Historic Downtown Albuquerque Property to be Redeveloped

Albuquerque will see the building of new condo space with the redevelopment of a 121 year-old historic downtown building.

Members of the Albuquerque City Council have given their approval to the sale of the Rosenwald Building, located at 320 Central Avenue SW, to a private developer interested in the property for its condo potential.

Measuring 42,000 square feet, the Rosenwald Building was designed by well-known architect Henry Trost and added to the National Register of Historic Places list in 1978.

Upon its completion in 1910 the Rosenwald Building was hailed as the first reinforced concrete structure in Albuquerque history.

Upon the opening of the building, the Albuquerque Journal said the city had gained the “distinction of having within its boundaries the handsomest, most up-to-date, and most complete department store in the southwest.”

The building was named in honor of merchants Aron and Edward Rosenwald.

The building underwent a renovation in 1981, with the upper floors largely turned over to offices, and lower floor used for retail, including most recently a sandwich shop.

In 2009 the City of Albuquerque purchased the structure for $1.7 million.

Plans for the redevelopment of the three-floor structure include building a 1,100 square-foot Albuquerque Police Department substation, with condo space on the first and second floor.

The police substation will house offices, a reception area, and kitchenette, among other features.The initial Rosenwald department store sold everything from clothing to home furnishings, and featured what was then called a “phonograph” store.

The project is being designed by Albuquerque-based FBT Architects.

By Garry Boulard

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