Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Los Alamos Council approves 20th Street redevelopment agreement, authorizes up to $3.63M in public‑improvement reimbursements
Summary
The County Council unanimously approved ordinance 735 to sell the 20th Street site to RBMM Development and require delivery of mixed‑use redevelopment, with the county offering up to $3,630,055 in reimbursements for trail, intersection and pedestrian improvements and retaining publication requirements set by the charter.
The Los Alamos County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt Ordinance 735, approving a purchase and development agreement for the 20th Street parcel that will allow the selected developer to build mixed‑use housing and retail while the county reimburses certain public improvements.
Housing and special projects manager Dan Osborne told the council the property—comprising three parcels of roughly three acres across from Ashley Pond—will be sold at appraised value and that the county will reimburse on a reimbursement basis for public improvements “not to exceed $3,630,055” as provided in the conceptual engineer’s estimate. Developer Russell Bratt said the concept emphasizes walkability and trail connectivity, and includes ground‑floor retail, public plazas and a connection to the Canyon Rim Trail.
The proposed terms call for an earnest money deposit at the start of due diligence and staged deposits during site‑plan and permit phases. The developer estimated a best‑case start of construction in 2028 and said extensive public benefits would include trail easements, intersection and pedestrian improvements and on‑ and off‑site lighting and parking changes.
Councilors pressed the development team on contract protections and schedule risks. Dan Osborne said the draft agreement contains a set of “off‑ramps” during due diligence and entitlement periods so either party can terminate if material issues appear; the parties keep monies according to contract terms in those cases. Councilor Reedy pressed for construction‑cost context; the developer gave a back‑of‑envelope estimate of about $130 million in construction and projected county gross‑receipts tax receipts on the build of roughly $9.5 million (with about $4.5 million retained locally) as an order‑of‑magnitude figure.
A public commenter, Lisa Shin, asked the council to require a current appraisal and to include contractual safeguards ensuring the county’s public‑improvement contribution supports affordable small‑business retail, saying the packet used a 2022 appraisal and community businesses need affordable retail space.
Councilor Neil Clinton moved to adopt ordinance 735; the motion was seconded and carried on a 7‑0 roll call. Council staff said the ordinance and development agreement will proceed through the publication and finalization steps required by the county charter.
The council’s adoption authorizes staff to proceed with next steps in the sale and site‑plan process; further permitting, site plan approval and final entitlements remain required before vertical construction can begin.
