More Than Century-Old El Paso Building May Be Demolished to Make Way for Luxury Condominiums12/13/2021 A building formerly housing a well-known clothing factory that once employed more than five hundred employees in downtown El Paso may be on its way to being demolished. The Meyers Group, a Miami-based development company that not long ago renovated the nearby historic Paso Del Norte Hotel, has said that it is considering getting rid of what is known as the Haymon Krupp & Company building at the northeast corner of S. Santa Fe and West Overland streets. That four-story building, designed by famed architect Henry Trost, was completed in 1916. The Meyers Group has said that the demolition of the structure would make way for the construction of new five-story condominium project at the site. The company is perhaps most known in El Paso for taking on the $100 million renovation of the 352-room Hotel Paso Del Norte, which was officially unveiled last fall. What is being called “Paso Del Norte Residences,” would see the building of luxury condominiums on the upper floors, along with some retail space on the ground level. The Haymon Krupp building, which in subsequent decades served as the home for a furniture store and later, a boot factory, has been vacant for several years and was purchased in 2018 by the Meyers Group. A timeline for both the demolition of the Haymon Krupp building and construction of the new condominium project has not yet been announced. By Garry Boulard
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Tribal communities across the country are now in line to receive more than $52 million in funding for much-needed housing construction initiatives and other projects. The money is coming through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Community Block Grant program and is going directly to nearly fifty Tribal communities. The grant support, said Adrianne Todman, HUD Deputy Secretary, will “support our mission to ensure that every person has the security of a healthy, safe, and resilient home and community.” In a statement, Todman added that HUD is anticipating “ongoing partnerships with Tribal communities to expand equity and opportunity and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships.” The funding is going to Tribal communities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. In New Mexico, three grants of just over $1 million each are going to the Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority for the building of two duplexes; the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority will rehabilitate 13 privately-owned homes; while the Pueblo of Zia is targeting the construction of seven new homes. Earlier this year, HUD committed itself to some $450 million in Indian Housing Block Grants for a wide range of housing development, maintenance and modernization in Tribal communities. By Garry Boulard Denver Five Points Section Could See Construction of New Transit-Oriented Residential Project12/13/2021 A new condominium project may soon be built in the always-popular Five Points section of Denver. The Regional Transportation District, which oversees public transit services in a dozen counties in larger metro Denver and owns the site in question, has issued a Request for Qualifications seeking a developer for the project. Located 2907 and 2915 Welton Street, the site, owned by RTD, has until recently served as a parking lot. As proposed, the project would see the building of mixed-income housing that would also be transit-oriented. The RFQ states that the selected developer would “play a leadership role in the creation of a creative model of affordable homeownership as part of a dynamic public-private partnership.” The site in question is located in a neighborhood of both residential houses and apartment complexes, as well as some smaller office buildings. Located on the northeast side of Denver’s downtown core, Five Points’ origins reach to the 1860s. After seeing some urban decline in the 1970s and 80s, the neighborhood experienced a renaissance that has seen its population jump from 12,700 to more than 17,500 in the last decade. Along the way, Five Points rents have jumped from around $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit to more than $1,800 today. By Garry Boulard Plans are underway to upgrade a one-time popular bowling alley in Las Cruces and turn it into a…bowling alley. A Las Cruces developer and businessman says he wants to upgrade the former 10 Pin Alley, located at 1201 E. Amador Avenue, and turn it into a larger entertainment center that will feature bowling, among other recreational offerings. The nearly 40-year-old bowling alley, earlier known as Sun Lanes, went out of business in the summer of 2018, leaving Las Cruces without a single such venue. In the years since, various proposals have been floated to bring the 33,500 square foot facility back to life, with none becoming reality. The building has since been listed for sale for $1.6 million. Now Kevin McGrath, former owner of the It’s Burger Time restaurant chain, has announced plans to purchase the building housing the bowling alley. McGrath has indicated that he also wants to build space in the building for an arcade, bumper cars, and virtual reality games. Built in 1984, the one-story structure sits on a 3-acre site. If all goes well, work on the project could begin early next year with the former bowling alley reopening for business by spring. By Garry Boulard A strong 80% of respondents to an industry survey are feeling bullish about business opportunities next year, anticipating an increased demand for both construction and agriculture equipment. The survey, conducted by the Milwaukee-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, reveals most of its members believe the demand for new equipment is the most likely to see an increase in the agriculture equipment line, with a substantially smaller 44% forecasting a similar increase in demand for construction equipment. Despite the generally optimistic feelings, some 80% of the association’s membership, mirroring American businesses at large, said they were having a difficult time finding qualified workers. More markedly, 95% said they were currently negatively impacted by supply chain issues. A press release issued by the association accompanying the survey stated that despite these very real challenges, the membership feels good about 2022: “Roughly 58% in the construction segment and 44% in the agriculture segment think the global economy will recover within the next year.” A much stronger 70% to 74% believe the national economy will experience a recovery in 2022, with a slightly higher percentage saying their own companies will likely recover within the next 12 months. In a statement, Benjamin Duyck, director of market intelligence for AEM, notes that members of the association believe that the recent infrastructure bill signed by President Biden will “give a big boost to spending on infrastructure.” “The biggest impacts,” Duyck adds, “will be in 2022 and 2023.” By Garry Boulard A unique plan to build four community halls in western Colorado has taken a step forward with the purchase of around 2.5 acres in the town of De Beque. Last summer members of the Mesa County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of a plan that will see the construction of the buildings in the towns of Clifton, Mack Loma, and Whitewater, as well as De Beque. Those towns, varying in population from around 500 residents to more than 21,000, have long lacked any kind of public facility spaces for community events, meetings, and classes. County officials have also said the halls might be used for weddings, exercise classes, and job fairs. Now the commission has voted to enter a contract with the realtor Jones-De Beque Properties to purchase land for the construction of the first community hall. What is being called the Community Halls Project is being funded through revenue generated by a Mesa County sales tax approved four decades ago. The purchase of the De Beque property is expected to be finalized early next year. Construction is expected to begin on the new halls in Clifton and De Beque next year. A construction schedule for the remaining two facilities has not yet been announced. Sources have indicated that the new structures will be modeled after the existing Mesa Community Center in the town of Mesa, which houses meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and industrial kitchen. It is thought that ultimately it will cost around $8 million to build all four of the community halls. By Garry Boulard The El Paso Electric company is expected to spend up to $1.2 million advancing electric vehicle charging infrastructure for both residential and commercial customers throughout the southern swath of New Mexico. The utility company has now received the go-ahead from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to proceed with a two-year plan for the installation of smart charging infrastructure in what comprises El Paso Electric’s service territory. The plan will place an emphasis on incentivizing the building of such infrastructure through both a pilot rate as well as a rebate program. In a press release, Kelly Tomblin, chief executive officer of El Paso Electric, said the company is “excited to provide incentives, benefits, and education to all of our customers that will help support the electrification of transportation and the evolving technology that comes with it.” According to company documents, what is called the Transportation Electrification Plan will offer “instant customer rebates on the purchase of residential smart charging stations.” The plan anticipates an increase in the company’s New Mexico service territory, which spans the Rio Grande Velley in west Texas to south central New Mexico, from the current 242 vehicles to more than 2,750 vehicles by the year 2030. Altogether, El Paso Electric is expected to spend up to $10 million on a series of electric vehicle programs, with the goal of establishing charging stations in areas that currently have none. The official timeline for the new program begins next January with a cut off date of the end of 2023. By Garry Boulard On a vote of 363 to 70, the House of Representatives has passed the massive National Defense Authorization Act.
The $768 billion bill includes $3.5 billion for military construction projects across the country, authorizing around $25 billion more in spending than was originally asked for by President Biden. The construction projects include $14.2 million for a missile assembly support facility at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The Holloman Air Force Base, 6 miles to the southwest of Alamogordo, is in line to receive just over $140 million for three separate facility projects; while the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque is set for $138 million, also for three facility projects. The act additionally provides funding for dozens of barracks and family housing construction projects in a variety of states. Also in the bill: $30 million for the construction of a fitness center at the Schriever Air Force Base near Colorado Springs. The legislation includes pay raises for troops, stepped-up funding to upgrade the country’s nuclear arsenal, and money for the Air Force to procure 48 new F-35s. Previous defense authorization acts have won approval in both houses of Congress by overwhelming margins. The measure is now on its way to the U.S. Senate, where it is expected to be passed in the next week. By Garry Boulard Work could begin next fall on the $130 million construction of a combined hotel and conference center in Boulder that will belong to the University of Colorado at Boulder. To go up on a nearly 3-acre site at the northeast corner of University Avenue and Broadway, the project will include around 25,000 square feet of meeting space, along with a ballroom measuring 15,000 square feet. Additional details include the building of a publicly accessible plaza at the site designed to serve as a gathering space for students, neighbors, and visitors. What is being called the Limelight Hotel Boulder is being done in conjunction with the Aspen Skiing Company as well as the Little Nell Hotel Group. In a statement, Alinio Azvedo, chief operating officer of the Little Nell group, said the building of the project will include “innovative design and construction methods” that will be used to “deliver a building that will withstand the test of time.” The Little Nell Hotel Group will also be tasked with overseeing the operation of the hotel and conference center upon completion. The project has been in the talking stage for some time, with both city and university leaders pressing the need for more meeting space. The board of regents of the University of Colorado at Boulder approved a lease with the developer two years ago. If all goes as expected, the new hotel and conference center will be open and ready for business by the spring of 2025. By Garry Boulard A plan is in the offing to build more biking and walking trails on the west side of Albuquerque. Those trails would be etched into land already owned by the City of Albuquerque. Members of the Albuquerque City Council are considering a proposal that would see a trail link between the Petroglyph National Monument and the Rio Grande Valley State Park, among other areas. As envisioned, the trails would also be used for horseback riding. If made reality, the plan could see the building of around 24 miles of trails that, in some locations, would connect with trails already in existence. The council is expected to review on December 21 a resolution calling upon Mayor Tim Keller to prepare a west mesa open space trails plan. That same resolution states that up to $75,000 in general obligation bonds will be used to fund the plan. By Garry Boulard |
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