Bernalillo County commissioners have approved the introduction of $46 million in project revenue bonds to finance a mixed-use development that combines affordable housing with public transit infrastructure in one of Albuquerque’s busiest commercial districts.
The Uptown Connect project will transform the current ABQ RIDE Uptown bus transfer station into a transit-oriented development featuring 239 apartment units, commercial space and enhanced public transportation access. Commissioners approved the bond introduction at last week’s administrative meeting.
The development will consist of two main buildings — a five-story Plaza Building and a six-story North Building — surrounding a transit plaza with a small commercial building, totaling more than 211,000 square feet, according to a county press release.
Of the 239 apartments, 203 will be designated as affordable housing with income and rent restrictions tied to the area median income, according to county documents. Units will range from studios to three-bedroom apartments.
“Uptown is one of the most desirable and walkable areas of our city with community spaces like Winrock Park and Park Square Market growing that vibrancy,” County Commission Chair Eric Olivas said in the release. “This collaboration across governments and the private sector builds on the strengths of the neighborhood while adding much-needed, quality affordable housing.”
The project site is located in the city’s densest employment, shopping and entertainment district near Louisiana Boulevard and Interstate 40. The area provides walking access to three shopping malls, two banks, multiple healthcare providers, dozens of restaurants and two grocery stores.
ABQ RIDE is leading the project in partnership with a private developer. The development aims to address three key municipal priorities: housing, sustainable transportation and economic development, according to project materials.
The mixed-use development will provide residents with convenient access to local bus service while creating an active environment for transit riders. Commercial spaces are planned to accommodate various businesses and emerging entrepreneurs.
Project officials estimate the development will provide access to thousands of jobs within 45 minutes of walking and transit travel time from the site.
Final approval for the bond issuance is expected to come before the Board of County Commissioners in January 2026. Upon approval, construction would begin in 2026 and take approximately 2.5 years to complete.
The project represents a collaboration between Bernalillo County, the city of Albuquerque and private developers to create transit-oriented development in an established commercial corridor.
The CABQ needs to approach this project with care and precision. The Uptown area, thanks to the developers and managers of ABQ Uptown Shopping Center, the Winrock redevelopment, the ABQ Uptown Apartments and the new Markana apartments, has been given a much-needed facelift over the last decade+. Their efforts likely prompted the addition of the new Element Hotel by Westin and the Fairfield and TownePlace hotels by Marriott. It’s the closest thing that Albuquerque, and most likely the entire state of NM, has that resembles an upscale and urban lifestyle district, catering to a broad demographic of professionals, young people in their mid 20s-30s, recent relocees, and visitors that are largely weekday travelers here for work. While it is a long way from resembling Phoenix’s Biltmore area, Victory Park in Dallas, or Cherry Creek and LoHi in Denver, it’s a start. And I’m guessing that it’s a start that came with painstaking hurdles, a pile of red tape to sort through, massive investments, and a lot of time and hard work used to attract retailers, restauranteurs, and business owners, convincing them that we are worth the risk that comes with expanding here. They’ve had to weather costly losses caused by retail crime gangs, petty shoplifters, and arsonists; they’ve had many broken windows; and they’ve had the extra expense and efforts necessary for the area to look and feel safe and clean. 239 apartment units spread between 2 multistory buildings, in close proximity to other large complexes, big office buildings, APS Headquarters, 3 shopping centers, and hundreds, if not thousands, of hotel rooms, means high-density living in a highly visible location. The City of Albuquerque does not exactly have a solid reputation when it comes to managing and maintaining its public spaces and affordable housing developments. Drive by any of the city’s affordable housing communities once they are a few years old and several of the same observations can easily be made: 1) poor construction quality 2) poor choice of materials 3) lack of rules for residents or minimal rule enforcement 4) uptick in homeless individuals and encampments close by 5) frequent police presence and 6) lack of private security. Need examples? Silver Gardens, Casa Feliz, Luminaria, the Sundowner, the Gateway Center, many of our city parks, the Alvarado transit station, the ART system and city bus safety in general, the 1st Street/I-40 underpass, or many of the city medians and intersections. Don’t forget that we are talking about a project that claims to be “transit-oriented.”