New Family Dollar Store May Go Up in Taos County
A new 8,000 square-foot Family Dollar outlet may soon be built in El Prado, just north of the city of Taos.
The store will be a part of the North Carolina-based chain’s plan to expand its more than 7,000 stores nationally by some 300 new stores in the next year.
Known for a wide variety of inexpensive products, Family Dollar stores often open up in existing spaces, and have proven to be particularly popular in older strip malls where there is more vacant space.
The El Prado store is set to be built sometimes in 2012 near the intersection of Ben Romero Road and US 64 and must still get the approval of the Taos County Planning Commission.
The El Prado Dollar General Store proposal is being viewed by some neighbors as an inappropriate business to be built near the scenic landscape of the Taos Mountain. Detractors have vowed to express their opposition in upcoming public hearings on the matter.
In a public statement, Rick Bellis, county planning director, has said: “We are committed to a fair, transparent and open process for considering any proposed development.”
By Gary Boulard
Colorado’s Historic Broadmoor Hotel to Undergo Renovation
One of the oldest hotels in both Colorado and the West, widely known as the “Grand Dame of the Rockies,” is going to see some renovation work beginning next year.
The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs has been the subject of some $500 million in ongoing improvements since the late 1990s. Now the renovations will be focused exclusively on the hotel’s Southlake Building.
That building, which was divided into apartment units at the time of the hotel’s opening in 1918, will see the construction of a balcony, as well as a new entry foyer and improved lighting.
The two-story structure, one of the original five buildings at the time of the Broadmoor opening, is located between Broadmoor Main and the South Tower near the Cheyenne Lake.
Work on the Southlake Building will begin in February and is scheduled to be completed by late spring. A cost estimate for the project has not been announced.
By Gary Boulard
New Mexico Gets Hud Money
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $5.5 million to New Mexico in order to fund public housing repairs and renovations.
The award is part of a larger $1.8 billion that HUD has awarded nationally for public housing large-scale improvements. The award was announced by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan who said that with the money funding “We are closer to helping housing authorities and our private sector partners undertake their capital needs over the long haul.”
The largest chunk of the New Mexico award is going to the City of Albuquerque’s Housing Division, which received just over $1 million. Also on the list is the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority, which was earmarked for $730,000; the Housing Authority of the City of Las Vegas at $414,000; and the Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces at $281,000.
The grants, designed to target such things as energy-efficiency upgrades and new roofing, come specifically from HUD’s Capital Fund Program.
A report issued by HUD in 2011 indicated that the price tag for the repair and renovation of the nation’s current public housing stock is an estimated $25.6 billion.
By Gary Boulard
University of New Mexico Approves New Baseball Field
The University of New Mexico’s Board of Regents has given its ok to a plan to build a new $3 million baseball field that will go up on the current Lobo Field south of The Pitt.
A $2 million severance tax bond allocated two years ago by the New Mexico legislature was approved by the board members for the renovation of the Lobo Field.
The first phase of the baseball field renovation will see the replacement of the dugouts, stadium seats and bull pens as well as the laying of new turf.
The Lobo Baseball team has raised some $3.3 million for the project. Eventual work will also see the building of new locker rooms, concession stands and batting cages, with an estimated cost of $12 million.
The Lobos currently play at the Isotopes Park.
Work on phase one of the project is expected to begin later this spring.
By Gary Boulard
Renovation of Historic Property in El Paso in the Making
The famous Kress Building in El Paso may soon be one more historic structure slated for renovation in the overall revival of the city’s downtown.
Members of the city’s Economic Development and Tourism Legislative Review Committee have voted to put the building into receivership, which would allow the City of El Paso to take control—but not ownership–of the structure for preservation purposes.
Built in 1937, the Kress Building is known for its Native American architecture and Mayan motifs, with a bell tower anchoring the corner of North Mesa and Mills Avenue. In 1980 the Kress chain sold out to the McCrory Stores Corporation, which ran it until 1992.
In recent years the structure has been mostly empty, worrying city leaders that it may be falling into a state of disrepair. The receivership will allow the city to address any renovation needs the building may have.
William Abraham, the owner of the structure, has indicated that he is going to fight the receivership process.
By Gary Boulard
Pinal County Studying Large Development Proposal
A plan to develop some 275 square miles of land between the eastern edge of Phoenix and Tucson is still under review by a variety of public agencies in Arizona.
Members of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors have voted to send back plans for Superstition Vistas, which will also include 175,000 acres of development, to the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission for further review.
The project calls for developing acreage currently owned by the Arizona State Land Department, and includes specific plans for the construction of single-family homes, roads, a commuter rail system and bike paths.
Superstition Vistas will be developed around the idea of sustainability, with large tracks of the desert landscape left untouched and homes built on small lots. Both proponents and opponents of the development say it could be the home to more than 1 million people by the middle of the century.
Local officials must now decide what level of population density for the development is acceptable and whether or not to amend the comprehensive plan for the project.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is tasked with addressing both the density issue and water availability for the project, before turning it back over to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration.
By Gary Boulard
New Phoenix Veterans Residence Nearing Construction
By Gary Boulard
A $12 million residential development geared specifically for veterans is set to go up in Phoenix, with construction scheduled to begin early next year.
The Madison Pointe Apartment House project will feature 60 apartment homes and will be open in the fall of 2012.
The apartment homes will vary in seizes from one to three bedrooms, and will include kitchens, bathrooms, and either a private balcony or patio.
The residential complex will include a fitness center, carports, club house and computer center, all in a gated community environment.
Financing for the project has been arranged by the Bank of America, as well as the Arizona Department of Housing and the City of Phoenix.
The project will go up at 4134 North 9th Street, close to the federal Department of Veteran Affairs and the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center.
New Casino Targeted for New Mexico Sate Fairgrounds
A $30 million casino may be going up at the site of the New Mexico State Fair Grounds.
The Laguna Development Company has submitted a proposal to build a 30,000 square foot structure that would also include improvements to the fairgrounds race track and a new restaurant.
The LDC is the development entity for the Laguna Pueblo and wants to secure a 25-year commitment to lease more than 90 acres currently used by the racetrack. Proponents of the casino say it would generate at least $2 million annually.
Both the State Fair Board and an evaluation committee appointed by Governor Susana Martinez are evaluating the LDC proposal.
“We don’t know where things stand right now,” says Skip Sayer, director of development for LDC. “We’re just waiting to learn the response to our proposal.”
By Gary Boulard
Carolyn Robbins Siegel, Architect, AIA: Balancing Form and Function
- Carolyn Robbins Siegel
By Tami Brunk
As founder of Siegel Design Architects and a practicing architect for 20 + years, Carolyn Robbins Siegel may appear to be one of those lucky individuals who “always knew” what she wanted to be when she grew up. In reality, she didn’t discover architecture as her true calling for over eight years following her graduation with a degree in sociology.
In between, she worked in a Connecticut art museum , as an outreach assistant in a health clinic, cook, waitress, baker, film “grip”, animation painter , her own personal car mechanic, and construction worker—all while honing her skills as a clay and pastel artist.
“I was always interested in aesthetics, form, science and the sociology of occupied spaces and urban development. Those interests eventually pointed to architecture.” In the late 70’s Carolyn relocated to Los Angeles to study architecture at SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture).
Snowpark Dental Clinic
It was there she met her future husband and business partner, Jonathan Siegel. She worked with Glen Fleck, a filmmaker for Charles and Ray Eames, developing models for the FDR Memorial in D.C., and economics exhibits for the Federal Reserve Bank under the guidance of Ray Eames and Lathrop & Associates.In 1983, after a two month job hunt, the couple landed back in Albuquerque, where both worked for other architecture firms. When their daughter was born in 1986, Carolyn began to design various projects out of their home. In 1989 Jonathan joined her. Since then, they’ve found their rhythm as collaborative, equal business partners—an impressive achievement of its own.
Los Altos Christian Church
Both at the Silver City Senior Center and the Los Altos Church, Carolyn facilitated a group consensus process to develop the building design, resulting in facilities that fell within a modest budget, fit into the surroundings, and met the clients’ needs. She has a knack for actively engaging clients in the design process, and coming up with a multitude of options to find the right fit.
“If a client wants to explore an idea, we will work with them to develop a series of options through design sketches and 3-D computer images. Even in my recent design of a 750 square foot guest house for an elderly person, we went through 8 or 10 iterations. The results include privacy, passive solar elements, connection to the outdoors, and comfort within.”
Sunday morning clerestory light
“Our own house is a mix of the exposed raw materials of earth, plaster and metal. It’s one of our favored palettes and textures. In architecture, you must think about the construction of form, what it can hold, and what activity occurs inside that form.”
Carolyn remains active in the Albuquerque community, currently serving on the steering committee of the Rio Grande Corridor Plan, the board of her neighborhood association and past board member of the City of Albuquerque Public Art Program.
Chris Hurt: Building Community through Technology
By Tami Brunk
Over the past four years, Construction Reporter has made enormous changes in their business model as they’ve transitioned to web-based services. Today, 95 percent of their business is conducted online. Much of the brain power behind this transition has been Chris Hurt, Construction Reporter’s Chief Technology Officer. Growing up in Oklahoma City, Chris dreamed of becoming an astrophysicist. Once he got to college at the University of Pittsburg, he realized wasn’t as crazy about math as he’d imagined. What he did find fascinating was chemistry. So he jumped into biochemistry, specifically computational chemistry, where he helped to develop software to simulate biological actions and reactions. It was a field with great promise, and would give Chris his start in computer programming. He landed a job while in school, and looked forward to a bright future in the rapidly growing biotech field. But soon after graduation the biotech bubble collapsed and his project lost its funding. His future was looking a little dim, or as he puts it, “I could see my career of table waiting was about to take off.” So he moved back home to consider his next move—and became a sky diving instructor with the Oklahoma Skydiving Center. In retrospect he says, “I think everyone should take a job they love to do, with no future in it, at least once. You realize being able to pay the monthly rent is nice.” After two years with the skydiving gig, he landed a job that did pay the rent, with a Houston-based biotech firm that conducted DNA sequencing. He worked for them over the next four years. He helped them develop their lab information management system, in the process gaining more valuable experience in programming and systems development.
Chris is now based out of Boulder, Colorado, and has worked remotely for Construction Reporter since 2008. He began as a consultant assisting the firm in its transition to web-based services, and was brought on full-time over a year ago. Their current online system evolved from a proprietary program that met 60 to 70% of their criteria. Over the years, they’ve modified it to fit their clients’ needs. “I write software and code, and unroll really exciting services. Our customers have been great—they teach us what they need, and we listen. We have to be adaptable and flexible. I work hard to bridge the gap between technology and the construction community.” “We’re developing educational and support tools for both our customers and our reporters, and we’re increasing our efficiency. We’ve moved our infrastructure to a different state, where it sits on very big internet “pipes” or servers that are under environmental control.”
It’s clear that Chris offers critical technological skills and experience to Construction Reporter’s team. Yet he has another side that is equally valuable, and a great fit for Construction Reporter: his commitment to using his skills to serve the larger community. He is most proud of his current position as a volunteer for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a nonprofit that trains volunteers to become advocates for foster children. He visits the child appointed to him once a week, providing tutoring and mentoring, and meeting with teachers and other professionals as an advocate. Beyond this direct service, Construction Reporter has supported him in using work time to assist CASA’s Colorado office to improve their website and online systems. “I realized that my skillset could be used in an area that really needed help, and that I could offer computer work and technical consulting for organizations that couldn’t otherwise do it. I like to work in partnerships between companies and communities. We have a responsibility as people and corporate citizens to serve the community.” Construction Reporter has always played a role as a community builder for the construction industry. Its public plan room has always been a lively hub where people talked about projects, got to know each other, and shared information. Today, Chris and the CR team are working to develop systems and support that facilitate an online sense of community for their “virtual plan room” as well. They are also planning to revitalize the physical plan room environment with new technology. “Digital planning tables are in the works. By next year we hope to be able to offer them in the plan room. We’re bringing it back. Our role is to build a community of construction professionals, and we’re succeeding.”
