Santa Fe County authorizes manager to negotiate purchase of Rodeo Park site for youth behavioral health center

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners on July 29 voted to authorize the county manager to negotiate purchase of a commercial property on Rodeo Park Drive East to serve as a multi‑agency Youth Behavioral Health Center.

County staff presented a data‑driven planning process and a recommended site at 2933 Rodeo Park Drive East, identified after a year of needs assessment, partner input, focus groups with youth and families, and a six‑site search. County real property staff said the building was occupied by the National Center for Genome Research since 1999, appraised at $7,000,000 and offered at $7.2 million; a draft condition report listed about $606,000 in near‑term repairs and county facilities staff estimated roughly $1.5 million for interior modifications and tenant fit‑out, meaning total near‑term costs could exceed $9 million when purchase and upgrades are combined.

The county manager said the building is zoned for the intended use, has a modular layout that could accommodate multiple service providers, and is proximate to health facilities and schools to support referrals. Chanel Delgado, director of Youth and Family Services, said the RFP process that will follow acquisition would invite qualified service providers to co‑locate and that services should be low‑ or no‑barrier for youth and families.

Commissioners pressed staff on the condition report, scope of likely renovations, transit access, sidewalks and safety near the site, and whether specific upgrade costs could be negotiated into the purchase price. Commissioner Lisa Kakari Stone said the draft inspection is preliminary and urged that public works and facilities produce firm bid estimates; staff said the identified building repairs were short‑term needs and not immediately blocking occupancy but that accurate bid pricing would require the county to obtain contractor estimates as part of due diligence. Commissioner Justin Green urged negotiating known repairs into the purchase price and planning upfront so tenant services are not disrupted later.

Commissioners also discussed funding sequencing: earlier votes on the fiscal year 2026 budget included a $7 million placeholder for the youth behavioral health center but staff explained specific site purchase and fit‑out dollars would be subject to later approvals and project budgets. Several commissioners urged county staff to pursue grants, legislative requests, philanthropic sponsorships and state funds alongside county capital so the county did not shoulder the entire cost.

The motion to grant the county manager authority to negotiate purchase was made by Commissioner Hank Hughes, seconded by Commissioner Kakari Stone, and carried unanimously. The board recorded the resolution number as 2025‑086. No provider contracts were approved at the meeting; staff said an RFP will follow acquisition and that service partners have not yet been formally selected.

The board requested that facilities and procurement deliver a clear, itemized due‑diligence budget (roof, stucco, HVAC, parking repair, accessibility upgrades, interior demolition and trauma‑informed fit‑out) before final purchase and that staff seek to incorporate repair costs into negotiated purchase terms where feasible.