The Symphony Tower is not dead, it is now called The Duke and it was re-submitted for the Civic North RFP by Geltmore! I requested the files for the proposals to the new RFP from the city, which I finally received late last week. Two of the proposals include a new tallest building and two include a new performing arts center. The new proposals are all very exciting, we just have to hope that this pandemic doesn't quash this RFP and that the city will do all it can to help make one of these three proposals a reality! Below are renderings and details of the three submissions the city received for the Civic North RFP:
The Duke, proposed by Geltmore, LLC. Architecture is by Dekker/Perich/Sabatini and Callison RTKL. It includes a 34-story mixed-use tower that would rise more than 400 feet. The proposal includes 73,000 sq ft of office space, 17,000 sq ft of commercial space, at least 30 condo units and 160 hotel rooms. It will include 70 underground parking spaces for residential tenants and 515 above-ground parking spaces for office and commercial tenants, hotel guests and the general public. The new proposal states that they may build full-height parking structure floors in order to be able to convert them in the future to some other use. The proposal also states that if there is strong demand they may add additional floors of office space besides the two currently counted in the proposal. Both of these things mean that the final height of the building may rise even higher! Another addition in this new version of the proposal is for a temporary busker park on the western half of the block where another mixed-use building is eventually planned. There will also be a small park and two-story restaurant and food pavilion at the entry and base of the building, which is what they are counting as the public amenity for the new RFP requirements. The estimated cost of the project is $116 million.
New Mexico Performing Arts Center and AC by Marriott Hotel, proposed by GTS Development Services of Salt Lake City, with official involvement by the New Mexico Philharmonic, which will be responsible for programming of the new venue. The hotel developer is PEG Development of Provo, Utah. Architecture is by The Hartman + Majewski Design Group and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The plan includes a multi-use theater with 2,350 seats, the smaller Studio Theater with 300 seats, a winter garden lobby that can also host performances, restaurant, retail and gallery space, and a 150-room hotel. A destination restaurant will be developed and operated by Vince DiGregory of the Standard Diner and Range Cafe, he will also be responsible for leasing of the commercial space. This will be the new home of the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra and it will be the resident company. The proposal states other local performing arts organizations will also call it home and that they are in talks with the Santa Fe Opera to perhaps have performances at the theater. The developer previously developed the Eccles Theater in Downtown Salt Lake City, which is the model for this proposal. There is no parking included in the proposal. The estimated cost of the proposal is $201 million. $165 million of that is the cost for the theater portion, which is important, because the proposal calls for that portion to be financed publicly.
Reunion Center, proposed by a local team including Argus Investment Realty, AIM Management Corporation, Sedberry & Associates and Legacy Development and Hospitality. Architecture is by FBT Architects and Callison RTKL. The proposal includes a multi-use theater with 2,500 seats, black box theater with 200 seats, 220-room hotel with 10,770 sq ft of restaurant and retail space, and 117 residential units. The residential units will be on the top 14 floors of the 29-story tower, that they say will be the tallest building in the city and state! The hotel will be either a Westin, Marriott or other similar such top-tier brand. Part of the proposal includes improving the pedestrian connections and public realm along Roma Ave. and 3rd St. to better connect with the Convention Center to the southeast and Bank of the West Center/Elevate to the north. The proposal includes 427 underground parking spaces in two levels. The estimated cost of the proposal is $296 million.
Some of the team behind the Reunion Center proposal are also the developers of Elevate @ 3rd + Lomas. I love that they included it in their renderings and plans. I love the Reunion Center proposal, period! It's my favorite of the three. It has everything, where the other two lack certain elements. The Duke lacks a performing arts center and New Mexico Performing Arts Center lacks a residential component. Reunion Center would also give us another new tallest building, while NMPAC lacks height. The Duke gives us our best chance at a really substantial new tallest of possibly as much as about 500 feet tall. But Reunion Center is just fantastic overall. I'd be happy with a new tallest that isn't much taller than Albuquerque Plaza while also giving us all the rest, mostly a new performing arts center. This is all very exciting! Above all, I just hope we will get something out of this RFP to move our downtown further and give us great momentum! My fingers are crossed!
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