Albuquerque Rail Yards Redevelopment

• Urban Land Institute: An Advisory Services Panel Report

• Rail Yards Advisory Board

Background

In November, 2007 the City of Albuquerque purchased the 27.3 acre site known as the Albuquerque Rail Yards. This site and its significant historic structures, located in the historic Barelas neighborhood and between the rail road tracks and 2nd Street, reflect an important part of Albuquerque's economic and industrial past. The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad established locomotive repair shops and offices at the site in the 1880s and these were modernized and expanded by the Santa Fe Railway from 1912 onwards. The Santa Fe Railway was one of Albuquerque's biggest employers and played a significant role in the development of the city. The shops were in full operation until the 1950s, with the switch from steam engines to diesel engines. After the switch from steam to diesel, the rail yards continued to be used for some repairs and storage.

Information for this section came from Chris Wilson, J.B. Jackson Professor of Cultural Landscape Studies and Director of the Historic Preservation and Regionalism Program, both at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of New Mexico

History of the Rail Yards Site: An assessment of significance.

Engine being carried in the railroad shops. The property was purchased by the City of Albuquerque in 2007 through state and local funding. (R-07-202, R-07-274, R-07-332)

Urban Land Institute: An Advisory Services Panel Report

The full ULI report is available >>

Following the City's purchase of the Rail Yards in 2007, the City of Albuquerque, along with the Wheels Museum and the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning, invited the Urban Land Institute to conduct an Advisory Services Panel to help the City determine the potential best and highest uses for redeveloping the site. The ULI panel visited for five days, from February 24-29, 2008. The panel, composed of nine experienced individuals involved in planning, architecture and real estate development, was given four non-negotiable parameters:

• The major buildings and the smaller historically significant buildings must be rehabilitated;
• The Wheels Museum will locate its operations in one or more of the historic buildings;
• Redevelopment must have a mixed-income housing component that includes workforce housing;
• Redevelopment must benefit the adjacent neighborhoods.

With these parameters in mind the ULI panel was asked to address a series of questions. Read more: Rail Yard Questions >>

The ULI panel produced a series of recommendations focused on four areas: market potential, planning and design, development strategies, and implementation.

• Market Potential- Various uses are possible on the site but the site's master developer will need to find an anchor user, whether it is conventional retail, commercial, or industrial.
• Planning and Design- No single use or user is likely for the site; therefore, a phased development program is appropriate.
• Development Strategies- The city should select the master developer and the property should be rendered as appealing as possible by eliminating the hurdles to successful development.
• Implementation- Pre-development strategies should include appropriate marketing of the site and the creation of an advisory board to oversee the development process.

The ULI panel report concluded that several steps should be followed prior to the redevelopment of the Rail Yards. One of these steps was to create an advisory board whose responsibilities would include hiring the writer of the RFP, selecting finalists for the RFP and selecting the master developer. The Albuquerque Rail Yards Advisory Board was created in March 2008.

Aerial view of the Santa Fe Railway roundhouse and yards, 1930 PA1968.1.309

Aerial image of the Albuquerque Rail Yards. Shot in 2009.

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Rail Yards Advisory Board

The Rail Yards Advisory Board was formed in March 2008 through Bill no. F/SR-08-47. The composition of the Rail Yards Advisory Board is intended to reflect the diverse interests and stakeholders associated with the site. The following is a list of the Board members and who they represent.

Board Members

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The Rail Yards Advisory Board began meeting in April 2009. Agendas, minutes, presentations and other materials from each Board meeting are available.

Advisory Board Agendas, Minutes and Presentations

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