LOCATION: Corner of Lomas and 2nd St., Albuquerque, New Mexico.  

SIZE: 1 acre

SITE BACKGROUND: Built adjacent to a superfund site called the Fruit Avenue Plume, the New Mexico Environment Dept.’s Remediation Oversight Section provided SHC-NM with over $20,000 in environmental services to ensure the property was safe for reuse. Site was comprised predominantly of trichloroethylene (TCE), believed to have been sourced from a former dry cleaner located in downtown Albuquerque.

FEATURES:  A 72-unit demonstration workforce housing project will integrate a diverse population of formerly homeless persons, persons with disabilities, retirees and low wage workers, as well as market rate tenants in a mixed income, mixed use and sustainable “green” environment. Project demonstrates how a public-private partnership can work to revitalize the city core.

COST: $11 million.

PROJECT TEAM: Mark Allison, executive director of Downtown @700-2nd Limited Partnership; Dory Wegrzyn, AICP, housing development director of Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico; Janet Brooks, New Mexico Environment Dept.; Ken Balizer, VillageMakers LLC; Mary Lou Leonard, city of Albuquerque, Environmental Services Division; and Cynthia Borrego, city of Albuquerque, Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency.

SYNOPSIS: The city made the existing parking lot land available, and the project has broad community support, receiving endorsements from numerous business, community and neighborhood groups. The site will conserve natural resources by incorporating innovative, sustainable design features, including solar collectors for domestic hot water and space heating, wiring for future photovoltaic panels, domestic grey water recycling and rooftop water catchments for landscape use.