santa fe developer gets ok for long-planned housing project

After seeing an earlier and larger version of the project rejected by city officials, plans for the construction of a 120-unit apartment complex have been given a green light by the Santa Fe City Council.

What is being called the Acequia Lofts will see the building of multi-family housing on a 6-acre site at 2725 Agua Fria Road.

As planned, the project will feature 63 one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments; 39 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments; and 18 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units.

There will also be more than 87,000 square feet of open space at the site.

Santa Fe developer Blue Buffalo LLC had originally envisioned a project with just under 400 units at the same location, but that idea was turned down in the summer of 2015 by the council due to concerns about its size and traffic impact.

Located in what is described as a semi-rural part of the city, the site for the project, which is currently vacant, runs along the Santa Fe River.

With work on the project slated to begin either later this year or early next year, the Acequia Lofts has been geared from the start as a complex that will provide affordable rental housing for young professionals.

By Garry Boulard

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