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Development services update: alleys, Hunt Avenue, Tierra Azul groundbreaking and housing-rehab planning
Summary
City development staff reported progress on downtown banners, a DOLA-funded alley activation project, a funded block of Hunt Avenue slated for full reconstruction, the upcoming Tierra Azul groundbreaking and a technical-assistance program to design a housing-rehabilitation pilot.
City development services staff presented a quarterly update to the Alamosa City Council on March 19 covering downtown public-art banners, an alley activation design contract, planned Hunt Avenue reconstruction, Tierra Azul housing groundbreaking and a technical-assistance grant for housing rehabilitation.
Why it matters: several items affect downtown infrastructure, pedestrian environment and the city's larger housing pipeline; funding decisions and utility coordination will determine which projects proceed in the near term.
Key items reported:
- Downtown banners and public art: staff issued an RFP for artist-designed banners and selected local artist Casey McCoy; the city will fabricate the pieces and replace brackets on decorative light poles downtown.
- Alley activation: Reynolds Engineering (local firm) was the low bidder to design three alleys on the south side of Highway 160; the project is funded in part by $2,000,000 awarded from DOLA and will focus on resurfacing, drainage fixes and public-space activation rather than full excavation in those specific alley segments.
- Hunt Avenue: staff applied for roughly $734,000 to build an additional block of Hunt Avenue. Design work for four blocks is largely complete with about $2.1 million allocated to get all blocks designed; the block targeted for construction next year is between Fourth and Main and will be a full reconstruction to CDOT standards with themed streetscape elements.
- Housing and Tierra Azul: staff are preparing for the Tierra Azul groundbreaking, scheduled for Monday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m.; Tierra Azul is a multi-phase project that will total roughly 400 units when complete and the first phase includes about 137 units, staff said. Development staff described regular coordination with engineering, utilities and grant partners to clear last-minute issues ahead of the groundbreaking.
- Housing-rehab technical assistance: the city is working with national and Colorado technical-assistance partners and a diverse local stakeholder group to design a program aimed at preventing demolition of severely deteriorated houses by intervening earlier with repairs and financing; deliverables are expected by May under a fast timeline.
Other notes: Second Street will be fully rebuilt (below- and above-ground utilities and surface work) this construction season. Staff also reported executing contracts for approximately $1 million in funds to support the historic Boyd structure rehab and amended contracts to cover administrative and infrastructure costs.
Council reaction: council members thanked staff for navigating utility coordination and interagency processes and encouraged continued community outreach for park and housing efforts.
Ending: staff asked council and the public to attend the Tierra Azul groundbreaking and said they will continue monthly coordination with CDOT, utility partners and grant administrators as projects move toward construction.
