Albuquerque Development Thread

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Work has begun at the Silver Moon Lodge Apartments in downtown ABQ.

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Can Albuquerque become a walkable city?

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

The greater Albuquerque area is about 400 square miles, its residential and commercial developments generally spread out far and wide.

The most populous city in the U.S. — New York City — is about 468 square miles, but it is also considered one of the country’s most walkable, along with San Francisco and Boston.

Anyone that’s lived in the Albuquerque area for any length of time will tell you it’s often difficult to get around without a vehicle. Still, there are neighborhoods that are considered walkable, mostly the areas between Old Town and Nob Hill along Route 66. Even so, our city’s quadrants are often accessed by two of the country’s longest interstates — I-40 and I-25 — that intersect the sprawling metro. Author Jeff Speck, a city planner and architectural designer who advocates for cities to develop through smart growth and sustainable design, argues that developing transient-friendly municipalities makes good economic sense. Speck, the author of “Walkable City,” published last year, will be in Albuquerque next month for a free event.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...00934&page=all

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Berry asks Udall for help on De Anza project

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry has asked Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., for assistance on the proposed redevelopment of the De Anza Motor Lodge on Central Avenue.

The rehabilitation of the De Anza, which is owned by the city, is in jeopardy after historical tax credits that would be applied to the cost of the development were denied last month.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...a.html?ana=twt

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Company picked for Paseo del Norte/I-25 project

Dan Mayfield
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

There were dozens, then three, and by Sunday, only one company remained in the quest to take over the Paseo/I-25 interchange program.

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, flanked by representatives from Bernalillo County, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and others, announced that Kiewit New Mexico/Bohannan Huston Inc./Terracon team had won the bid to construct the new $93 million roads project.

The design build project will be the largest public works project in the city since the reconstruction of the Big-I interchange about 10 years ago.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...0&t=1375714382

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Summerfest in downtown ABQ.

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Things looking up for ABQ's Downtown

Updated: Saturday, 03 Aug 2013, 12:01 PM MDT
Published : Friday, 02 Aug 2013, 10:24 PM MDT
Amanda Goodman

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Downtown Albuquerque is buzzing with multiple major construction projects underway all at once.

"I've never seen this much building going on Downtown at once so its super exciting," said Downtown Action Team Executive Director Debbie Stover.

Currently there are five projects in the works.

Starting at the west end of Downtown on Central and 15th Street a new bank is going in.

A few blocks east of the bank will be a new apartment complex.

"When I see something getting built, I get happy. I think its pretty exciting there's new businesses coming in and more foot traffic," said Downtown Business Owner Tommy Ill.

In the heart of Downtown, the long-delayed and much anticipated Anasazi Building, which will be home to retail and residences alike.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/busines...erway-downtown

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Anasazi redevelopment interior work begins

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

Downtown Albuquerque’s nine-story Anasazi high-rise development is wrapping up the first phase of the property’s overhaul and has begun to move on to a second phase of work.

The first phase was a $1 million exterior renovation headed by Albuquerque’s AIC General Contractor. That phase included painting, new stucco, the installation of balcony rails, sheeting and repair of the sidewalk around the building.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...s.html?ana=twt

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I found this rendering of the proposed downtown ABQ grocery.



http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/18041...lbuquerque-NM/

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Plan could determine future of Westside development

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

A strategy that could set the course for long-term development on Albuquerque’s Westside moved forward this week.

The City Council unanimously approved the third and final sector development plan for Volcano Heights in the Volcano Mesa area August 5. Volcano Heights comprises about 570 acres of raw land near the city’s northwest mesa.

The plan calls for a mixed-use, walkable environment as part of a larger plan to reduce traffic congestion on the west side. It seeks to replace existing residential zoning with mixed-use zoning and provide incentives to attract employment and urban development.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...0&t=1375972057

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Downtown’s former One Up converted to office space

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

After the One Up Elevated Lounge in Downtown Albuquerque closed its doors late last year, there was some speculation that another lounge-themed business would move in. Instead, the space has been converted into offices and is now the new home to Real Time Solutions.

Real Time is a Web design and content and documents management company with 22 employees. The firm moved into the 8,500-square-foot site Aug. 1 after the space on the second floor of 301 Central Ave. NW was redesigned. Owned by Compass Realty, it includes open areas, no cubicles, two pool tables, a recreation room, kitchen, small conference rooms and plenty of natural light.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...medium=twitter

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Breaking Bad's chemistry cooks up tourism in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Town seeks to attract more TV, movie production as series ends

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s been five years of meth addicts, deadly shootings, violent drug traffickers and hidden secrets of the desert.

And throughout the filming of AMC hit television series Breaking Bad in Albuquerque, interest in this Southwestern U.S. city from tourists has grown and local businesses have sought to cash in. A doughnut shop sells treats laced with blue “meth” toppings, for example, while a bike rental business gives tours of characters’ favourite spots.

But now that Breaking Bad is returning for its final episodes, Albuquerque shops and tourist attractions are trying to take advantage of the popular show’s last moments before the series fades from memory.

The city’s visitors’ bureau hosted a watch party Sunday for the premiere of the last season’s first episode, drawing more than 450 fans. Stores held specials to sell Breaking Bad memorabilia. There was even a Breaking Bad marathon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Albuquerque, followed by mass, then its own watch party for the last season’s premiere.

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertai...665/story.html

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ABQ Convention Center Rendering



http://www.cabq.gov/mayor/priorities...Flags.jpg/view

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ABQ Convention Center remodel.

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Lunch time photo.

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Work on the exterior of the Anasazi nearly complete.

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From the Winrock Town Center's Facebook.
Dave & Busters at Winrock Town Center has a tentative open date of Early Summer 2014


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Winro...46467532047020

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Albuquerque's diversity, or not.



http://demographics.coopercenter.org/DotMap/index.html

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Blue Cross parent gobbles up 85,000 SF with North I-25 lease deal

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

The parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has closed a deal to lease almost 85,000 square feet of office space in the North I-25 corridor.

The square footage of the space at 4411 The 25 Way makes it one of the biggest office deals in the Duke City in recent years. It should give a major boost to the city’s office market, which has been bogged down by a high vacancy rate in recent years, hovering at about 18 percent.

Brian Chernett, Dan Maslauski, Michael Sessa and Marti Nemer with Jones Lang LaSalle represented Health Care Service Corp., Blue Cross’ parent company, in the seven-year lease transaction. Scott Whitefield and Terri Dettweiler with CBRE represented the landlord, Senior Housing Properties Trust. The property is managed by Reit Management & Research LLC, Real Estate Services, CBRE said. Additional terms of the lease were not disclosed.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq....html?page=all

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Future of 4th Street Mall in limbo
City Council plans to connect 4th Street, Copper Avenue

http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/...medium=twitter

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Albuquerque high-rise sold to LA company

Damon Scott
Reporter-
Albuquerque Business First

An iconic Albuquerque office building has sold to a Los Angeles real estate company. The Bank of the West building at 5301 Central Ave. NE and the nearby Two Park Central Tower at 300 San Mateo Blvd. NE were sold to ICO Development LLC.

The price of the purchase was not disclosed, but the asking price was $19.25 million. ICO is a real estate development and management company with a portfolio of more than 4 million square feet of commercial, retail and industrial properties.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerq...a.html?ana=twt