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Consulting company hired to create plan to redevelop New Mexico State Fairgrounds
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham made it clear she's eyeing the State Fairgrounds for a possible major redevelopment project. Now, we're getting closer at finding out if that will happen with the state now hiring a company tasked with making a master plan on the possibility. 'It's a passionate issue, people have strong feelings, we want to turn the heat down and look at the facts,' said Martin Chavez, spearheading the State Fair Initiative.
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Figuring out if the State Fair needs to move from the middle of Albuquerque is the question, now underway for the former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez and a major consulting firm.
The state on Wednesday announced Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. has the contract to create a master plan for the fairgrounds that's expected to detail all the potential options, including what can or can't be built on the property. 'We anticipate a range of options from this contractor, including keeping the fair where it is, building the fair up, moving the fair, doing all in-fill, mixed-use mixed-income, building a $400 million arena, and creating an entertainment district in that part of Albuquerque,' said Chavez.
Chavez is spearheading the governor's initiative and says community meetings and economic analysis will be a part of it. The idea of a revamp for the 236-acre site sparked in December, but Chavez said nothing has been or will be decided until the master plan is finished. He adds that the project is also majorly focused on Albuquerque's revitalization.
'The target isn't the fairgrounds, the target is the neighborhoods around it and something to change the trajectory of that part of Albuquerque because right now it's not going in the right direction,' said Chavez.
City councilor Nicole Rogers said she hopes the fair will stay in her district, and the master plan can detail improvements to the area. 'For me, this is just an opportunity for us to dream big about what's possible and I know from my constituents, like most folks want it to stay in the neighborhood and so let's see how we can activate it and modernize it,' said Nicole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor for District 6.
The consulting firm the state hired will get over $800,000 for the master plan. Chavez said they'll have a six-month window to finalize their work.
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