proposed redevelopment of santa fe campus yields variety of ideas

A calibrated approach, asking for a master developer to transform the 64-acre former campus of the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, has received nearly two dozen responses, all pointing to a vibrant new future for the site.

The responses, currently being reviewed by an evaluation committee, have proposed everything from increased housing space, hotels, and new office space.

That input has come in response to a Request for Expressions of Interest issued by the City of Santa Fe.

The respondents proposed ideas in the following categories: master developer to oversee all of the campus; project developer for specific buildings or section of the site; master lessee; and building tenant.

One response, submitted by developer Allan Affeldt, calls for a $400 million project that would place an emphasis on high tech company space as well as the construction of more than one thousand housing units.

In talking with the Albuquerque Journal about the uses for the Santa Fe campus, Affeldt said “The object is not to build more stuff, but to build an economic catalyst. New Mexico has long been known as an economic backwater, but we have the potential to turn that around.”

Alfredt formerly spearheaded the renovation of the historic Las Castaneda hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other responses for the downtown site have come from the Los Alamos Field Office of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which envisions using part of the campus for offices, as well as light manufacturing and research work.

The University of New Mexico has suggested the creation of a center for art, design, culture and innovation that might be built inside the existing Fogelson Library building.

In an earlier released statement, Lilia Chacon, communications director with the City of Santa Fe, announced that starting next month the city will “embark on the next phase of civic engagement to share information in public gatherings and to continue gathering community guidance as the development process moves forward.”

By Garry Boulard

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