By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The long-promised Uptown Connect housing project at Albuquerque’s Uptown transit hub is finally moving toward construction, with $31.2 million in new financing approved this week. But the project looks different on paper than it did last year, with fewer apartments, a lower price tag and a different financing package. […]
Local Government
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County plugs into $510M battery farm deal that could give school budgets a jolt
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Two battery farms planned for the mesa west of Rio Rancho could pump about $560,000 a year into Sandoval County and its five school districts, with Rio Rancho and Jemez Valley schools getting the biggest charge. County commissioners voted Sept. 23 to begin the process of issuing up to $510 […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Midterm review: Rio Rancho weighs future of untouched city goals
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho has crossed 19 items off its five-year to-do list. Six more are still “on deck,” including a rewrite of the map that guides where new homes and businesses can grow. City staff want councilors to decide whether those goals stay in the lineup or head for the dugout. […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Hail to the Chief: Picchione sworn in to lead Bernalillo Fire
By Rodd Cayton Bryan Picchione is excited about the future for Bernalillo Fire Rescue. Picchione, sworn in Sept. 28 as the town’s new fire chief, says that not only is a new fire station on the horizon, he’s applied for grants that could help the department do its job even better. The town hosted a […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Councilor Dan Lewis wants more say for neighborhood associations, less for coalitions in ABQ development
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — When the City of Albuquerque approves a development project, construction may still be a long way off. Residents and community groups can challenge approved projects through city appeals and, in some cases, state court. Councilor Dan Lewis has proposed four companion measures that would change who can appeal those […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Five electric buses, zero passengers: ABQ electric buses not used since last December
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s first electric buses were supposed to be the start of a shift toward cleaner public transportation. Four years later, all five are still in the city’s fleet but have not carried passengers since December because of mechanical problems and difficulty getting parts. The city rolled out the fleet […]
Posted inNM.news
City’s recycling test could mean fewer pickups for some residents
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For some Burqueños, trash day will soon mean one less bin to take to the curb each week. The city is starting a pilot program that will switch blue recycling bin pickup from weekly to every other week. Starting today, the city’s Solid Waste Management Department will test the […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Controversial Lomas Encantadas vote postponed amid heated exchange and councilor apology
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A Rio Rancho city councilor apologized to residents Thursday and named the Planning and Zoning Board’s chairman as the reason, after a hearing on the Lomas Encantadas rezoning two nights before ended in a delay, a shouted objection from the audience and a remark from the chairman that drew the […]
Posted inCorrales
Light at the end of the pipe: Corrales Siphon project reaches major milestone
By Rodd Cayton The difficult part of the Corrales siphon replacement project is done, Jason Casuga told village councilors at their Sept. 22 meeting. Casuga, CEO and chief engineer for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), said the specialized drilling equipment required for running pipes below the riverbed will be going away, and crews […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Six months of lawsuits left Albuquerque with a $4.38 million tab
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mayor Tim Keller sent two overdue quarterly litigation reports to the City Council last month, revealing $4.38 million in lawsuit settlements over six months, including a case in which a police SWAT operation burned down a family’s home and killed a teenage boy hiding inside. At its Sept. 21 […]