Construction Reporter News

     After a series of public meetings and lively debate, a sweeping re-design of the historic San Jacinto Plaza in downtown El Paso has won the approval of the El Paso City Council.

      The work on the nearly $6 million renovation is expected to begin later this year, and will emphasize keeping the thematic open-air look of the long-term El Paso gathering place, while incorporating the Spanish and Native American architectural look of surrounding downtown structures.

     City Representative Steve Ortega lauded the plaza deign proposal as one that is both user-friendly and “complements the investment that is taking place in downtown right now.”

     The new design includes an historic trolley that will be redeveloped as a café and keeps in the center of the San Jacinto Plaza the famous alligator fountain—in honor of the alligators that once lived in the pond-at the center of the public space.

By Gary Boulard

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     Reducing what are known as Solar Energy Zones in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, the federal Department of Interior has released instructions for the continued development of solar power plants in those states.

     The DOI guidelines, which are subject to public comment, are designed to provide solar power developers with public lands that are not environmentally sensitive, while also being accessible to roads and transmission lines.

     According to DOI Secretary Ken Salazar, the new instructions establish “For the first time a blueprint for landscape-level planning that will facilitate smarter siting of solar energy projects.”

     In so doing, the number of Solar Energy Zone has been brought down to 17 from the previous 24. In terms of available land space, the amount of acreage has gone from 677,000 acres to 285,000—still roughly 60,000 more acres than the DOI forecasts will be needed between now and 2033 for solar power development.

     The guidelines will also effect large scale public lands utility-solar plant development in California, Utah and Nevada.

     In announcing the new guidelines, the DOI noted that it remains committed to solar plant development, having approved nearly two dozen major solar projects on federal lands in recent years.

By Gary Boulard

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      After years of hearing various proposals for saving the Werner-Gilchrist House at the corner of Silver and Cornell in Albuquerque, city officials have allowed it to be leveled.

      Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry has told the city’s Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission that he doesn’t think the city should pay for maintaining or renovating the structure.

     The owner of the property has been given permission by the city to demolish the 103 year-old house, which has been abandoned for more than a quarter of a century.

     The house was put on the National Register of Historic Places list in the early 1980s. In 2006 it was officially designated as an Albuquerque Landmark.

      Historians have noted that the house was one of the first of its kind built on the East Mesa in what was then suburban Albuquerque and represents a turn-of-the-century architecture with its stone foundation and thick adobe walls.

Even though various groups, such as the University Heights Association, have suggested various re-uses for the building—which is only a block away from the University of New Mexico campus—the price tag has been seen as too prohibitive.

By Gary Boulard

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     A combination of federal, state and local funds may be needed to pay for a proposed expansion of the Grand Canyon National Park Airport.

     The Flagstaff-based facility, which was opened in 1967 and is located just north of the national park, is underused, officials with the Arizona Department of Transportation believe.

     Measuring some 8,800 square feet, the current terminal could end up being substantially larger. LEA-Architects, LLC has been hired to design a larger terminal that would emphasize energy-efficiency features.

     A 2009 report on the airport prepared by Coffman Associates says that a “17,500 square foot terminal could accommodate the 31,000 initial enplanement milestone. A 245,400 square foot building would accommodate the short term horizon of 52,000 enplanements.”

      The report added: “For the long term horizon of 270,000 enplanements, capability to expand to 72,000 square feet should be planned.”

     A larger facility could not only bring in more commercial traffic, it might also lead to the development of nearby restaurants, hotels and stores.

    If officials at the airport decide to go expand the terminal, it is estimated that it will take at least five years to complete and could cost up to $10 million.

By Gary Boulard 

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      As part of an overall plan to increase energy efficiency at the 1.1 million acre Fort Bliss, the military base may enter into a partnership with the City of El Paso to build a waste energy plant.

     The plant would not only help the city preserve land fill space, but will also make possible the conversion of waste to produce electricity.

     With a growing population as a result of federal base realignment legislation, Fort Bliss is currently the home to some 30,000 soldiers and has a stated goal of being energy self-sufficient in the next four years.

      Through various measures, Fort Bliss has already realized some $2.8 million in energy cost savings, and has implemented solar and thermal features in residential housing.

     El Paso officials have said they are interested in the waste energy plant idea, and may make a decision on it by early next year. 

By Gary Boulard

     Work on a 250-unit senior housing is expected to begin in early 2012, funded by a $20 million grant awarded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

      Upon the announcement of the grant, HUD assistant secretary Sandra Henriquez said the funding will help make the public housing project “an anchor and an asset for Phoenix for decades to come.”

     The Frank Luke Senior Housing Complex will be built in phases, beginning with a three-story building containing 60 rental units.

     The project is funded through HUD’s Hope VI grant program, which is designed to improve or completely replace existing public housing structures.

      The Frank Luke Senior Housing Complex, on some 12 acres, will go up on the former site of the Frank Luke Addition homes, which was built in the 1930s.

     First phase of the construction is scheduled to be completed in early 2013. The second phase of the project, which will include nearly two dozen buildings, is scheduled to be open in 2014.

By Gary Boulard

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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

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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

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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

     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

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