Archives for June 2013

More than four years after construction crews broke ground at the site of the new Judge Steve Herrera Judicial Complex in downtown Santa Fe, the over-budget, $63 million building opened its doors to the public Monday.
The 103,000-square-foot, multistory courthouse, completed after years of setbacks and funding shortfalls, was filled with people taking in the pristine building. “Beautiful,” said Larry Neto of Santa Fe, who attended a family member’s court hearing Monday morning, though he complained about one of the most controversial aspects of the planning that went into the brand new complex — the lack of public parking.
“Parking is horrendous,” Neto said. “I was surprised to see absolutely no parking spots. When someone eventually finds a spot, they will have missed their hearing.”
Santa Fe County deputies Monday morning repeatedly had to wave off people trying to pull into the building’s underground parking garage, which is reserved for court personnel, government lawyers and law enforcement. The Santa Fe County Commission last year voted to eliminate public parking in the 150-space, two-level underground garage after security concerns were raised by the District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’re trying to do all we can to alleviate the parking situation in light of the County Commission’s decision,” First Judicial District Chief Judge Raymond Ortiz said Monday. From the beginning, Ortiz had supported allotting 40 spaces to the public in the garage.
Ortiz said court administrators are working with the city shuttle program to transport people from public parking areas such as the Railyard and Capitol garages. Ortiz said the shuttle, already making daily trips around the downtown area, would add additional stops at the courthouse and the Capitol garage.
Both garages are within a quarter-mile of the new courthouse and offer more than 1,500 parking spaces, although the parking garage at the Roundhouse would be unavailable during legislative sessions. Also within a quarter-mile of the courthouse are 544 metered parking spaces, according to figures provided by the city. That’s almost double the metered spaces available around the old courthouse, the city said, though there also is a 500-space underground garage immediately across Grant Avenue from that building, under the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.
Local businesses around the new courthouse welcome its opening after years of dealing with construction and delays…
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By: Nico Roesler (Santa Fe New Mexican)
 

The Rio Rancho Governing Body is set to consider special taxing districts for a proposed subdivision and a contract renewal with Santa Ana Star Center management contractor Global Spectrum at its meeting Wednesday.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 3200 Civic Center Circle.
The agenda includes several items dealing with the proposed residential Stonegate subdivision, to be located about a mile south of City Center, between Montezuma Boulevard and Cardiff Avenue; residential Milagro Mesa subdivision and commercial and residential Tierra del Oro subdivision, according to city information. All three subdivisions are north of Northern, east of Unser and south of Paseo del Volcan.
The New Mexico developer, Coal Bank Holdings, is requesting a public improvement district (PID), a tax increment development district (TIDD) and impact fee credits for constructing infrastructure, according to the information. The governing body is to decide whether to accept the PID and TIDD applications and feasibility studies for further consideration.
The PID would involve only Stonegate and would finance the construction of roads, sewer collection facilities and lines, water lines, storm drains and parks. Unlike the troubled Mariposa East PID, the Stonegate PID would use a special levy structure, which is limited to an amount specified before bonds are issued and eliminates the risk of large increases in property taxes and other levies, according to the information.
The TIDD would include all three subdivisions, planned to have a total of 1,086 single-family homes, 95 townhomes, 238 multi-family units and almost 10 acres of commercial property. Under the proposal, the TIDD would provide gross receipts tax money to pay for a sewer interceptor line, a regional storm drain and construction of parts of Montezuma Boulevard and Cardiff Avenue…
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By Argen Duncan (Rio Rancho Observer)

Soon you will see the start of work on a new, $2.78 million downtown apartment complex.
The three-story, 38-apartments facility called The Lofts at Alameda is scheduled to be built at the corner of Alameda Boulevard and Court Avenue, right next to the new Sun-News building.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the facility is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday.
“It’s really the first of it’s kind complex to be offered in the Las Cruces downtown area,” said Charles Dow, a physician and a member of the ownership group. “The location is perfect for business clientele who work and want to live downtown. The downtown revitalization has only begun and this project will serve as a catalyst for further development in the near future.”
In addition to Dow, other members of the ownership group include doctors Tim McComas and Don Marketto as well as Robert Sandoval, owner of RHines Construction — also the general contractor on the project — as well as Royal Jones, owner of Mesilla Valley Transportation, and John Hummer, owner of Steinborn Real Estate.
The architect for the project is Dekker Perich Sabatini.
“I got interested in the project because I know it is a unique opportunity to help the downtown area grow,” McComas said. “The area will be well served by new housing choices for those who already work downtown. Now that the city has invested in downtown revival, there should be new exciting places to live available there to continue the interest ummer reports that The Lofts at Alameda will showcase loft-style features such as high ceilings, exposed coiled duct work and attractive interiors. Each unit will have modern, energy efficient appliances including a washer and dryer. Every loft apartment will have balconies facing Cort Avenue.
The top floors will feature upgraded units with views of the Organ Mountains and/or the Alameda Historic area, West Mesa and Picacho Peak.
There were initial plans for a possible coffee shop or similar commercial space, but Hummer said there will not be one.
“I think it’s location and the timing will be great,” Jones said. “It’s really a nice little part of town and close to beautiful Pioneer Park along with those really nice old homes in that area and walking distance to any jobs in the downtown area.”
Rent for 1-bedroom, 1-bath apartments is expected to start at $725 per month and for 2-bedroom, 2-bath units to start at $840 per month. Price will rise depending on location and view.
For more information, go online to the website loftsatalameda.com.
ByL Brook Stockberger (Las Cruces Sun-News)
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The 8,470-square-foot phase one of a new medical complex is nearing completion. Mark Edwards, the leasing agent of the project and president of Edwards Commercial Realty, said the project should be completed by the end of June.
“This serves an underserved area,” Edwards said. “Urology was underserved. A medical complex creates flexibility and versatility for Corrales, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque’s west side and even north Albuquerque. We want this to be a one-stop medical clinic development.”
Named Pinnacle Point, the medical office center is located at 4410 Irving Blvd, near Eagle Ranch NW. Other neighboring centers are the Presbyterian Rust Medical Center and Lovelace Westside Hospital. It’s designed to total approximately 16,000 square feet on 1.7 acres with a calculated cost of $1.3 million. Phase two consists of a development of about 7,300 square feet.
The anchor tenant, Albuquerque Urology Associates, will occupy 5,290 square feet. The remaining 3,167 square feet are divided into two offices and will be available for lease for other medical practices. Leasing discussions with medical labs, dentists, ophthalmologists and dermatologists have been initiated, reported Edwards. “We are focused on leasing units or structuring leases with purchase options that could be exercised as early as mid-2016,” he said.
The office space can be leased in an unfinished, heated shell form starting at $16 per square foot. For special improvements the rental rate can jump up to $21 per square foot, but tenants also have the option to hire contractors to build out the interior. The option to lease the space through loans is also available. Suits range from 1,368 to 7,228 square feet.
The architect is Tijeras-based AKT Architects and the general contractor is local Richardson & Richardson.
By: Anca Gagiuc (Commercial Property Executive)
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