Projects
Somos – Somos is a mixed-use development located at Central Avenue and Alcazar Street along Albuquerque’s ART transit route and within the International District. The project includes a four-story building containing 70 one-bedroom residential units, a leasing office, community room with a food pantry, fitness center, dog wash and commercial incubator space intended to contribute to development within the International Marketplace Activity Center. Of the 70 units, 59 are targeted to households that earn less than 60% of the area median income and 11 are set aside for market rate rentals; 80% are reserved for seniors and 20% are not age restricted. The commercial incubator spaces are located on the ground-floor facing Alcazar Street to encourage an active streetscape designed with shade trees, site furnishings, and a physical connection to Talin Marketplace. Financing for this project was provided by Housing New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness.
Consensus Planning’s role included providing outreach to nearby neighborhood associations and adjacent property owners; facilitating public meetings to introduce the project to the neighborhood and respond to questions; and leading the multi-disciplinary project team through the planning entitlement process. This included an extensive review for compliance with the City’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO). The project was approved by the Development Facilitation Team in two meetings, which reflects Consensus Planning’s adeptness in navigating the entitlements process.
Hope Village – Hope Village is a 42-unit supportive housing building north of Downtown Albuquerque that includes behavioral health and lifesaving support services for chronically homeless people with mental illness and addiction issues. The building features trauma-informed design elements with 1-bedroom units on the second and third floors of the building, and common areas, behavioral health and case management services, and a security office on the first floor. Outdoor spaces include a shaded courtyard, community garden area, a safe space for individuals that need additional time to transition from living outside to living indoors. Consensus Planning provided entitlement services, assisted the project architects to ensure compliance with the City’s Integrated Development Ordinance, assisted with the Development Agreement as it related to neighborhood engagement and relations, coordinated with and facilitated meetings with nearby neighborhood associations, and landscape design services.
Tiny Home Village – Tiny Home Village is a 30-unit cooperative community in the Southeast Heights that includes a communal kitchen, laundry, bathroom, showers, office, and meeting rooms; and outdoor community spaces. Consensus Planning worked with the Project Team and City Planning to develop a zoning strategy to allow the development of this unique transitional housing project. The entitlement process involved extensive community outreach, education, and participation in community and neighborhood association meetings. The Tiny Homes Village project received strong community support.
PAH! Hiland Plaza – PAH! Hiland Plaza is a 92-unit, 4-story mixed-use project on Central Avenue developed by the SOL Housing. The project sets aside 85% of the units for low income families at the 60% area median income level, and includes pass-through funding of HOME dollars from HUD, project-based vouchers from the Albuquerque Housing Authority, and state allocated low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC). The building design is inspired by the Streamline Moderne style along Albuquerque’s Route 66 and includes several elements of this unique style, including curving corners, sweeping horizontals, contrasting colors, and bold neon signage. PAH! Hiland Plaza was developed in in partnership with the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico. Consensus Planning provided project entitlement services, including approvals for the site plan and variances to the building facades.
Gateway Center – The Gateway Center is a City of Albuquerque project designed to provide temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness. In 2019, the City was given a mandate from Albuquerque voters who approved $14 million in GO bonds for a facility that provides temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque. Consensus Planning provided entitlement and planning services on the project, including a conditional use required for overnight shelters. We also assisted the Family and Community Services Department with an extensive public outreach effort. The project was controversial, but after going through a lengthy appeal process, the City has moved forward with the project.
The Sundowner – The Sundowner was designed as an adaptive reuse of a historic motel on Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) for mixed-income housing. Consensus Planning provided assistance to NewLife Homes on entitlements, including a zone map amendment and site plan, and landscape design services. The project included the development of three different parking levels that were tied to the level of need being served. The project was appealed by an adjacent property owner and Consensus Planning provided planning support through the appeal process, which was ultimately denied by the City.
Luna Lodge – Luna Lodge was designed as an adaptive reuse of a historic motel on Central Avenue (Historic Route 66) for persons with mental illness, physical disabilities, the elderly, and persons who are homeless. Consensus Planning provided assistance to NewLife Homes on entitlements, including a zone map amendment and site plan, and landscape design services. Luna Lodge is on the National Historic register, which required balancing historic preservation concerns with the redevelopment and adaptive reuse of the property. Prior to construction, NewLife Homes secured approval from the National Park Service for the project.
Broadway and McKnight Affordable Housing – Consensus Planning was engaged by the Albuquerque Housing Authority to secure zoning and site plan approvals, and be the primary point of contact to the Santa Barbara Martineztown neighborhood for a redevelopment project on Broadway Boulevard. The redevelopment project replaced the previous 30-unit residential development, which was developed in the 1970’s and had fallen into severe disrepair, with a new 54-unit townhouse and apartment project. Prior to construction, the Albuquerque Housing Authority assisted existing residents with other housing and gave those residents priority in moving back to the community. The project was designed with the units oriented towards Broadway and McKnight streets with porches and direct connections to the adjacent public sidewalk. The primary vehicular entrance was relocated from Broadway Boulevard to McKnight Avenue. A combination opaque block wall with view fencing above lines the south property edge that abuts Martineztown-Santa Barbara Park. Common amenities include a community building, play spaces with equipment, benches, and a community garden.
CLOVIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN
Client: City of Clovis, NM
Year: 2024-25
The purpose of the Clovis Affordable Housing Plan was to assess the existing and future housing needs of the community, and to provide recommendations for addressing those needs. The Affordable Housing Plan was developed in coordination with the City of Clovis, the Affordable Housing Steering Committee appointed by the City Commission, and in consultation with Housing New Mexico (formerly known as New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority). The Affordable Housing Plan is in full compliance with the New Mexico Affordable Housing Act, NMSA 1978, §6-27-1 et seq. (Act), enabling the City of Clovis to adopt an affordable housing ordinance and to engage in public private partnerships in pursuit of addressing the need for affordable housing in the community.
As required under the rules of the Act, the Clovis Affordable Housing Plan provides the following four major elements:
- Community and Housing Profile:
- Housing Needs Assessment
- Land Use and Policy Review
- Goals, Policies, and Quantifiable Objectives
The planning process also included a strong component of public engagement. The City Commission established a Steering Committee of community members and representatives of various entities that are concerned about housing challenges in Clovis who met and worked with the consultant Consensus Planning throughout the process. Consensus Planning designed and administered a Community Survey to ascertain community perspectives about housing and interviewed various members of the community, including real estate professionals, bankers, and economic development specialists. The Clovis Affordable Housing Plan was approved by Housing New Mexico and the City Commission.