County, developer outline Twentieth Street redevelopment plan to add housing, retail and trail connections; county to consider draft agreement in August

Los Alamos County staff and RBMM Development presented a concept and high‑level business terms on July 20 for redeveloping the three‑acre Twentieth Street parcel across from Ashley Pond into a mixed‑use project with housing, retail, structured parking and a park linking the Canyon Rim Trail to downtown.

The development team said the project aims to increase residential density near downtown amenities, activate pedestrian corridors, and deliver a park and trail connection to Ashley Pond. Renderings presented by the developer showed a multi‑story, mixed‑use scheme with roughly 25,000 square feet of retail, public amenity spaces, an amphitheater and an amenity deck for residents.

Financial and public‑benefit terms

Staff said the selected developer would purchase county land at an appraised price of $1,770,000 and pursue site‑plan approvals and entitlements. The county’s proposed participation would reimburse the developer for certain public improvements on a not‑to‑exceed basis; staff cited a county contribution estimate of about $3,630,000 for public improvements including trail connections, design and installation of a new traffic signal at Trinity and Twentieth, intersection improvements, roadway striping, on‑street parallel parking and street lighting. The county’s reimbursement would be on a pay‑for‑performance basis; if costs exceed the county cap the developer would be responsible.

Staff said the developer will execute necessary easements for the Canyon Rim Trail and that the project would be brought back as a draft purchase‑and‑development agreement and an ordinance for introduction, potentially on Aug. 5, if the council is agreeable.

Questions from council and public

Councilors asked about parking, unit types and timelines. Developers said the plan includes compact structured parking (a stacking/automated system) to preserve open space; the presentation cited an internal estimate of roughly 400 parking spaces and that construction—after site approvals and closing—could take about two years, with contractual milestone language allowing up to 63 months from closing to completion. Staff and the developer said the county’s contribution would be reimbursed after the developer completes the public improvements, and that the county would include a detailed cost estimate as an attachment to any draft agreement.

Public commenters asked whether county subsidies were excessive and whether rents would be affordable for small business and residential ownership. The developer said market‑rate units are intended to help subsidize retail space and that deed‑restricted or affordable units are a separate, parallel effort the county also pursues.

Why it matters

The proposal responds to the county’s downtown master plan, DTLA zoning and housing goals by adding housing close to downtown businesses and connecting the urban trail network. The payment structure and public‑benefit items — especially a traffic signal and trail easement — are significant because they commit public money to infrastructure that the county says supports broader downtown revitalization.

What’s next

Staff and the developer plan to return a draft development agreement and ordinance for council introduction as soon as the August 5 meeting if the council agrees with the concept. The agreement will include a detailed cost schedule for the public improvements and milestone dates for entitlements and construction.