Albuquerque Development Thread

[PHX31]

Originally Posted by ABQalex

Very interesting, and wow this is HUGE!

[ABQalex]

Unfortunately, a historic home in EDo/Huning Highland that was slated to be turned into apartments burned down this morning. The home at 119 High Street SE had been boarded up and abandoned, until last year when Homewise finalized its plan to purchase it and renovate it into affordable apartments. It's believed that the fire was arson and KOAT is reporting that a suspect is in custody.



https://www.koat.com/article/downtow...-fire/43738117

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Fire Rescue crews responded to a large fire at High Street and Gold Avenue near downtown Albuquerque around 6 a.m. Friday.

KOAT's Action Camera at Presbyterian Hospital showed flames and smoke rising into the sky.

According to AFR, crews were in the area looking for an outside fire, but did not have an exact location.

"They were dispatched closer to Broadway and Coal. So, when they rolled up on this, they upgraded the assignment to a structure fire. Got all the units en route and went to work, putting out the fire," said AFR spokesperson Lt. Jason Fejer. "This one burned very hot. There was some impingement on the neighboring house. Crews did a great job stopping this fire from getting into this occupied home ... and did a good job also having it not extend to the west."

AFR investigators do have a person detained in relation to the fire.

"Multiple neighbors in the area reported that individual to be around and was seen near the fire," Fejer said. "They detained him on the 200 block of Arno after the incident, the neighbors have reported seeing him around here and being related to multiple fires. Hopefully, we can confirm that later, but that's still being investigated."

The KOAT video from its Presbyterian cam showed how awful and big the fire was at one point. It's amazing that the beautiful home next door didn't burn down as well. It did get damaged and was singed by the flames. I believe the home on the other side, or possibly the one behind it to the west, was damaged as well.

https://twitter.com/koat7news/status...34223110897664



Here's some other views of the fire from KOB-TV and KRQE reporters on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/gfrendakKOB/stat...71278654304256



https://twitter.com/gabe_krqe/status...28238791196673



Here's KRQE's most recent report on YouTube where they show the aftermath of the fire and damage done to the house next door. They interview the owner of the house next door and the director of Homewise.

• Video Link

Ironically, the addition in front of the home that burned was the least damaged part, yet it was slated to be removed by the Homewise renovation. The city ended up demolishing it and the rest of the charred remains that were left standing.

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







https://www.instagram.com/stories/je...8002969494366/



Those last pics and vid screencaps are from the Jennifleurs Flower Truck and EDo accounts on Instagram. They express frustration with our leaders in their post and stories about the fire, and I share that sentiment.

Incredibly, the suspect was just released by a judge from jail earlier this week after being arrested for setting fires. It's really disgusting that this continues to happen along the Central Avenue corridor and that our leaders and especially our judges do nothing to try to stop it.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/suspe...wo-days-later/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Neighbors in Albuquerque’s Huning Highlands neighborhood have been dealing with random fires for months. Some believe they can track them to one man.

“He’s been terrorizing this neighborhood for at least six months,” said Ben Sturge, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade.

Last Saturday, Sturge caught a man on his security cameras lighting a fire at the edge of his property, feet from his historic, wooden, casita. 

Sturge says his son spotted the man an hour later, so they called 911, and took off after him.

“He started throwing bricks, he threw a chunk of concrete at me, I had a can of pepper spray and I used it just to get him to stop,” explained Sturge. 

APD arrested the suspect, Sly Jones, for arson, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and felony drug possession.

A judge released Jones two days later.

“Hammers home what all the cops tell me, which is: we arrest these people, and then we rearrest them, and rearrest them, and we just keep arresting them, and they just keep breaking the law,” said Sturge.

APD arrested Jones in April of 2021 for setting a dumpster fire in downtown and throwing rocks at the man who called 911. 

Three months later, in July 2021, they arrested him again after another large dumpster fire. A judge found Jones incompetent, and dismissed that felony charge.

“He’s obviously mentally ill as well as on drugs which is always a really toxic combination,” said Sturge. “Guy obviously needs treatment, but we also need enforcement, because he’s going to torch this neighborhood.”

Sturge explained it's Albuquerque’s second-oldest neighborhood, with less than 200 historic homes. As a house restorer himself, he doesn’t want to see history go up in flames.

“We don’t want to leave Albuquerque, but it’s one of those things where it’s just like ‘how much more are we going to put up with?'” said Sturge.

Sly Jones has a status hearing in this most recent case next month.

There comes a point where public safety should trump wanting to appear compassionate, caring and understanding. This guy is an an obvious danger to society who should be locked away for good.

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News this morning has a look at the project that Chad Rennaker and Palindrome Communities are proposing for the Motel 21 site. They have submitted it to the Greater Downtown Housing RFEI as well as the Department of Family and Community Services' current affordable housing RFP. The project will have 315 residential units and 18,000 sq ft of commercial space in five 5-story buildings that will also cover adjacent properties in addition to the Motel 21 site. Some of the commercial space will be for a food hall to be called Lowlows. The project has a cost of $85 million and is being called La Curva, for the curve that Central Avenue takes in the area.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

The developer behind El Vado and the recent renovation of the Imperial Inn is pursuing a new $85 million project that could see the construction of 315 new apartments and 18,000 square feet of commercial/retail space on the north side of Central near the botanic garden and aquarium.

The project, which is dubbed "La Curva" for the turn Central takes in that area, would go up on land that is roughly half occupied by the Siesta Trailer Lodge and AAA Discount Mufflers. The other half is vacant. The apartments - 100 studios, 124 one-bedrooms, 49 two-bedrooms, and 42 three-bedrooms - would feature subsidized rent and be offered to households that make up to 60 percent of area median income.

Most of the commercial and retail space would be located in a building that fronts Central just east of a tiny street called Simonds. It would be designed as an homage to Route 66 automobile culture, complete with a lowrider installed on a pedestal under an angular shelter meant to evoke the tailfins Detroit was so fond of in the 1950s and 60s. Inside, a food hall called Lowlow's at La Curva would feature approximately eight eateries or retail operations, with stalls arrayed around a taproom. The building is also set to include a rooftop deck that would be open to the public.

The project would amount to a major step toward the urbanization of the West Central corridor. Assuming 400 people ultimately live at La Curva, the project would single-handedly increase the population of the 87104 zip code by 3 percent.

The partners in the effort are Chad Rennaker, the El Vado developer who owns the land on which the muffler shop is located and where the Motel 21 used to stand, and Keith Bandoni, who owns the property that includes Los Compadres and the trailer lodge (the restaurant would stay as is). They are also working with a nonprofit called Level Field Community Development Corporation.

La Curva is presently applying for funding through two city housing initiatives - one through the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency and another through the Department of Family and Community Services, the lead city agency dealing with affordable housing.

Some of Rennaker's projects, including El Vado, the nearby almost-finished apartment building just east of the Monterey Motel, and a forthcoming housing and retail concept at Second and Santa Fe in Barelas (DAN, 1/6/23), have attracted criticism for installing (or planning to install) a quantity of parking that can lead to spillover traffic in residential areas and non-residents using public parking spots in front of houses, particularly during peak hours. There may well be similar parking pressure on the new development as well: The 315 housing units and perhaps ten businesses will have 266 off-street spaces, possible access to the 67 spaces at Los Compadres, plus whatever curbside parking becomes available as Simonds and Soto Avenue, which runs east-west behind the property, are upgraded.

But while El Vado's place in the West Park neighborhood has proved controversial since its redevelopment, the lucky geography of La Curva - on the other side of Central in the West Old Town neighborhood - may change the politics this time around. The complex is effectively hemmed in to the north by a row of houses fronting Hollywood Avenue and to the west by the Alameda Drain. To the east there is nothing but commercial ventures all the way to Rio Grande. If there is a practical way to park in the neighborhood and then walk to La Curva's attractions, it is both less obvious and less convenient than the equivalent options for El Vado.

Rennaker, in any event, prefers a tight parking arrangement: It's a situation that encourages walking and transit use while giving off a positive impression that things are bustling.

"It sends the message to the potential customer that this is a successful venture," he said.

The project will not require any zoning changes or variances, Rennaker added, hurdles that often feature public hearings. The developers are nevertheless requesting feedback on their ideas, which can be emailed to info@levelfieldcdc.org.

Residents of the trailer lodge would be relocated as part of the plan, something that might be made easier thanks to the relative portability of some of the units, Rennaker said. Some residents may also qualify to live in the new apartments, he added.

This is so awesome! Chad Rennaker and his company should be commended for what there are doing to improve our city and make it more of a city, especially along Central Avenue. I hope our city leaders will stand firm against any opposition that is surely to form. This is the kind of project that we've hoped for along Central Avenue and which efforts like the IDO and ART were meant to entice and encourage to happen. This is our city's main street and major urban corridor. This is where these projects belong and where they should be built by right and without fear or threat of opposition.

Also, as an aside, screw talking about parking already! I've been so annoyed with Downtown Albuquerque News and their concern and advocating for parking in the most urban areas of our city. It's all they ever seem to care about. It's quite ironic and highly disappointing.

[ABQalex]

Here are a few recent pictures of the Markana Uptown project from Legacy Development and a poster on Instagram. The first few pics show views of the project from I-40 and include a few pics of the nearby San Mateo interchange. The middle pic shows the framing of the building and a glimpse of the tower crane that I believe was recently taken down, indicating that framing is complete. The last few pics show the parking garage construction for the building.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrgR0HALV16/













https://www.instagram.com/p/CrjTneqv9So/



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

[ABQalex]

NIMBYs and supposed advocates for the poor held a protest yesterday over Palindrome's proposed mixed-use project in Barelas at 2nd Street and Santa Fe Avenue. KRQE says that they are gearing up to fight and ultimately defeat the development.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...g-development/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A protest was held Wednesday in an effort to stop developer Palindrome from making a zoning change that would allow a mixed-use development in Albuquerque’s historic Barelas neighborhood.

Demonstrators with the People’s Housing Project expressed their disapproval for the proposed changes.

“The community is not fooled by this backhanded offer. How sad is it that when affordable housing is proposed to this community, it comes with profit-making motives by developers, investors, and landlords,” said Anna Lee DeSaulnier, People’s Housing Project demonstrator.

Before Palindrome acquired the property in 2008, the lot sat empty directly across the Albuquerque Rail Yards. While the developer denied KRQE’s request for an interview, in an emailed statement, a Palindrome spokesperson said a mixed-use project would include a maximum of three stories to include affordable housing, retail spaces for small, locally owned businesses, and what many neighbors said they are in opposition of, a local beer and wine taproom.

“Keeping this residential would keep all the work that our elders did in the past on getting alcohol out of the community and respecting that because Barelas is a diamond in the rough, and we kind of want to keep that integrity,” said Onastine Jaramillo, a Barelas resident.

Others in the neighborhood welcome the idea, saying the empty lot could use a little TLC.

“By doing projects like this, not only will it revitalize this empty parking lot where all sorts of stuff happens, it will house people,” said Luke Davis, a Barelas neighborhood resident.

Some neighbors are also concerned the developers will only be providing affordable houses for 15 years. Palindrome said it could be a minimum of 30 years, but the plans are still being worked out. A Planning and Zoning meeting is set for the project next Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Plaza Del Sol building.

These people disgust me. Of course they are trying to demonize and obstruct one of the only developers who has proven itself to actually improve our city and to have the ability to get things done in terms of actual urban development.

If the city folds and lets these people get their way in defeating awesome projects such as this then our city, and particularly our most urban areas, will never improve and we will be stuck with rundown areas and empty lots such as this one in Barelas.

I lived in Barelas for many years, including when the A&P Bar was still operating on this site. A taproom will in no way be the same as a rowdy bar and package liquor place in terms of attracting winos and unsavory types to the neighborhood.

Thankfully there were people interviewed to counter the lies, the trash arguments and this destructive mindset.

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News has a rendering of the proposed Cambria hotel on Central just south of Old Town that I posted about earlier in this thread. It also reveals a few more details about the plans and the developers behind the project, who also own the Casas de Sueños historic inn that occupies an adjacent property.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Innkeepers move to build new hotel adjacent to Old Town

A new hotel featuring 115 rooms, a balcony bar/restaurant, and exceptionally easy pedestrian access to Old Town is set to begin construction in 6-12 months and finish 12-16 months after that, the innkeepers behind the project said last week.

Marc and LeeAnn Cumbow, the owners of Casa de Sueños, a nearby 21-unit inn, are building the hotel on the site of the Old Town Reception Hall, a companion business they also own (DAN, 11/15/22). The building is set to be four stories tall, though the first floor will be a parking area supplementing other spots out back, for a total of 72 spaces.

Though mainly aiming to grow their hospitality business, LeeAnn Cumbow said that new attractions in the Old Town/Sawmill area, including recently-opened wine-tasting operations and the Sawmill Market food hall, were motivating factors as well. Guests at Casa de Sueños have lately been spending more time in the historic district and seem to be enjoying themselves: "We get great feedback these days," she said.

Events booked at the Old Town Reception Hall will be folded into the event space at the new hotel or held at Casa de Sueños, Cumbow added.

Russel Brito, a planner working for the Cumbows, told the West Park Neighborhood Association last week that the project would not require any special variances or changes in zoning - things that often trigger public hearings and give neighbors a kind of soft veto.

"The proposed development is fitting in the box the city has created with the underlying zoning," Brito said.

The building is to be located a few steps from the Old Town ART station. Besides quick transit access for guests and hotel staffers, that will translate into an especially direct pedestrian pathway into Old Town via the station's crosswalk, which thanks to the mid-street island and special traffic lights is generally thought to be less harrowing than crossing Central at Rio Grande or San Pasquale.

Cambria is one of two upscale brands maintained by Choice Hotels, which also includes mid-range offerings like Comfort Inn and Quality Inn as well as economy options like Econo Lodge and Sleep Inn.

[ABQalex]

Here are some nice pics that poster JimmyCrackedCorn shared over at SSC yesterday of the Markana Uptown project.







And here's a nighttime shot of the project from the same poster on Instagram whose pics I shared above a couple posts ago.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsEU3yvLeu8/

[ABQalex]

Here's a picture of UNM Hospital's new tower addition that was posted by a user on Twitter today.

https://twitter.com/MDAndersonABQ/st...30930619957249



Here's a view from the other side by a poster on Instagram last week. You can also see the new College of Nursing structure that recently had its topping-off ceremony.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsIXZjbO34s/



And here's a snap taken today from the construction cam. You can see the new College of Nursing structure in the background as well. You can also see that the copper-like panels (I'm not sure what they actually are made of) are now being put on the exterior of the tower. The tower had its topping-off ceremony back in early February.



I've been anticipating the tower cranes coming down soon. The FAA permit originally authorized them to stand until this month. The actual heavy lifting and structural construction/exterior work is clearly coming to an end, but they're not quite yet finished. Hopefully/perhaps they will be granted an extension to stand so that we can enjoy them a bit longer!

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News had an update yesterday about the apartment building and long-term stay hotel portion of the Sawmill District project. They quote Jim Long as saying finding financing for the entire project is problematic right now. They also mention the lack of action on the incentives package from the county.

The story included visualizations from its recent variance requests before the Zoning Hearing Examiner. The visualizations show how they are asking for the variances in order to be able to build outside of the currently allowable areas of the site under the IDO rules. It looks like they will be granted the variances.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Prominent apartment project in Sawmill draws no opposition at hearing, but financing remains an obstacle

Two apartment complexes slated for construction in Sawmill just east of Hotel Chaco appeared to have a clear regulatory path forward last week following a hearing at which developers asked for approval of a design that didn't quite conform to the usual standards. Financing, however, remains an issue on two different fronts.

Jim Long, the developer behind the Sawmill Market and several other projects in the area, had applied for a package of four "variances" which would allow the structures to be built slightly closer to the sidewalk and to a slightly taller height in some places (diagram above). Planner Russell Brito, who works for Long and spoke on behalf of the application, said the usual standards presented a hardship to the developer and in any event originated in older rules governing more residential areas.

No one spoke in opposition to the requests, and a decision from Robert Lucero, a city zoning hearing examiner, is due by next week.

The apartment complexes are expected to break ground later this year, Long told DAN, depending on financial markets. "At the moment, with the bank failures and Fed rate issues, loans will be difficult to obtain," he said.

The buildings are part of a larger development push (DAN, 4/11/22) that includes a hotel to the west of the Sawmill Market. Long said the hotel "would be delayed even longer" because of the same financing issues.

The larger project is also expected to involve a local economic development incentive package - valued in the tens of millions of dollars - that was originally supposed to come before the Bernalillo County Commission in December. Long described those negotiations as "ongoing."

I've always known not to get too excited about this project. Stuff like this just never seems to get built in Albuquerque and actually come to fruition. There's always somebody or something that gets in the way.

[ABQalex]

Albuquerque Business First yesterday had a story about Titan's Allaso Olivine project getting underway in the Heights. It was renamed from Allaso Louisiana. Like Jim Long in the DAN article about the Sawmill District projects, they also mention and quote representatives from Titan talking about the financing issues that they too are facing right now, along with inflationary pressure.

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...hts-titan.html

Titan Development, an Albuquerque-based real estate development and investment firm, has broken ground on a 105-unit multifamily housing project, helping combat what many local leaders and industry experts have called a statewide housing shortage.

Allaso Olivine, located in Northeast Heights at the intersection of Louisiana and Alameda Boulevards will cost $35 million to build. The one-building project is set to be completed in 18 months with units starting at $1,500 a month, said Josh Rogers, Titan Development partner.

Residents will have close access to shopping centers in the Alameda corridor, dog parks at North Domingo Baca Park and Balloon Fiesta Park.

“[The] Northeast Heights is a highly desirable neighborhood with limited current rental options,” said Rogers. “We see great opportunity for Allaso Olivine to address the ongoing housing shortage while continuing to strengthen the prevalence and impact of Titan’s Allaso brand.”

On May 20, during his State of the City address, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller expressed concerns over a shortage of 30,000 housing units in Albuquerque.

"There are just not enough options for everyone to find a safe place they could also afford," Keller said.

Such shortages are an effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, as people from Phoenix, Denver, Texas and California began to migrate to Albuquerque, seeking better climates and affordable housing, Rogers said.

New Mexico ranked No. 19 on the 2022 U-Haul Growth States list, and ranked 10th in 2021. The state has seen mostly steady growth in population since 2018, according to a population chart generated by USAFacts.

Titan Development plans to deliver 2,000 units of additional housing over the next three years. However, inflation and the high cost of debt is proving detrimental to the progression of projects, Rogers said.

"[It's] having a major impact on the ability to make projects … move forward,” he said. “Most people are tabling projects right now because of the high cost of debt. … It's forcing us to put projects on the sidelines and wait for better economic days ahead.”

Despite the challenges, Titan Development plans on delivering 500-600 units of multifamily housing this year, he said.

Additional Allaso projects in the works are Allaso Vineyards located at 8901 Holly Ave. NE and Allaso High Desert located at 6605 Tennyson St. NE.

Albuquerque-based HB Construction is working with Titan Development on two of the Allaso projects, Allaso Olivine and Allaso Vineyards.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with Titan and sharing our passion for building projects for the communities we serve,” Zach Gruen, HB Construction executive vice president said in a news release. “Our team is excited to be part of Titan’s vision of delivering quality multifamily housing options for Albuquerque residents.”

The Business First article has an updated rendering for the Allaso Olivine project. Below are all three of the updated renderings from the project's page on Titan Development's website.

https://www.titan-development.com/pr...allaso-olivine







Albuquerque Business First on Monday also had a story saying that the Portland Building will get underway next month at Winrock Town Center. In reports earlier this year they were saying it would get underway this month. We shall see if now it truly does get underway. They also mention the Lofts at Winrock project and say that it is scheduled to get underway in the fall. But of course they've been saying that every year for quite awhile. Throw in that the article says that it will open in 2026 yet will take 18 months to construct and the timelines continue to seem shaky and unreliable (18 months from this fall would actually be spring 2025).

https://www.bizjournals.com/albuquer...wn-retail.html

In 2021, Albuquerque was ranked the 89th best-performing city by the Milken Institute. As businesses recover from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, many companies seek to move to areas with an attractive economic landscape. To supplement this growth in New Mexico, groundbreaking is scheduled for June 15

Goodman Realty Group, a national real estate firm, is breaking ground on the "Portland Building," a 30,000-square-foot retail and office building at 2100 Louisiana Blvd. NE. The company declined to share the cost of the project.

According to Darin Sand, Goodman Realty Group's senior vice president of development, the building will be constructed by Hart Construction and Modulus Architect. Although discussions for possible tenants are still ongoing, Sand says he has seen immense interest in the property.

“People want to get their foot in the door even before it's built,” Sand said.

Sand says new office space hasn't been built much in Albuquerque because the market is small and many companies have downsized due to strain caused by the pandemic. However, in an age where working from home has become a standard, businesses are now seeking landscapes that inspire their employees to come into the office, he added.

Potential tenants are attracted to Winrock Town Center because it serves as a one-stop shop for both professional and personal needs, Sand said. Companies are drawn to the quick accessibility to a variety of shops, restaurants and medical care.

"This space has amenities all over," Sand said. “You have all these restaurants, a hotel, a gym, a movie theater and you can even see your doctor. So it's a place that is super convenient.”

In addition to the new office space at Winrock, Goodman Realty will construct a new 207-unit apartment complex, opening in 2026. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall and construction is expected to take 18 months.

Winrock Town Center, an 83-acre mixed-use development, first opened in 1961 as one of the first modern malls in the state. Developed by American politician and philanthropist Winthrop Rockefeller, at its inception the center boasted 4,000 parking spaces and a mix of regional and local retailers.

In 2007, Goodman Realty purchased the center and has since worked to bring 1,500,000 square feet of new office, retail, restaurant, and residential units to Uptown. Current tenants include Genghis Grill, Dave & Busters, Nordstrom Rack, DSW and Ulta.

It's just our luck in Albuquerque for our economy to get going just when things are getting bad nationally. But that's our pattern and proven history, unfortunately. It always seems to stunt our growth and blunt our boom times. We can never seem to be booming when everybody else is and financing, etc. is easy to come by.

I guess we'll see how things ultimately shake out and whether we can continue this boom in building and projects locally.

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque Journal has a story about a change being made to the orientation of the soccer field setup for the New Mexico United at Isotopes Park. The change was necessary because of safety issues arising by constantly having to rebuild the pitcher's mound when switching back to the baseball field setup for the Isotopes, the park's primary tenant. This is an example of why a soccer-specific stadium is absolutely necessary if the United is to remain a viable team in Albuquerque going forward. We need a new soccer stadium already!

https://www.abqjournal.com/2603103/t...opes-park.html

Things will look a bit different when New Mexico United and rival El Paso Locomotive FC square off at Isotopes Park on Saturday night.

7% different, to be exact.

United’s soccer pitch at Isotopes Park will be reoriented slightly to address player safety issues raised by Major League Baseball and the Colorado Rockies. The change will allow the pitchers’ mound used for the ballpark’s primary tenant, the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team, to remain in place during United games instead of being removed and rebuilt repeatedly for the rest of the season.

The shift, which will be made in time for Saturday’s El Paso-New Mexico match, will move the south end of the soccer pitch further away from home plate and closer to the stadium’s right-field corner.

The 7% reorientation will not alter the field dimensions, but it will mean roughly 30% less sod will be needed to cover a reduced portion of the baseball infield used for soccer games.

United president/CEO Peter Trevisani announced the change Wednesday in a letter to fans on the club’s website. NMU and Isotopes officials said player safety was the primary reason for reorienting the field.

“That’s it, 100%,” Isotopes general manager John Traub said. “There have been some players injured because of the mound, and the Rockies (the Isotopes’ parent club) and Major League Baseball wanted to take action. It’s a relatively minor shift to the field, and hopefully it will be better for both organizations.”

Reducing the amount of sod necessary for United games figures to improve soccer players’ footing. Temporary sod is placed over the baseball infield areas prior to soccer matches and the surface has been problematic at times, particularly during rainy weather. A home match versus LA Galaxy 2 last season was postponed when the infield area was deemed unplayable after the sod absorbed too much water.

In his letter, Trevisani said the change “will increase player safety and provide a better, more consistent fan experience.”

Reorienting the pitch will change the sight lines for some soccer fans, particularly along the ballpark’s first-base line. David Wiese-Carl, United’s director of communications, said the club will accommodate fans who prefer to change seats because of the change.

“Player safety is No. 1, but the fan experience is important, too,” Wiese-Carl said. “We encourage fans to come out Saturday, see the changes and give it a shot, but if they feel strongly about changing seats we’ll work with them.”

Traub said leaving the pitchers’ mound intact between baseball series was the driving force behind reorienting the soccer pitch. He said Isotopes players, visiting teams and umpires have been dissatisfied with the ballpark’s mound since it began being removed and rebuilt frequently during baseball season.

“A mound needs time and heat to harden,” Traub said. “Our grounds crew was having to patch the mound during games and we wanted to get it stabilized. That’s the big thing.”

Traub said the final straw may have come when Isotopes pitcher Ty Blach suffered an ankle injury on the mound during a May 6 home game. Shortly thereafter, officials from the Rockies, Isotopes and United began weighing options that would allow the mound to remain in place.

Officials, players and coaches walked the field and agreed on the reorientation.

“It’s not ideal having to make changes midseason. I get that,” Traub said. “We had to do it with adding safety nets a few years ago, and it’s complicated. But I think everyone’s trying to work together and find the best solution possible.”

Wiese-Carl agreed.

“This is not something we expected, but the Isotopes have been very helpful,” he said. “It won’t change the field dimensions, which was important to us, and less sod is a good thing. We’ll make it work.”

[ABQalex]

The Sunport Boulevard extension project is complete and scheduled to open to traffic tomorrow. The Albuquerque Sunport announced it on its social media accounts yesterday and the local media are reporting this as well, based upon the Sunport's posts.

https://twitter.com/ABQSunport/statu...34730512113672

Great news! The road extension that will continue Sunport Blvd west to (and from) Broadway will be complete and open for use this Friday! Adding just one more way to access/exit your #ABQSunport. Safe travels!

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuq...o-open-friday/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Nearly two years after crews broke ground on the project, the Sunport Boulevard extension will officially open Friday.

The extension will connect Sunport Boulevard to Broadway and offer another way for drivers on I-25 to get to Broadway.

The project broke ground in late September 2021. Then, they estimated construction would cost $20.4 million.

This is the second phase of renovations on Sunport Boulevard.

Crews completed the first phase in April 2021. That phase was a $1.6 million project to widen the southbound ramp and install signals at the ramp intersections.

The extension will feature a sculpture from an artist who already has a design on a pedestrian bridge over I-40 near Coors and a 20-foot sculpture on the main CNM campus.

In December, the Albuquerque International Sunport reported travel increased by 13% over the last year.

Here are screenshots from recent aerial footage of the project by KRQE.







The KOB-TV story mentions the public art piece which will be installed in the median of the new roadway. Bernalillo County in April posted pics on social media of the fabrication of the piece at the artist's studio.

https://twitter.com/BernCounty/statu...84189866061824









Here's a rendering of the finished piece that Bernalillo County posted earlier this year after it was selected from among three finalists out of 22 submittals.

https://twitter.com/BernCounty/statu...74330333335553

[ABQalex]

The Facebook Data Center in Los Lunas posted these pics last week on Facebook showing the construction of the newest structure at the site. This is a project that has been going on for several years and which will continue for the foreseeable future. They've employed about 1,100 construction workers at peak periods and they employ over 300 permanent workers currently, with the possibility that they will permanently employ over 700 people when it is completed. This is a major economic driver in the metro area, especially in Los Lunas, which is now the fastest-growing community in the metro area and the fastest-growing community with over 5,000 people in the state.

https://www.facebook.com/LosLunasDataCenter

[ABQalex]

KOB-TV has a story about Palindrome's La Curva project in West Old Town. It looks like the project may hit a snag having to do with the ownership of the trailer park next to the Motel 21 site. It seems not every one of the property owners is on board with the project and getting rid of the trailer park. It's yet another example of the bad luck we face with having great projects such as this come to fruition in Albuquerque.

The city is also being cagey about the project and their knowledge of it. It seems to me like they just want to avoid any controversy in terms of displacement, which is this administration's M.O.

The one good thing about the story is that we get to see more of the project in a few additional renderings. I hope it ultimately will come to fruition. The developer says that if it gets the help that it is seeking and the go-ahead from the city this summer it would be completed by the end of 2025.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/el-va...along-central/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The people behind the 2018 restoration of El Valdo Motel want to do the same thing to the north side of Central Avenue in Albuquerque.

The vision for “La Curva” – named after where Central curves over the river – is to have a community gathering place, including a food hall, a taproom to show off lowriders, and 315 multifamily apartment units.

However, there’s a big hurdle they have to get over.

The La Curva development plan would put three new buildings on the Siesta Trailer Lodge. One would go right over Jose Salazar’s trailer.

 “You won’t find another cheap place over here in Albuquerque to park a trailer,” said Salazar. 

Jose Salazar has been a resident of the Siesta Trailer Lodge for 17 years and isn’t worried. 

“Like I said, I don’t think they’d be able to touch this place,” said Salazar. 

He says the property owners have owned this land for generations and doesn’t think they will sell.

KOB 4 spoke with two of the family members claiming ownership and they are at odds with what to do with the land.

Whatever happens next, Salazar isn’t sweating it.

Representatives with the city Planning Department say they don’t have any paperwork as the developers have not finished the first step with the pre-application review team.

Meanwhile, the developers are hoping to land some financial assistance from the city this summer.

Palindrome Communities sent KOB 4 a breakdown – part of what they are seeking is:

$8 million from the city’s Department of Family and Community Services

$3 million from the city’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency

They say if the city signs off this summer, work could be finished by the end of 2025 to help the city meet its goal of adding 5,000 places to live before then.

Keith Bandoni, a shareholder of the company that owns the land where Siesta Trailer Lodge operates as a tenant said in a statement: 

“We are early on in the project and looking forward to the possibilities of what this can do for the community as a whole.”

KRQE this evening also had a story saying that the city and YES Housing will break ground on the 1st phase of the Calle Cuarta project on 4th Street in the North Valley tomorrow morning. The mixed-use project will have 61 residential units and 10,000 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space in a 3-story building, along with 4 live/work units in two 2-story structures behind the main structure. The 2nd phase will consist of 21 for-sale affordable townhomes on the narrow strip of land towards the back of the property. This is the culmination of nearly a decade of planning and the city crafting and issuing an RFP and ultimately choosing YES Housing as developer of the project for what was previously known as the Brown Property. It will be great to see it finally get underway!

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...t-albuquerque/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) –The City of Albuquerque will be holding a groundbreaking Tuesday for a new affordable housing development in the Near North Valley. The event will be attended by Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Councilor Isaac Benton, Commissioner Barbara Baca, and other local leaders and take place at 10:00 a.m. at 3525 4th St. NW, the future location of the Calle Cuarta housing development.

It will add 61 new affordable rental units and four live/work units and will feature retail space, a dog park, a playground, a fitness room, and a walking path that will connect to Garfield Middle School.

Above is the new rendering of the project, showing the changes that were made to the design to bring the 3rd floor in a bit. This was done to appease the neighbors and NIMBYs, who said the building was "too monolithic" along 4th Street. Below are two of the original renderings showing the project as first proposed. I don't believe the live/work portion has changed.

[ABQalex]

Downtown Albuquerque News this morning had a story about Titan Development purchasing a property in the Sawmill Area recently, presumably to build a mixed-use project there in the future.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Another prominent developer antes up in Sawmill

Titan Development, whose projects include apartments and a food hall across Central from Presbyterian Hospital (DAN, 4/24/23), has purchased the four-acre parcel shaded above, senior vice president Josh Rogers confirmed.

Plans for the property are TBD for the moment. The tenant, Rugby Architectural Building Products, still has a few years left on its lease, Rogers said. Still, "it's a great piece of real estate with the Sawmill area becoming what it is."

The area has seen significant development in recent years, most notably with the Sawmill Market, the new Tierra Adentro school building, and Explora's X Studio teen center. Plans are also well underway for two new apartment complexes (DAN, 5/22/23) and a new arts center (DAN, 8/30/21).

This is great news and is exactly what I hoped would happen when I saw that this property was for sale earlier this year. I hope Titan will move quickly to develop a firm plan for the property. I know that actual construction is probably a few years off based on the tenant situation and also the economic headwinds that we are facing, but I hope we'll get an inkling of what they will develop there in the next couple of years at least.

DAN back in April also had a story about the Sawmill Community Land Trust gearing up to develop some more projects in the area. They say that they are itching to get back into the development business.

https://downtownalbuquerquenews.com/

Land trust director aims to build new homes

There is plenty to do on a day-to-day basis just to keep things humming at the Sawmill Community Land Trust, which administers three apartment complexes and a portfolio of just over 90 affordable homes under an unusual ownership model. But Margaret Marino, the former director of the nearby New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science who took over as the land trust's executive director in October, has one more thing on her agenda.

"We want to get back into building," she said.

It has been many years since the land trust staged a ribbon cutting ceremony, and getting back to that point does not look to be a quick process: There are regulatory hoops to jump through involving the city and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Then there is the matter of identifying what sort of apartments or houses would be built and where exactly on the organization's property they would go.

Marino said that after laying the groundwork in 2023 it should be possible to move forward in earnest in 2024.

The most obvious areas I see for development are the empty plot next to the Sawmill Lofts and also the lot adjacent to the Artisan at Sawmill Village. That lot was supposed to be developed with 8 for-sale townhomes, according to the published master plan. However, I would prefer to see more apartments built there, to complete the Artisan entirely as a mixed-use, multifamily property.



Also recently in the Sawmill Area, the city unveiled new public art pieces in the storm water ponding area north of the Tierra Adentro school (Building A2 in the site plan above), where a park is supposed to be developed. The public art pieces are oversized, stylized water containers from different eras and cultures.

https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/new...ible-water-use

[ABQalex]

Here's a great aerial pic of Albuquerque posted on Twitter yesterday showing the area around the Big I interchange and looking towards Downtown. In the foreground is Midtown Albuquerque, whose redevelopment plan was recently passed and signed into law.

Along I-25 in the upper left you can see the new Presbyterian Hospital tower addition, and at the west end of Central Avenue near the Rio Grande you can see the Monterey Place project that's nearing completion. This is the same area where La Curva will hopefully be built.

In the upper right edge of the pic you can also see the Sawmill Area near I-40, where so many promising projects are proposed and on the horizon, if only we allow them as a city. And with any luck they will come to fruition despite the uncertain economic times we may be facing soon.

There's never been a better time in Albuquerque for urban development. I have a lot of hope that we will see much improvement in our city in the years ahead!

https://twitter.com/GDLeahy/status/1665480731785588736


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fxz52WsaQAAgkQp.jpg:large

[ABQalex]

The Albuquerque City Council last night voted on the mayor's proposed changes to the IDO (Integrated Development Ordinance) under his Housing Forward initiative. Most of the provisions and changes were passed and left intact, including the relaxation of rules for full kitchens in conversion projects.

It's been hard to get a good and clear accounting of what all was passed, but it looks like the height limits were done away with in the most intense zones (RM-H through MX-H) in the designated centers and corridors across the city. That was the provision I was most excited by and which I most hoped would pass. I'm ecstatic that it looks like it did indeed pass last night.

The provision to allow accessory dwelling units in the R-1 or single family zone that covers most of the city, was also passed. However, the provision to allow duplexes in this same zone was eliminated.

The provision to eliminate parking minimums was also done away with. However, it looks like instead the parking minimums were reduced by 75 percent in the mixed-use zones, MX-L through MX-H. That's according to my reading of the bill directly from last night's city council meeting agenda. It's a jumble of words in formal, proclamation format. It also includes both the original text of the bill along with the proposed amendments, so it's hard to follow and understand, but I believe that was what eventually passed last night in the final bill.

As per usual our local media has been unreliable and incomplete in their reporting of what was passed last night, but it looks like most of the Housing Forward initiative survived and I'm happy with that.

Below are a link to the bill and proclamation from the city's website, along with two quotes of the provisions that I was most concerned with, the parking minimums and height limits.

https://cabq.legistar.com/gateway.as...2d0a57fee4.pdf

SECTION 4. AMEND THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO
ELIMINATE BUILDING HEIGHT MAXIMUMS FOR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT AND MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT.
A. Revise Table 5-1-1 by replacing the Workforce Housing Bonus in the R-
MH zone district with the following text:
“No maximum building height for multi-family residential development”
B. Revise Table 5-1-2 by replacing the Workforce Housing Bonus in Mixed-
use zone districts with the following text:
“No maximum building height for multi-family residential development
or mixed-use development”

SECTION 6. ADD A PARKING REDUCTION FOR MULTI-FAMILY
DWELLINGS IN MIXED-USE ZONE DISTRICTS. Add a new subsection in §14-
16-5-5(C)(5) with text as follows:
"Reduction for Multi-family Dwellings in Mixed-use Zone Districts
The minimum number of off-street parking spaces required by Table 5-1-1
may be reduced by 75 percent if a proposed multi-family dwelling is located in
any Mixed-use zone district."

These are the biggest changes to the IDO since it first came into being back in 2018. The IDO itself was the biggest rewriting of the city's zoning code since we adopted our current form of government back in the early 1970s. The IDO was a form-based rewriting of the city's zoning code and it formally expressed the city's desire and policy to capture most of our growth in designated urban centers and corridors where dense development was both desired and supposed to be allowed by right.

I've been annoyed and angered over the years to see NIMBYs try to roll back those rights to dense development in these designated areas and to use the annual IDO update process to achieve their aims. I'm glad that last night our city council strengthened and added back more teeth to the IDO to see that vision of a more dense city come to reality.

Here's a nice recent pic by Ben Bunner of Downtown Albuquerque that I thought I'd share to celebrate the changes that were made to the IDO last night. Here's to our city becoming more dense and hopefully alleviating our housing crisis with these changes!

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...&id=1601684384

[ABQalex]

Here are some pictures of the new Tesla facility on Santa Ana Pueblo that Matt Oberer (Mattophoto) posted on his LinkedIn account yesterday. It's the second Tesla dealership and service facility to open in New Mexico, both of which are on Indian reservations, due to the state's prohibition on direct auto sales. The first one is on Nambé Pueblo north of Santa Fe.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update...0993836310529/

















The new Tesla facility is located next to the Santa Ana Star Casino Hotel and is part of the new commercial developments that the tribe has been building along US Highway 550 west of the Rio Grande. C-Money over at SSC recently posted some renderings and site plans for upcoming projects that the tribe is planning for this land. The plans include more commercial space around the Tesla facility, as well as a 336-unit multi-family project and a very cool riverside amphitheater and boardwalk that would be incredible to see come to fruition. I hope it does!









KOB-TV recently had a story about another project in this area on the Rio Rancho side of Highway 550. The Block is a shipping container community that is being built in a corner of the Plaza @ Enchanted Hills Shopping Center. It got underway last year and they say it is about halfway done, but they've faced delays due to weather and other obstacles.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/const...ancho-delayed/

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Construction on “The Block” in Enchanted Hills Plaza is about 50% complete right now.

The shipping container park was originally supposed to be ready by the fall, but crews say they’ve run into some delays.

“The project was a little delayed from the beginning. We had some permit issues and late design issues,” said Derek Schlegel, a Jaynes Corp. superintendent of The Block Project. 

Pushing the targeted completion out to December or January, with a potential opening date in the spring.

“But things have gotten started really well,” said Schlegel. 

Crews say it’s been a bit of an uphill battle with some of the weather they’ve had to work through.

“Remember those days we had a week where we have to date 75 mile an hour winds was really challenging, keeping material stacked and secure, and trash type material,” Schlegel said. 

Now that that’s settled down, they’re gearing up for heat.

“Wearing long-sleeved shirts, cotton. Drink lots of water throughout the day,” said Schlegel. 

Schlegel says he’s confident Enchanted Hills residents will soon be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

“The courtyard will be very cool. It will be more of an entertainment type of courtyard there will be a big stage, a nice projection screen where they can show movies, music, entertainment,” said Schlegel. 

Crews assured us whatever changes they make over the next several months – the view is here to stay.

Also at the Plaza @ Enchanted Hills, the City of Rio Rancho recently opened its Hub facility in a former big box store. The Hub is a combination library branch and community center with recreation facilities such as indoor pickleball courts.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/the-h...in-rio-rancho/

RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Last year, The Hub at Enchanted Hills was mostly wooden beams and concrete floors, but after several months of hard work, it is finally ready for a grand opening.

While the ribbon-cutting ceremony will not happen until 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the new library and rec center have been open to the public since mid-May.

“We did the soft opening because we had the place 90% done,” said Jason Shoup, the director of Library and Information Services for the City of Rio Rancho. “We’ve been averaging about 120 people a day showing up here. We’ve made almost 300 new library cards for folks since we’ve been open for this past month.”

The pickleball courts were packed ahead of the official opening as well.

“We love an indoor court,” said Abbie Nelson, a woman playing on the court for the first time with her friends. “It’s nice to play in an air-conditioned space because it’s kind of toasty outside.”

Another woman brought her two granddaughters to play a few rounds.

“We came over here one Saturday when they opened and checked out books, and they enjoyed the library, and I was very interested in the pickleball courts,” Wanda Robinson said. “So, we signed up for the lessons that day.”

“Once you get a really good trainer, the trainer will teach you everything you know and you’ll get used to it,” Wanda’s granddaughter, Monica Rowley, said.

The Hub’s grand opening is just one of the new developments in the fast-growing Enchanted Hills neighborhood, with new businesses popping up in the plaza – including a Five Below – and construction on the repurposed shipping container project known as “The Block” underway.

“We’ve had great success out here, and we’re going to see a lot more success in the future,” Rio Rancho City Councilor Bob Tyler said.

“It’s a fantastic location,” Shoup added. “We’re so close to 550, so close to the expressway. People can stop by here on their way home. They’re coming in to do shopping at the grocery stores – it puts us right in the middle of things and hopefully makes us very accessible for folks.”

Shoup said more progress is on the way for The Hub too.

“The big one that we’re that we’re excited to see finally come in is the walls for the pickleball courts in the rec center,” he said. “So people can, you know, bounce the pickleball off and really play and make some noise without disrupting the library too much.”

“There’s going to be future growth and hopefully, people start utilizing the meeting space and whatnot,” Tyler added. “So, it’s going to be busy.”

City reps said all the amenities at The Hub are free, and they cannot wait for more of the public to discover what the community center has to offer.

[ABQalex]

The new Sunport Boulevard extension had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. The new public art piece for the project was also officially unveiled to the public during the ceremony. It sits in the median on the west side of the interchange with I-25 at the top of the new roadway that goes down into the valley towards Broadway Boulevard.

Below is a story from KOB-TV about the ceremony.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/offic...ard-extension/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s about to get easier to drive to and from the Albuquerque International Sunport.

“This is more access to an area, which will really bring different kinds of development – and this is where we’re gonna grow in District 2,” said Steven Michael Quezada, District 2 county commissioner.

The Sunport Boulevard extension project cost $20 million to construct and took under two years to build. However, county leaders have discussed it for more than a decade.

“Little did I know that 13 years of my career would be spent on this project,” said Rodrigo Eichwald, the engineering program manager.

The extension connects Sunport Boulevard to Broadway, creating another way to get to or leave the airport.

The extension addresses a clear need – Sunport officials say travel increased by 13% last year.

“The Sunport extension is the key to unlocking the economic development and potential in the South Broadway corridor. This connection completes the transportation loop formed by Rio Bravo, Broadway and Sunport Boulevards along the I-25 corridor,” said Elias Archuleta, the deputy county manager at Bernalillo County Public Works.

A new, 20-foot sculpture will also greet drivers passing through the extension. Local artist Karen Yank designed it with $60,000 in voter-approved bonds for arts.

“It’s a dream of mine. I’ve lived in New Mexico for 35 years and it’s the first big sculpture project near the airport that’s come up,” Yank said.

“This is the future of the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. In my opinion, this is the future of the state of New Mexico,” Commissioner Quezada said.

Here are a few aerial pics of the project that Bernalillo County posted on the project page on its website. There are various construction pics on the project page as well

https://www.bernco.gov/public-works/...hange-project/









Here are a few pics of the new public art piece that Bernalillo County posted on its website and Twitter account. The public art piece is titled "Where the Earth meets the Sky"

https://twitter.com/BernCounty/statu...99615521943552

[ABQalex]

KRQE tonight had a story about UNM's plans for developing and redeveloping the South Campus and various other parcels around the Main Campus, including the lot that was recently cleared at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and University Boulevard.

This coincides with the recent TIFF district that was signed into law by the governor for the South Campus. It's hoped that the new TIFF funding will finally kickstart the long-anticipated transformation of the South Campus that has had various proposals come and go over the last 10-15 years.

There has been some development along the Gibson corridor but nothing as grand or coordinated as UNM has envisioned for the overall plot of land.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerqu...mpus-location/

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The University of New Mexico has released plans for what it hopes its south campus and a prime spot on Central next to the main campus will look like in the not-too-distant future.

UNM’s grand plans include transforming University and Central and using a lot and building as a complement to the main building across the street. The development would run two blocks down Central but wouldn’t just be an educational space. The so-called “Gibson Town Center” would also add affordable housing, retail, and a grocery store along University south of The Pit. It would also spruce up the area with walkways, parks, plazas, and improvements.

It would also add jobs to the area. “The additional commercial development will also catalyze over 300 million private sector investment into the district, and create additional 3200 jobs,” said Garnett Stokes, UNM President.

The plans to improve UNM’s South Campus have been years in the making with UNM working with the city and county on tax breaks to help spur the development.

The UNM land that it hopes to redevelop includes the southeast corner/gateway to the Main Campus at Girard and Central where a new public art piece/monument was installed and unveiled at the beginning of the year. Below are pics of the new UNM "Monogram" as it's being called.

https://news.unm.edu/news/unm-unveil...ral-and-girard



https://twitter.com/ProfBenavidez/st...82420066660355



https://twitter.com/ProfBenavidez/st...88103189082112





This land was apparently being proposed for a new Target on Campus store location back in 2019 before the pandemic. Who knows how realistic or firm those plans were but I assume they are now off the table.

https://www.lobodevelopmentcorp.com/...al-and-girard/



Here's a link to Target's website where they talk about these small-format stores on or near college campuses that they began rolling out in 2017. I'm not sure how they fared after the pandemic and if they are still planning and building them.

https://corporate.target.com/article...-campus-stores

Also, the project bonds for the new College of Fine Arts center were approved by voters last fall. The project is apparently a go and I expect will get underway in the next year or so. The most recent news I can find about it was a mention in an article about UNM's budget for the upcoming fiscal year that was approved last month.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/loca...359482e80.html

The University of New Mexico's budget for the upcoming fiscal year reached two eye-popping milestones: the main campus' budget topped $1 billion and the consolidated budget, which includes the university's massive health system, jumped 9.2% from the year before and was set at nearly $4.1 billion. Jeremy Hamlin, the director of the university's Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis, said the main campus' large increase is fueled, in part, by the Opportunity Scholarship and large construction and improvement projects. The projects are included in the "plant funds budget," which in the fiscal year 2024 is expected to be $189 million. Plant funds are included the main campus' operating budget. Some of the big ticket items in the plant funds in the 2024 budget are two new buildings: a Center for Collaborative Arts & Technology and a College of Population Health building. The Opportunity Scholarship will funnel about $80 million to UNM the upcoming fiscal year, which starts June 1, according to budget documents. All told, the main campus' budget next year will be $1.1 billion. That budget includes $392 million for instruction and general expenses, $225 million in student aid, $124 million in research and $40 million for athletics.