Fire Station 9 nears completion; council hears go-bond and housing progress

Kyle Arndt of Public Works gave the GeoOne quarterly update on July 13, reporting progress on the 2022 go-bond projects and related developments.

Arndt said Fire Station 9 is about 95% complete, with total project costs a little over $12 million and construction aiming for mid-August completion. "This project is about 95% complete, and they are racing towards a completion of mid August next month," he said.

Park improvements funded by the go bond included La Llorona Park (construction cost approximately $1.67 million) with ADA improvements and a new restroom expected to reach final permit and opening in the next two weeks. East Mesa Public Recreational Complex work (paired funding) was complete and recently had a ribbon-cutting.

Natalie Green (housing staff) updated the council on affordable housing: Peachtree Canyon Phase 1 was about 99% leased; the East Mesa wait list included roughly 542 applicants across unit sizes; Peachtree Phase 2 and other projects (Arcadia Phase 4, Tierra del Sol, Habitat for Humanity, Paseos Verdes) are in construction or predevelopment; and the city selected TWG as the preferred downtown developer following an RFQ process with five submissions.

Green also described a neighborhood rehabilitation financed by bonds to renovate the Dona Ana Parks Apartments and said she expected further closeouts and permit activity in coming months.

Councilors asked about coordination on utilities and dig-once policies for new subdivisions; Public Works staff said a dig-once policy is being prepared but is not yet fully in effect, and coordination is pursued where possible.