Sol Housing has begun construction on Somos, a 70-unit mixed-income apartment community in Albuquerque’s International District.
The project aims to provide affordable housing, particularly for seniors, and will include commercial space and access to transit.
Located near Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard, Somos will feature 59 income-restricted and 11 market-rate units. Eighty percent of the apartments will be reserved for residents aged 55 and older, with a focus on accessibility and safety. The remaining twenty percent will be open to residents of all ages.
Sol Housing aims to provide affordable senior housing that meets the needs of Albuquerque’s growing population of older adults. According to Sol, research shows that mixed-income communities can generate both financial and social benefits, including neighborhood revitalization, deconcentration of poverty, and improvements in safety, health, and sustainable living environments.
“As our population ages, we’re making sure Albuquerque’s growth includes thoughtful planning for our older residents,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “Projects like Somos help more seniors stay in the communities they love—close to family, services, and the support they need to age with dignity.”
The development incorporates Universal Design Standards, including two elevators, to allow residents to age in place. Somos differentiates itself from Sol Housing’s other senior-focused projects by emphasizing mixed-income housing, which is expected to foster social connections and community engagement.
“We believe that mixed-income housing developments offer the foundation to create upward mobility for residents and communities,” said Miriam Hicks, Director of Housing Development at Sol Housing. “Housing that is affordable is critical to economic stability and to creating the thriving, joyful neighborhood we all desire. Somos residents will support local businesses including the emerging small businesses leasing our commercial spaces.”
In addition to housing, Somos will include an on-site food pantry, fitness room, pet area, community space, and commercial square footage for local small businesses and nonprofits.
The project supports the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan, which focuses on stabilizing low-income neighborhoods and expanding affordable housing. Somos will also include landscaping, lighting, and street activation improvements.
Albuquerque City Councilors approved $6.1 million in April for Somos to be built. The council directed $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money toward the project, along with $5.1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The City’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) supported Somos by donating the land and facilitating its approval for the Redevelopment Tax Abatement (RTA) Program—an MRA incentive that freezes property tax increases for seven years to promote long-term affordability. The project also received significant public investment, including:
- $4 million from the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund in the form of a loan;
- Approximately $1.6 million annually in 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for 10 years;
- $158,756 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for infrastructure improvements.
“This project brings a long-standing community vision to life by turning a vacant lot into high-quality, affordable housing,” said Terry Brunner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. “With tools like our tax abatement program, we can support developments like Somos that address urgent housing needs while helping create safer, more vibrant corridors in the International District.”
Construction is expected to be completed in December 2026.