currently up around the Bliss Building. There’s no word yet on when demolition will begin.

[ABQalex]

Here are some nice pics of Lindy's and the Bliss Building through the years as a tribute and farewell to this nearly century-old institution and the older structure which housed it for all those years. I've included a couple of pics of their annual free Thanksgiving meal where they fed anyone who wanted a meal.

https://www.facebook.com/lindysdinerabq/...bt-that-shows-5th-and-c/791949754968028/



https://www.facebook.com/downtownacd/pos...1gGgS96WpkDovVouta4y4MhvQJdWd7wvjqw7tnnl











https://www.facebook.com/lindysdinerabq/...ranjcnstN9py7ss6Q7zVdRM48KLjouu8rxFouiWl





https://albuquerque.emuseum.com/











https://www.facebook.com/groups/Route66Travelers/permalink/9723897207705438



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10174725676745226&set=a.107399425225



https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10174962401520226&set=a.107399425225



The greatest and saddest disappointment is that Lindy's didn't get to celebrate its centennial and that we will now be left with another dreaded empty lot for who knows how long in the center of our city.

[ABQalex]

Here's a nice pic of the skyline that was taken on Friday morning and posted on Twitter by a couple visiting the city and staying at the Embassy Suites hotel.

(Click the link directly beneath the embedded image to see it in its original size)

https://x.com/SteveAndApril1/status/2060373617926685117


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HJfq4cqacAI2BBC.jpg:orig

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News had a pic on Friday morning showing the progress on the Central Crossing project.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of Roadrunner Venture Studios' new quantum hub that's being built in an old warehouse near its headquarters in the Innovation District in Downtown Albuquerque. The state announced last year that Roadrunner would lead the state's $300 million quantum initiative with this $25 million quantum lab. It has already helped attract companies such as New York City-based Qunnect and Boston-based QueEra Computing to the state, who will take advantage of the facilities to develop their quantum networks and technologies.

UNM and Sandia National Labs' Quantum New Mexico Institute will also be headquartered at the facility.

The pics were posted by state senator Michael Padilla last month on his LinkedIn account after a tour of the facility's progress.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7451022932652351488/

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics showing the work to transform the former Warehouse 508 space in Downtown Albuquerque for the new home of 516 Arts. They were posted this past week on LinkedIn by Formative Architecture, who are designing the project.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7465416659298603008/









Here's a floorplan/site layout, rendering and a link to an animated rendering on YouTube of the project from its page on the 516 Arts website.

https://516arts.org/about/516-arts-is-moving/





• Video Link

[ABQalex]

Here are some pics of the traveling outdoor art exhibition from the Oaxaca State Museum of Popular Art in Mexico entitled Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals from Mexico. The eight pieces were installed last weekend in Downtown Albuquerque around Robinson Park and the area of 8th Street and Central Avenue. The pieces will be on display in Albuquerque until July 17th.

https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/news/gi...s-bring-mexican-magical-realism-downtown



https://www.facebook.com/OneABQMedia/pos...k4qYCKcKX1p8E7X1h2F16RWmg32pDregTo1DbEHl





https://www.facebook.com/MayorKeller/pos...8hyhEDVPKt68ggNuKaFo3zXrFy5sVDA3g7REW4Vl







https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10238736381722617&set=pcb.10238736388762793



https://www.facebook.com/mary.schwindt/p...Ca6NECKYMFKHXRdaFKKFF1BDMcienW29S1wySjel











https://www.facebook.com/VisitABQ/posts/...ByxPeB1czkKYePQG7R9vJXbKfDjrDuR4QhTzcr4l



Here are some pics of the pieces lit up at night. The lights change colors. The pieces have drawn a lot of interest in the past week that they've been on display. People seem to be especially fascinated seeing them lit up at night.

https://www.facebook.com/lucas.serna.73/...1h7JvXMpuKQ5XARB9nHcXTfuhjMtqQZ9onZKUrXl

[ABQalex]

Below is a story by Albuquerque Business First about a "celebration" event for Lobo Crossing which curiously took place at The Pit on Friday. This is the first I've ever heard about it, but the mayor and university officials were in attendance. I'm unsure whether this was also the groundbreaking ceremony and whether the project has gotten underway.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2026/06/01/lobo-crossing-celebration.html

Those behind the Lobo Crossing development at the University of New Mexico South Campus gathered Friday at The Pit Powered by Nusenda for a reception to celebrate the project — the largest of its size in in the Albuquerque metro in more than two decades.

The project is a development south of The Pit, along Gibson Boulevard. Anchored by Target, the retail project will have national and local brands leasing retail and restaurant units, including Albuquerque's first In-N-Out Burger location.

Joshua Simon, president of Simon CRE, the project's developer, addressed the crowd.

“This is not just another retail project for us or for the city,” he said. “A project of this scale has not happened in Albuquerque for over 20 years — and candidly, very few projects are built across the country right now at this scope.”

He cited the difficult economics, with high construction costs, complications with infrastructure and more.

Simon said nearly 90% of the about 365,000-square-foot project is already committed with a lease or close to a lease agreement. Other tenants include Jersey Mike's and Five Below.

He said the area has been “underserved for far too long.”

Outgoing UNM President Garnett Stokes said the project “is really more than a groundbreaking. It does, in fact, reflect years of vision, collaboration, persistence and shared belief in what is possible when people come together around a common purpose.”

She noted the process began in 2019, but took off after the pandemic with a relaunch in 2022 and eventual legislative action to create the South Campus Tax Increment Development District in 2023.

That TIDD, a partnership between UNM and the city, essentially redirects new tax revenue generated by the development back into the area's infrastructure, including streets, drainage and water and sewer lines.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller also mentioned how it will help local communities, saying those in the South Valley and southeast Albuquerque will have closer access to a grocery store, in Target.

“This is transforming one of the corridors of our city,” he said. “This is lighting up our neighborhoods around it and saying that ‘we care about you, you’re going to have the same amenities as other parts of town.’”

Keller also looked forward, noting that the city of Albuquerque was working with UNM on the developoment of projects along Lomas Boulevard and in downtown Albuquerque, saying all three are “game-changing projects.”

“Those are our trifecta of change and transformation for the city of Albuquerque and, of course, relatedly for the University of New Mexico,” he said. “And we’re making progress on all of these fronts.”

From the updated site layout above you can see that a few more tenants have officially been identified and named, including Xfinity, Verizon and Pacific Dental Services. Again, these are service businesses and not terribly exciting, but are normal things that are often taken for granted.

The Target location is mentioned in the story yet they still don't mark it officially on the layout above. Target even has the store listed among their new stores that are coming soon on their website. It's a bit bizarre to me.

https://corporate.target.com/about/locations/upcoming-stores



I'm always leary when events and ceremonies such as this take place yet actual construction and movement on a project never seems to happen. I hope this does indicate that actual work will be getting underway on the project.

[ABQalex]

Here are some more pics of the Nobis Albuquerque Rehabilitation Hospital project that were posted by the builder today on their Facebook account. The pics show the elevator pit construction.

https://www.facebook.com/dkdenterprises/...smiMGe7bo3BJySni3ZXxeg5bpbp1VgQa6DEq8TEl

[ABQalex]

Revel Entertainment Center's founder recently appeared on a local podcast episode where he officially announced his plans for a new amphitheater on the empty plot directly east of the existing indoor concert venue/event space/food hall.

He almost let out how many seats the new venue will have but caught himself and said that he'll reveal that information later. He did say that he was inspired by the site’s existing bowl-like setup and has thought about and been considering this project for a few years already.

He said he decided to go forward with the project now after the plans for the Andretti Indoor Karting & Games location fell through and the property was put up for sale again.

https://www.instagram.com/officialhighspeedwarrior/reel/DYpPg6xTxz0/



Here's an aerial pic of the Renaissance area where Revel is located at I-25 and Montaño Road NE. You can spot the empty plot between Revel and Top Golf along Desert Surf Circle where the new amphitheater is planned. The pic was posted recently by the Rainbow Ryders pilot on Facebook.

(Click the link directly beneath the embedded image to see it in its original size)

https://www.facebook.com/kris.braden.9/p...nLthmEBj1wK6QS4rWfQBdNWooCDCbbhy19W33BMl


https://images2.imgbox.com/03/c5/KjGGUNmU_o.jpg

In the pic above you can also see some of the progress on the I-25 and Montaño Road/Montgomery Boulevard interchange and frontage road rebuild project. The new bridge beams across I-25 were recently installed and work has begun on the frontage roads, including the new braided ramps.

Here's another pic from the post looking the other direction showing the I-25 and Comanche Road interchange and this portion of the I-25 Improved project. You can see the newly-expanded I-25 bridges across Comanche Road and the new, wider exit and entrance ramps of the interchange and frontage roads as well.

(Click the link directly beneath the embedded image to see it in its original size)


https://images2.imgbox.com/44/30/huu4WBYc_o.jpg

[ABQalex]

KRQE has a story about a call for artist submissions for a mural at the SOMOS Apartments project in the International District. The video story includes nice views of the project, which is nearing completion. The mural will go on the two upper walls above the rounded corner entrance.

https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/mix...tion-calling-for-artists-to-paint-mural/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A mixed-income apartment complex in the International District is nearing completion, and now the developer is calling for local artists to paint a mural on the building before opening.

The building by Sol Housing, called Somos, will have 70 one-bedroom apartments. “We target 80% of units will be for 55 and up,” Sol Housing Executive Director Felipe Rael said. “20% can be all ages, 59 units affordable, 11 units market, and we will have a veterans preference.”

The building is currently leased. Construction began last June, and they expect to be finished in June or July. With retail space on site, opening in December. “We’re actually ahead of schedule,” Rael said. “We’re looking to deliver in July with the first residents moving in in August.”

Now that they’re nearing completion, the developer is asking local artists to apply to paint a large-scale mural on the front of the building on Central and Alcazar in Louisiana. “We’re standing in the heart of the international district, and we want this mural to give back,” Rael said.

Developers say they want the mural to showcase the resilience of the area. So residents, commuters, fairgoers, and Route 66 travelers see it as they pass by. “It’s a large mural, about 20 feet by 26 feet on one side, and 22 feet by 27 feet on the other side,” Rael said. “So it’s a big space right on this prominent corner.”

The developer is looking for a New Mexico-based artist or group, and they’ll be paid $18,000 for their work.

“We would prefer that the artist is a local working artist trying to build their craft,” Rael said. “That’s why we think it’s important to pay them for their time and materials, and have that preference for a local low-income artist.”

[ABQalex]

UNM announced today on its website that site work and early construction has indeed begun for the Lobo Crossing project. The announcement includes a pic of the site and the grading/earth work being done right now. They explicitly name Target as the project's anchor and say that its approval was contingent on signing the retailer. They say construction is expected to be completed in fall next year.

https://news.unm.edu/news/lobo-crossing-launches-with-celebratory-groundbreaking

A vision years in the making moved one step closer to reality as The University of New Mexico, along with city and state leaders gathered in the Club-Level Lounge at The Pit – Powered by Nusenda with community stakeholders to celebrate the recent groundbreaking of Lobo Crossing, a transformative South Campus development that will bring new retail, grocery and dining opportunities to Albuquerque while strengthening UNM’s growing sports and entertainment district.

UNM finalized the agreement for Lobo Crossing with SimonCRE in April, allowing Phoenix-based commercial real estate developer to move forward with the purchase of 38 acres of university-owned land near UNM’s sports facilities for the development. The sale to SimonCRE included the requirement that the developer secure Target as the anchor tenant and the project be constructed in accordance with plans approved by UNM. The project is finally underway with site preparation and infrastructure work following years of meetings, a pandemic and subsequent relaunch of the effort in 2022. Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

“The construction fences and the shovels going into the ground are a declaration that UNM believes in the city, believes in this neighborhood, and believes our south campus deserves to be something extraordinary,” said UNM President Garnett Stokes, who first heard about the South Campus Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) in 2019 an effort that has enabled the project to move forward.

“It is investment not only in buildings and infrastructure, but in people, opportunity and community. It strengthens the connection between our campus and the city that surrounds it. It creates new possibilities for students who will live, learn, and build their futures here,” said Stokes. “It demonstrates in a very visible way the role The University of New Mexico plays as an anchor institution, deeply rooted in this place and committed to New Mexico's future.”

Stokes also thanked the many partners and supporters of the project including the UNM Board of Regents, the New Mexico Board of Finance, State Legislature, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque and Mayor’s office, and Lobo Development Corporation and Board of Directors for its persistence in bringing Lobo Crossing to fruition.

...

The 365,000-square-foot development will be anchored by Target, a leading national food and general merchandise retailer, along with approximately 10 junior anchor tenants, including smaller retailers, service providers, and restaurants, creating a dynamic mix of offerings designed to serve students, fans and nearby neighborhoods. Renderings show a walkable, open-air environment with integrated pedestrian pathways, gathering spaces and a modern retail layout that complements the surrounding campus and athletics facilities. However, the project itself came with significant challenges including terrain, drainage, utilities, access, traffic, zoning, approvals, timing and financing as it wound its way to final approval.

...

University leaders emphasize that Lobo Crossing is just the beginning of the transformation of UNM’s South Campus.

“This project represents confidence in the future of Albuquerque. It represents confidence in the future of The University of New Mexico and it represents confidence in the idea that our South Campus can become an even more vibrant destination for learning, recreation, commerce and community life,” said Teresa Costantinidis. “For UNM, this project is also a reflection of something bigger. We often say that we are The University for New Mexico. Our responsibility is not just to educate students, conduct research, and serve our patients. Our responsibility is to help strengthen the communities we serve, create opportunities for future generations, and contribute to the economic wellbeing of our state.”

[ABQalex]

Here's an update by Albuquerque Business First about another commercial development near UNM. The first phase of The District development along Lomas Boulevard between University Boulevard and I-25 is scheduled to get underway in August and be completed by early next year. The first phase includes about 20,000 sq ft of commercial space and landscaped spaces fronting Lomas.

The second phase includes a 7-story, 140-room hotel with rooftop restaurant further back on the property. Work on this phase is scheduled to get underway early next year after the first phase is completed and be completed in 2028.

The story includes information about what kind of commercial tenants the project will have, including tea and coffee shops and food/restaurant spaces. They say they will focus on local concepts and brands for the project.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/...rict-mixed-use-project-local-retail.html

A $50 million, mixed-use project called “The District” on Lomas Boulevard is on track for full project completion in 2028. The development includes a retail strip with local shops and restaurants, along with a seven-story hotel building topped by a rooftop restaurant.

Developed by Black Bear Development LLC, The District is set to break ground in the third quarter of this year. Nathan Koontz, a principal with the firm, said it will be built in two phases. The project is intended to create a community-oriented space for locals and visitors, as it is located near the University of New Mexico and the nearby hospitals.

Phase 1 includes retail and restaurant space on the north side of the site at 1300 Lomas Blvd. NE, between Interstate 25 and UNM Hospital, with construction expected to begin around August and wrap up six months later. Studio Southwest Architects is handling Phase 1.

The project is expected to bring nearly 20,000 square feet of retail and dining options, with leasing space available. The listing went live on Oct. 21, 2025. Jim Hakeem and Alexis Lovato of NAI SunVista are leading the leasing for the project.

Once complete, the developer plans to turn the spaces over to tenants for interior buildouts, with opening expected by May 2027 at the latest. Then it will open to the public, and the hotel phase of construction will begin.

Phase 2 includes a Courtyard by Marriott hotel with about 140 rooms on the south side of the site, with a rooftop restaurant called Volaré Rooftop Bar. The hotel will be managed by Total Management Systems, Inc.

The hotel phase is expected to take about 24 months, with BASE4 Architects designing the project. Koontz said permitting is still underway with the city, with approvals expected by the end of June.

A 2025 news release states the project is co-owned by Black Bear Development LLC and Sandia Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships at Dickinson College and UNM, which holds a 24% stake. The two co-own the project; it is not a land lease.

Koontz also co-owns Black Bear Development LLC with Prakash Sundaram. The general contractor of the project is Sundaram Builders Inc. Sundaram serves as the company’s President and CEO.

The project is valued at an estimated $50 million, and financing has been secured. About $10 million is allocated toward the retail portion, $35 million toward the hotel and the remaining $5 million toward infrastructure and parking, said Koontz.

The Phase 1 restaurant component includes two standalone buildings, each split between two tenants. One building on the east side will include a tea shop and a food operator, while the west side building will include a coffee shop and another food operator.

The retail component includes two buildings with flexible layouts, ranging from 1,200 to 4,280 square feet and accommodating one to three tenants. Koontz said the spaces are intended to serve hotel guests and the local area.

Tenants are in the letter of intent stage, with negotiations underway. No business names have been disclosed as the project remains in the conceptual stage.

Four well-known local businesses seeking to expand are under consideration for restaurant space. Koontz said no startups are being considered and the goal is not to attract national tenants.

“For us, this is more of a community space,” Koontz said. “You lose a little bit when you’ve got big operators that just pop in, put their box in, run their model and don’t really adjust to what’s going on in the community.”

Here's a link to the project page on Total Management System's website. It has several renderings of the project, including a few that we've never seen before.

https://www.tmsnm.com/the-district-bring...-the-next-chapter-of-volare-rooftop-bar/















An interesting thing to note is that the project site and plot is catty-corner from the new state literacy center that's being constructed. The upper floors of the hotel and rooftop restaurant will have a great view of this new landmark! The rendering below shows pretty much what the view will be like looking toward the southeast from the new hotel.