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The Symphony Tower dream has ended. Our new mayor decided in April not to pursue development of the building and instead will issue a new RFP with no height requirements this summer for the city-owned parcel. It really was no surprise since the new mayor has tried to undo and disparage many of the great accomplishments of our former mayor. I voted for him only because the other candidate was even worse, especially when it came to a focus on urban development in the city.
The new RFP will be at least the fourth attempt to develop the block in the last forty years since it came under city ownership. The original plan for the land was to build a $100 million performing arts center. That was the official plan until the early 2000s when a plan was put forth by our mayor at the time to turn the land into a park to provide green space adjacent to the mostly concrete Civic Plaza. He left office before anything could be finalized. Then, early last year, our previous mayor came out with the Skyline Competition RFP which produced the Symphony Tower idea.
Our new mayor has stated that he wants to see a public amenity come from the new RFP. Perhaps a performing arts center will once again be proposed. Two of the submissions to the Skyline Competition envisioned a new performing arts center would be built somewhere around Civic Plaza. The Symphony Tower got its name partly because the developer envisioned a new orchestra hall on the block immediately west of the tower site, where the police and sheriff's headquarters buildings stand now.
One of the submissions to the competition also was proposing its office space to become a new city hall and for the existing City Hall, City/County Government Center, and old County Courthouse buildings on the west side of Civic Plaza be torn down. The county government is going to vacate its space in the complex and move to the renovated Alvarado Square building in two years. Perhaps a proposal will emerge once again for a new city hall in the new RFP.
Looks like some nice developments, however your population estimates are way off.
Last estimate from 2016
Population estimates, July 1, 2016, (V2016)683,080
Thats a difference of 240,856 thats a huge difference for a city who's growth rate is slowing.
The Symphony Tower was interesting but it went the way of other questionable schemes of the former mayor. I think the soccer stadium would be a good idea but I'm a soccer fan. I'm not sure how many more we have here but it could be a good addition for the Sol to play in a dedicated stadium.
Looks like some nice developments, however your population estimates are way off.
Last estimate from 2016
Population estimates, July 1, 2016, (V2016)683,080
Thats a difference of 240,856 thats a huge difference for a city who's growth rate is slowing.
The 2018 projected population is for El Paso City / County, where 100% of the population is at, the State of Texas has that projection, we'll find out for sure on the next census. I'm not sure if you have read recent info on El Paso's growth, but definitely not slowing down in the contrary it's current growth rate is phenomenal.
What happened, did you realize that the CSA number for El Paso already includes Dona And County and delete your post? Otero County is not in the CSA because it does not meet the threshold of 15 percent of its population commuting into Dona Ana or El Paso counties.
Quote:
Add adjacent to El Paso City / County - Dona Ana County's 209,233
Total:1,269,630 (doesn't include also adjacent to El Paso City / County- Otero County's 64,000)
What happened, did you realize that the CSA number for El Paso already includes Dona And County and delete your post? Otero County is not in the CSA because it does not meet the threshold of 15 percent of its population commuting into Dona Ana or El Paso counties.
You are correct ABQalex- I just recently visited ABQ doesn't seem to have the MSA or CSA feel of the population mentioned always seems smaller than El Paso. I also have spoken to many people from ABQ they all say El Paso seems larger, which in a sense it is.
I like the newer design of the Westar Tower than the previous one, it's to bad the Symphony was scrapped.
The Carlisle Condominiums have been completed in Nob Hill after the first construction was destroyed by fire and they were rebuilt. The project cost $10 million and represents $19.5 million in total expenditures when including the first construction.
The redevelopment of the former De Anza Motel in Nob Hill is underway and the structures which will not be re-used have been torn down. They will make way for 40 apartments in new structures, 10 of which will be used as condotel units. The most historic portions of the old motel buildings were saved, including the Turquoise Cafe, the historic Zuni murals and the historic Route 66 motel sign which has been taken down temporarily for restoration.
The 32-unit El Vado Place apartments have been completed in the Old Town area and are fully leased. They include ground-floor commercial space. The renovation of the historic El Vado motel next door is also completed and it is expected to re-open for guests as a 22-room boutique motel this month. Many of the commercial elements have already been opened, including four pod retail establishments. The food truck court and Ponderosa Brewing Co. taproom should open along with the motel sometime this month.
The $12 million Zocalo Lofts project with 21 market-rate apartments above ground-floor commercial on the border between downtown and the Barelas neighborhood are under construction.
The second floor of the Mehran Lofts conversion of the old Federal Building has been completed. There are now 61 market-rate apartments completed in the building. Six more floors remain to be converted.
The $40 million One Central project is nearing completion, with the 68 luxury apartments on the top three floors set to open in August. No word on when the commercial elements on the bottom three floors, including the bowling alley, will open.
Homegrown tech company Lavu has outgrown its space in the Theater Block above the Century 14 movie theaters and will now move to Albuquerque Plaza, the city's tallest building. It plans to have 135 workers occupying the new space, with most earning more than $70,000. It will spend $1.5 million to construct its new offices at Albuquerque Plaza.
Another company has announced plans to bring new jobs to Downtown Albuquerque. CareNet will be adding 244 jobs in the building that will become the Bank of the West Centre soon. The $50 million project to renovate the building and also construct the new Elevate @ Lomas + Third building with 174 market-rate apartments, office and commercial space should get underway this summer. CareNet will spend $3 million to construct its space in the building.
The $6 million Civic Plaza renovations are mostly done, including the new fountain and permanent large video screen on the stage, in time for summer events on the plaza including Movies on the Plaza, which kicked off this month.
The new $12 million Penguin Chill exhibit at the Rio Grande Zoo as well as the new $2.3 million otter exhibit at the Albuquerque Aquarium are nearing completion and should both be opening soon. They are part of $255 million in projects and improvements to the Albuquerque Bio Park that were approved by voters three years ago. Future projects are scheduled to include developing an electric cart people mover system, completion of stations for the existing miniature trains, renovation of the zoo bandshell, a new octopus exhibit at the aquarium, two new themed gardens and a tropical butterfly pavilion at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, and renovation of the boathouse at Tingley Beach.
The Turquoise Museum has announced plans to move from Old Town to a much larger space in the Gertrude Zachary Castle downtown. The castle was built 11 years ago by its namesake who was a local jewelry and antique seller. She only got to enjoy her home for a few years before she died. The museum will also be renovating the historic building next door which houses Gertrude Zachary's antique store that will be closing soon. Plans are to have it be a restaurant and gift shop with offices on the upper floor.
The rollout of the city's expanded bikeshare program with 175 new bikes in 35 new stations around the urban heart of the city from Old Town to Nob Hill has been completed. There are now 250 bikes in 50 stations. The program has also been renamed as paceABQ for Zagster's new dockless bikeshare system called PACE, of which Albuquerque's is the largest program to date.
The $135 million Albuquerque Rapid Transit has been delayed due to manufacturing problems with the new buses. All construction is complete and the infrastructure is ready to go otherwise. The city has 16 of the 21 buses, but our new mayor won't say when the service will get underway. Again, he was opposed to the project and seems intent on embarrassing our former mayor with his refusal to look at ways to get the service underway, including using some of the existing Rapid Ride fleet until the rest of the new buses arrive. For now, the buses the city does have are being used to train the drivers on how to run the route and the station lights are turned on for nightly testing of the light patterns.
Demolition of the old restaurant on top of the Sandia Mountains has been completed and new construction is underway for the new $7 million restaurant at the upper docking station of the Sandia Peak Tramway. The other project at the top of the mountains, the construction of a mountain coaster, will get underway once the new restaurant is completed by the middle of next year.
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