UNM, City of Albuquerque working to expand university's presence downtown
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque's continued quest to bring more people downtown now has it partnering with the University of New Mexico in an idea to expand the university's presence on a parking lot that's long been eyed for redevelopment.
Story continues below
Local: Bryan Cranston makes surprise visit to Albuquerque 'Breaking Bad' store
Crime: 12 horses at All American Futurity had illicit drug in their system
DWI Scandal: Prominent ABQ attorney admits to running 'DWI Enterprise' scandal
The city signed an agreement with UNM saying they'll work together to try to build a downtown presence for the university near Civic Plaza but there are still a lot of questions about what that could look like.
'I think Civic Plaza can serve as a really nice hub for university students,' said CABQ Metro Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner.
That vision is now one step closer to reality as the city and UNM look to partner on a downtown Lobo expansion. 'The idea is we will bring academic pursuits, offices, housing, and other university attributes and assets to the downtown area,' said David Campbell, Lobo Development Corporation.
Those ideas are still in the planning process but the city is offering this parking lot across from Civic Plaza at 3rd and Marquette for the possible expansion. There are also mostly vacant buildings nearby like the Galeria building and the old Bernalillo County courthouse but this isn't the first time the university has built something downtown.
'This new initiative builds upon our existing downtown projects, like the Lobo Rainforest, and opens new avenues for education, research, and community engagement,' said Garnett Stokes, UNM president.
As of now, they don't have a solid idea of what university majors or programs could go in the potential downtown campus but they say the idea has worked in other southwest cities like Phoenix. 'We're not concerned essentially about the details about what particular major comes down here or student or things like that or where they go. We just want UNM and downtown connected as a symbol of strength and a symbol of growth,' said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
Other developers with downtown properties say they're excited about what the future might look like. '505 Central Food Hall, we look forward to feeding all of those students and faculty and staff down there and serving delicious food. So thanks again for this commitment to downtown, and we really appreciate it,' said Mark Baker, developer.
The terms of the city and UNM's new deal don't commit to any deadlines and also don't guarantee that UNM will build a downtown presence but UNM is expected to determine the feasibility of the idea.
Previous failed ideas to redevelop that lot across from Civic Plaza have included building a skyscraper on it called the 'Symphony Tower' and building a space-focused technology hub there.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
New Mexico launches energy efficiency loan program
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — Companies and nonprofits can now get help from the state to become energy efficient. The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department has launched a new program providing low-interest loans worth $250,000 to $1 million dollars. Story continues below News: Surveillance video captures crash involving off-duty officer that severely injured man Events: What's happening around New Mexico June 6-12? Albuquerque Pride Parade New Mexico Strange: Holy dirt and healing water: A look at NM's miraculous locations EMNRD received $5.3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to create the EnergyEfficiency Revolving Loan Fund (EERLF). The program offers loans at a fixed rate of 2% to cover energy efficiency upgrades such as smart thermostats, new HVAC systems, insulation, air sealing, lighting, and building envelope improvements. 'This loan fund is one more way we are supporting Gov. Lujan Grisham's goal of boosting NewMexico's economy while also protecting its environment,' said EMNRD Sec. MelanieKenderdine. 'These loans will ensure the recipients' economic viability by lowering the costsfor building upgrades while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprints.' Eligible organizations include nonprofit or for-profit entities owning or operating commercial buildings that serve a public service, such as education, recreation, healthcare or cultural services. To be eligible, organizations must show half of their revenue is earned in New Mexico, or half of their services are provided in the state. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
New nonprofit forms to confront health care, economic challenges in New Mexico
Jun. 5—A new nonprofit has emerged, intending to deliver measurable progress on New Mexico's most urgent and longstanding issues. Imagine New Mexico, led by Steve Moise, officially launched this week. The nonprofit will use a mix of data-based modeling and collaborations with other nonprofit organizations to improve results in the areas of health care, education, public safety, economic growth and poverty reduction, Moise said in an interview. "We will devote whatever time is necessary to making these changes work," said Moise, the former state investment officer with the New Mexico State Investment Council. "This is a multi-year initiative." The nonprofit is the result of Moise's commitment to improving on some of New Mexico's urgent issues, which he was made aware of, he said, about 40 years ago at an Economic Forum of Albuquerque meeting he attended as a young lawyer. He said the forum presentation highlighted how New Mexico ranked in various areas compared to other states, revealing the state's underperformance. "I became very concerned. I became upset. And I went home that night and said to (my late wife), 'I'm going to do what I can to make this state what it's capable of being. It may not be until I retire, but I hope I'll be able to address it.'" Moise said he began to research what other states and cities were doing "to help self-actualize them, make them all they were capable of being." "And I said, 'We're going to put together some of these ideas and make them right for New Mexico.'" The way Imagine New Mexico ultimately works is through a data-driven approach. The nonprofit's website, includes a dashboard — made in partnership with the University of New Mexico's Prevention Research Center — dedicated to tracking economic, education, crime and health care indicators. Imagine New Mexico will then collaborate with nonprofits in each of those areas and "will challenge them to collaborate to improve" those trackable results, Moise said. Imagine New Mexico will first focus on health care, aiming to form partnerships with nonprofits in that arena, Moise said. "We have a health care advisory group — a couple of physicians and some others that are advising us," Moise said. "And with all these people who know New Mexico so well, we'll be able to select the nonprofits, and then they can work on finding the right indicators." Imagine New Mexico's board consists of a distinguished group of residents from across the state, including board Vice President Mark Benak of the Sandia Foundation. The board also features former Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keyes, PGA Tour alum Notah Begay III, University of New Mexico Regent Christina Campos, and former State Treasurer Doug Brown. The nonprofit launched with funding from organizations including the Anchorum Health Foundation, The Frost Foundation, the Sandia Foundation and the Yates family-run PY Foundation.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Sandia Peak Tramway to hold fundraiser to honor APD K-9 killed in the line of duty
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Sandia Peak Tramway will host a fundraiser honoring an Albuquerque police dog killed in the line of duty. K-9 Rebel was shot and killed as police tried to arrest a man at the Comfort Suites near the Albuquerque International Sunport last Thursday. Librarian at The University of New Mexico works to install telehealth booths in libraries This Monday, the tram will launch Rides for Rebel, where the tram will donate $1 from every ticket to APD's K-9 unit. If you can't make it to the fundraiser, you can donate at this link. APD is expected to reveal more on how those donations will be used on Friday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
