Bernalillo County directs manager to seek rapid redevelopment options for Union Square site

The Bernalillo County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 4 to direct the county manager to pursue redevelopment options and community input for the county-owned Union Square property in downtown Albuquerque. The resolution asks staff to solicit ideas from the development community, consider procurement methods and return to the commission with prioritized recommendations so commissioners can decide how to proceed. Commissioners said the downtown site — next to the Rail Runner corridor and future trail alignment — offers an opportunity for mixed-use development that could include affordable housing and other anchors to increase downtown activity. County Manager Madalyn Madrigg told the commission the county has already completed a phase 1 environmental study, is finishing a phase 2 study, and has a housing study in its final stages. Madrigg said staff will provide those studies to potential partners and consider engineering and acoustic analyses because of the site's proximity to the rail line. Commissioners emphasized balancing historic preservation of the existing structure with economic viability. Several commissioners urged transparency and broad outreach to attract for-profit and nonprofit partners, and asked that staff include cost summaries of studies already completed and planned so the board can track public expenditures. The county manager said staff also will evaluate interim uses for the building to keep it active and secure while redevelopment options are developed. The resolution was sponsored by Chair Olivas and Commissioner Barbara Baca and passed on a 5–0 vote. The motion asks the county manager to return with procurement and redevelopment options, and to present recommended next steps in priority order based on public and developer input. The county manager said the next steps will include outreach to the development community, evaluation of procurement approaches (including RFQ/RFP paths), and compiling the environmental, structural and housing studies to help potential partners prepare proposals. Commissioners said they expect staff to report back with options that show likely costs, financing mechanisms and how the county could preserve or redevelop the existing building.