Latest news with #JoaquinBaca
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New proposal looks to bring more housing, hotel, and entertainment to Old Town
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A significant new project is on the horizon, aiming to bring new housing, attract tourists, and create more jobs in the Sawmill District. Story continues below Crime: Albuquerque business owner faces murder charge for shooting fleeing shoplifter News: Las Vegas deputy charged with aggravated battery and robbery Business: A downtown Albuquerque shoe shine parlor is still serving patrons after nearly a century Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 30-June 5? Kirtland Air Fiesta and more Old Town is thriving, and the Sawmill area is also experiencing growth. The Sawmill Market has become a staple in the Old Town area and is looking to expand further. This new development will greatly enhance the area, particularly with the desperately needed market-rate housing. The proposed multimillion-dollar project will go before the city council and consists of three major components: a new hotel, an extended-stay residential complex, and a mixed-use development. The Sawmill Hotel will feature 115 rooms, including 10 suites, as well as restaurants and conference space. It is expected to create 90 new jobs. The Chaco Residences, an extended-stay complex, will provide 107 guest rooms, wellness areas, and meeting facilities, creating an additional 103 jobs. Moreover, the Sawmill mixed-use development will add 140 apartments, retail space, and entertainment venues, generating another 103 jobs for the city. City Councilor Joaquin Baca emphasizes that this project is beneficial for everyone involved. 'So, you know, Albuquerque is in a housing crisis, essentially. And so, you know, we need housing of all types, affordable housing, transitional housing, market-rate housing, everything. And so this is a project to bring some of that to Albuquerque.' The proposed ordinance seeks to issue $227 million in industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) to help fund this public-private partnership without directly using taxpayer dollars. Of that total, $76 million is allocated for the hotel, $70 million for the Chaco Residences, and $80 million for the apartments and restaurants. If approved, the developers for the Sawmill project will be responsible for repaying the bonds to the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City council votes to override Mayor Keller's Rail Trail funding veto
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Councilors overrided the mayor's veto on the allocation of funds for Albuquerque's biggest project, which will connect Old Town, Downtown, and the bosque. 'None of this is black or white. We can have a Rail Trail, we can do works on other parts of our city, and we can work this out. I don't think we didn't need to go this far in terms of how much time and energy was put into this,' says Councilor Joaquin Baca. The Rail Trail Project is already under construction near the Sawmill District. But two weeks ago, councilors voted to move half a million dollars from the project to fund the Ken Sanchez Westside Indoor Sports Complex. However, on February 20, Mayor Tim Keller vetoed the council's decision to pull funding for the Rail Trail. The city government drama had the council president saying that simple communication could have avoided complications and confusion. Firefighters' Union reacts to AFR city council resolution 'I think the way that this veto occurred is completely inappropriate and disrespectful; enraging is the word I keep using. I think having a veto signing party for the public, having the administration go ahead and send down a resolution for us to use our set aside funding as a solution, which is not the mayor's job, to just give that to us boefre we even decided whether or not to override our sustained veto I find really infuriating,' says City Council President Brook Bassan. Councilors voted Monday night to override the mayor's veto with an 8 to 1 vote, saying both projects could use the funding. The decision means the city would re-appropriate the $500,000 back toward the Rail Trail and another $500,000 for the sports complex. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction begins on new bike lanes along Central corridor in downtown Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's a project that's been in the works for years for a way to make downtown Albuquerque more bicycle-friendly. Story continues below Don't Miss: Family reunited with lost cat who was missing in desert for nearly a month Crime: Former APD officer used MVD info as tool to bring more clients into DWI scandal National: Former Disney Channel actress 'shot in the face' at birthday event for husband Drivers can expect to see detours downtown for the next few weeks as the city restripes the road to make designated bike lanes along Central Ave. Construction began on Monday with work planned between 1st and 8th streets. To get the work done, crews will be closing lanes on either side and drivers will need to take detours along side streets. To make room for the five-foot bike lanes on each side of the street with a two-foot buffer between bikes and traffic, the city is removing a lane down the middle of Central Ave. Albuquerque City Councilor Joaquin Baca said they got a lot of questions from businesses, worried about losing the middle lane, which is used for deliveries. 'For one, it's always been illegal to use the center lane for a delivery lane. Just imagine that happening in any other part of the city. Two, as I said we spent the last year working with the existing business owners figuring out how do we do that. Designating locations to put parking spaces,' said Baca. It's a part of a project years in the making, with a goal of making downtown more bike and pedestrian-friendly. 'It's pretty clear in downtowns across the country if you put in bike lanes, that makes things better for traffic, for shops, and for pedestrians,' said Baca. Community groups KRQE News 13 spoke with on Monday said it will make the community safer. 'By adding these bike lanes, it's going to make it safer for people to move across the city and actually the more bike lanes you install, it actually frees up more space for people in cars,' said William Indelicato with Strong Towns ABQ. Baca said construction is expected to last three weeks. The total cost of the project is $220,000. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
