santa fe wants funding for the coming development of big midtown campus

As yet another sign that important changes are on the way, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber and members of the Santa Fe City Council have approved a resolution that could directly impact the fortunes of the former Santa Fe University of Art and Design campus.

That 64-acre chunk of land has been largely abandoned since the summer of 2018 when, for financial reasons, the school closed its doors.

In the wake of that closing, city officials began a lengthy process of seeking input on what the campus should look like in the future, with responses recently received to a Request for Expressions of Interest that asked for a master developer to oversee the redevelopment of the campus.

To help spur that future redevelopment, Mayor Webber and the council members have given their approval to a resolution asking the New Mexico State Legislature to provide capital outlay funding to the tune of more than $23 million for a variety of city building and infrastructure projects.

But one of the largest requests, at $3 million, is for the planning, design, and infrastructure of what is now being called the Midtown Santa Fe campus, which is owned by the city.

The resolution specifically describes the request as “associated with economic development,” and says the $3 million will be used to “support improvements to utilities, trails, and improvements to roadways and digital infrastructure to support redevelopment of Midtown Santa Fe.”

Webber has previously said the potential for the campus is unlimited, remarking earlier this year that in redeveloping the site, “we want to respect the history and tradition of our city. What happens needs to look and feel like Santa Fe.”

By Garry Boulard

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