30-04-2025
Albuquerque Sunport seeking development ideas for 170 acres of their property
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A massive piece of property next to the Albuquerque Sunport has seen promises over the years for multi-million-dollar developments but the deals have fallen through. The city is now asking developers for ideas on what to do with the prime piece of land. A part of it is the 82-acre lot called the 'Aviation Center of Excellence,' which used to be an airport runway and has been vacant for years, and now the city is hoping finally to bring life to the big empty space.
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The site encompasses 170 acres of vacant land surrounding the Albuquerque Sunport. In years past the city announced plans for companies to develop the site, including satellite manufacturer the Orion center in 2021, then Universal Hydrogen in 2023, both promising hundreds of jobs for New Mexicans. But in both cases, the plans fell apart. 'I think that the challenges of the past have been that we've engaged a couple of times with companies that are more in the startup space and you never really do know if those companies will be successful,' said Manny Manriquez, Deputy Director of Innovation and Commercial Development.
Now the city's aviation department is taking a different approach, asking established developers to submit ideas about what kinds of industries can thrive next to the Sunport. 'That includes aerospace, bioscience, directed energy, film and television. These key sectors can really add to the strength of our economy,' said Manriquez. The aviation department says they opened the request for information after visiting other airports who used this approach and were successful. 'This RFI release is really to attract partners to work with the city and the aviation department specifically on a plan to develop out that property, to activate it for commercial use and to earn more revenue for the Sunport,' said Manriquez.
The goal is to connect with a developer with a feasible vision for the property. The request for information also seeks ideas for smaller parcels around the Sunport. The request window closes May 26.
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