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Alamosa development staff outline Hunt Avenue rebuild, alley activation and Tierra Azul housing groundbreaking
Summary
City staff told council they have design work and funding in place to fully rebuild one block of Hunt Avenue next year, awarded alley‑activation engineering under a DOLA grant and scheduled a Tierra Azul groundbreaking for March 24 to begin the first phase of a larger 400‑unit housing project.
Alamosa’s development services department briefed the council Wednesday on downtown projects and housing initiatives, including a planned full rebuild of a Hunt Avenue block, three alley‑activation designs funded through a DOLA grant and an upcoming Tierra Azul groundbreaking.
The presentation described which segments are fully funded for construction, which remain in design, and the city’s housing‑rehab technical assistance grant to develop an intervention program for deteriorating owner‑occupied housing.
Why it matters: The city is using a mix of state grants and local planning to advance street, alley and housing projects that officials say will support downtown economic activity and add affordable housing stock.
Key updates
- Hunt Avenue: The city applied for $734,000 to add construction for a block of Hunt Avenue. Staff said the design package for four blocks is nearly complete, but available funding will allow full excavation and rebuild of the block between Fourth and Main streets next year; features will include drainage fixes, utilities replacement and public‑space treatments that reference Great Sand Dunes themes.
- Alley activation: Reynolds Engineering was the low bidder for an alley activation project paid by a $2 million DOLA grant. Staff said three alleys on the south side of Highway 160 were prioritized for resurfacing, drainage improvements and “activation” elements rather than complete excavation required for some north‑side alleys.
- Tierra Azul and other housing projects: Staff confirmed a Tierra Azul groundbreaking scheduled for Monday, March 24. Tierra Azul is the first phase of a larger effort that ultimately plans about 400 housing units; the first phase includes 137 units. Staff described ongoing coordination with Community Builders and other partners and said the project represents the city’s most significant housing pipeline lead.
- Housing‑rehab technical assistance: The city is working with an out‑of‑state consultant and Colorado-based Community Builders to design a program that intervenes earlier on houses at risk of becoming unsalvageable; the consultants are pulling examples from across the country and meeting with a stakeholder group that includes local contractors and bankers.
Council and staff remarks
Council members thanked staff for coordinating utility companies, CDOT and grant partners. Staff said utility relocations and CDOT standards add scope and cost to street projects; they noted the Hunt block will be designed to meet CDOT requirements for a multimodal corridor.
Next steps
Design completion and bids for the Hunt block and alley activation will continue; staff said they submitted a multimodal grant application but expected strong competition. The housing‑rehab technical assistance project is due to deliver actionable recommendations in May, and Tierra Azul’s first phase will proceed with a public groundbreaking.
Ending note
Councilors and staff described the next weeks as a pivotal period for construction season planning and outreach to residents about work downtown and in new housing areas.
