Santa Fe County selects Santa Cruz public-housing and park improvements for 2025 CDBG application

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners on June 24, 2025, approved a resolution selecting a public-housing rehabilitation and park improvement project in Santa Cruz as the county's 2025 Community Development Block Grant infrastructure application, and committed a 10% cash match and funding for an external project administrator.

Max Hendren, community planner and planning team leader for Santa Fe County, told the board the recommended project would include "improvements to public housing units, replacing windows and re stucco in the units," and enhancements to the Santa Cruz Community Park. He said the project meets the CDBG state and national objective to benefit low- to moderate-income (LMI) persons and that American Community Survey data shows the area qualifies as LMI.

"With a certified cost estimates, engineer cost estimates, we can request more than $500,000," Hendren said, describing the county's plan to procure a certified engineer estimate before submitting an application. He also told commissioners the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration requires an external project administrator and a 10% cash match for CDBG infrastructure grants, and that the county will need to provide site-control documents and complete the required environmental review. Hendren said the project will likely qualify for a categorical exclusion subject to a CEST, which would streamline review.

Commissioner Justin Green described the site as an intergenerational facility that includes the Abdon Lopez senior center, a Boys & Girls Club on site and affordable housing owned by Santa Fe County. "Improving those units as well as investing in the park with playground equipment is a great tribute and support for not only the residents of the community, but the park can be used by all of the folks in Northern Santa Fe County," Green said. He offered the motion to adopt the resolution and said he was "in full support of this."

Commissioner Lisa Kokari Stone seconded the motion. Chair Camilla Bustamante and other commissioners voted in favor and the motion carried. County staff provided the resolution number on the record as 2025073.

Hendren told the board the county has conducted the required pre-project public participation meetings, including a June 20 meeting in the village of Glorietta and earlier hearings before the board, and that staff has corrected a drafting error in the BoardDocs packet to reflect the Glorietta meeting. He said staff anticipates holding a post-project-selection public meeting in the community on July 24 and that the DFA CDBG application deadline is Aug. 19, 2025.

Action taken was adoption of the resolution selecting the Santa Cruz public-housing and park project for the county's 2025 CDBG infrastructure application and committing the county to a phased and full-scope option, a 10% cash match and payment for an external project administrator. Staff will obtain a certified engineer cost estimate to finalize the grant request amount and proceed with required site-control and environmental documentation.