Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Acquisition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County previews planned purchase in White Rock to realign Longview Drive; item to return June 10
Summary
Staff briefed council on a proposed purchase of three condominium units in Sherwood Village (White Rock) for $927,470 to assemble right-of-way for a Longview Drive realignment. Council will consider the purchase on June 10, after which design and potential demolition would follow.
Los Alamos County staff on May 20 briefed the County Council on a planned purchase of privately owned condominium units in the Sherwood Village area of White Rock that the county would use to realign Longview Drive and create a more walkable main-street corridor.
What staff described - Parcel and owners: The parcel includes three adjacent buildings commonly referred to as 112 (three condo units), 124 and 126 Longview Drive; ownership is divided among a Handy Family Trust (112a/b/c, represented by agent Mr. Gursky), M and M Safe Holdings (124) and a private owner identified as Tadeus Raven (126). All owners have indicated they would sell at the county’s proposed price.
- Purchase terms and price: The draft purchase-and-sale agreement attached to the staff report lists a collective purchase price of $927,470 (appraiser’s estimated value cited by staff). The purchase would require dissolving the existing homeowners association that holds common areas and coordinating closings among multiple owners.
- Purpose and next steps: The county would acquire and clear (demolish) existing vacant buildings, re-establish right-of-way, and build a realigned Longview Drive with on‑street parking, bike lanes and pedestrian improvements. The county has CIP funding for roadway design and construction; staff said design work would begin after the closing and that construction could start in 2026 depending on project scheduling and resource availability.
Fiscal and program context - Funding: Staff said funding for design and construction is included in the CIP; precise construction cost estimates will follow after design. A negotiation point with the primary owner includes an agreement to purchase residual buildable land back at the same per‑square‑foot rate as the county purchase, if the owner elects to redevelop.
Council questions and clarifications - Timeline: Staff told council the item will return on June 10 for formal council consideration; if approved, closing would be scheduled shortly thereafter and design work would begin in the season that follows. - Future sale of remainder parcels: Staff said they have not defined the right‑of‑way boundaries or calculated expected resale proceeds for residual parcels and that those figures will depend on the final alignment and design.
Quote from the record - "The county’s participation would be to assemble the land ... The county will demolish the existing, vacant buildings, will establish new right away to build this road with on street parking and bike lanes and trails and things like make it very walkable," staff summarized.
Next steps: Council consideration is scheduled for June 10. If council approves acquisition, staff will schedule the closing and begin design work and utility coordination for the Longview Drive realignment.
