Construction Reporter News

Board member Paul Silverman and Chamber President Terri Cole also testified in support of an amendment to the Uptown Sector Development Plan (the Uptown Progress Amendment) to streamline the review process for approving large retail projects in Uptown.  The amendment removes the Environment Planning Committee from the process of approving such projects, but keeps the process with the Design Review Board.
 
“The Chamber feels the requirement for two levels of approval is redundant and unnecessary,” said Cole. The Chamber also supported this fast track approach for downtown projects to create a consistent review process city-wide. The City Council approved the amendment on a 5 to 4 vote.

Terri Cole, Chamber President and CEO, testified before City Council last week in support of Mayor Berry’s “ABQ-The Plan” initiative.  The plan would create city-wide public projects and investments in hopes of spurring private investments, increasing quality of life for residents, promoting tourism / new dollars to the city, and enhancing economic development while promoting job creation. Click here for the GACC Position Paper on “ABQ-The Plan”.

The Council approved an October ballot question that would fund capital improvement projects for both the Paseo del Norte I-25 interchange and design and construction of a new “Sports Plex”.

The City Council passed the plan on a 5 to 4 vote.  The Chamber Board of Directors has endorsed “ABQ-The Plan” and will work to ensure its passage at the polls in October.