Las Cruces Development News

[desertpunk]

Sapphire Energy Wins $144 Million Grant For 'Green Crude' Facilities Around Las Cruces

Yep, it's algae.


Sapphire's proposed algae crude farm in Columbus NM UCSD

[rockin'.baltimorean]

sweeeeeeeeeet!!!

[desertpunk]

Las Cruces Ranks Among The Nation's Fastest Growing Metros

LAS CRUCES - Southern New Mexico's largest city continues to grow. U.S. Census Bureau reports that Las Cruces was the 30th fastest-growing metropolitan area in the U.S. between 2010 and 2011.

Las Cruces was the only New Mexico metro area that made the Census Bureau's list of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas, according to the New Mexico Business Weekly.

The Las Cruces area's population grew by 2.1 percent, or 4,364 people, between April 2010 and July 2011. In 2011, the area had a population of 213,598. New Mexico's population grew by 6,733 during the period, for a 0.3 percent growth rate.

Bernalillo County's population grew by 1,861, or 0.3 percent.

[desertpunk]

'Third Power Center' May Be On The Way

The Kohl's in North Las Cruces could be joined by several other major retailers.

Drive around Las Cruces, and you will see a variety of retail developments, from large shopping centers with national retailers to small strip malls with a few “mom and pop” shops. Retail development projects have made recent news in Las Cruces, including the closure of Sportsman’s Warehouse, the impending arrival of Dick’s Sporting Goods and the retention of Best Buy.

What does it take to build a shopping center? How do retailers decide where to locate their stores? Jake Redfearn, commercial real estate broker at NAI 1st Valley, described the lifecycle of a retail shopping center.

First, a developer identifies a potential site and solicits interest in the location from retailers, Redfearn said. Interested retailers then analyze the demographics of the site’s surrounding area, and create cost and sales estimates to determine the rent they would be willing to pay, he said. The developer then combines the rent estimates to determine the amount they will bid to purchase the property.

“Usually two or three tenants are signed on to move in to a development before land is purchased,” Readfearn said. “Banks are not interested in financing speculative dirt. Neighborhood strip malls are comprised of a large grocery store and smaller tenants,” he said. “Shadow centers are developments that are built near a discount superstore such as Walmart or Target. Power centers are comprised of one to two national big box retailers, such as Best Buy or Home Depot, and smaller national stores.” Power centers are the only types of retail developments that attract customers from outside the shopping center’s pre-existing traffic flow, he said.

One NAI 1st project will become Las Cruces’s third power center if all goes according to plan. The Triviz Plaza shopping center already houses the 68,000-square-foot Kohl’s store. NAI 1st has received three letters of intent from smaller retailers interested in development as well, Redfearn said.

These letters of intent are contingent upon another national retailer locating in the planned development, Redfearn said. Many retailers find Las Cruces attractive because of the city’s demographics and relatively stable economy.

[desertpunk]

Empty No More: Dick's Sporting Goods, Lithia Motors To Fill Vacant Commercial Spaces

Dick's first Las Cruces location is underway.

LAS CRUCES — A perimeter fence that bears a sign with the name of a contractor has been installed. A couple of trailers are parked out front and work has started to strip and replace the facade. Yes, all indications point to a construction project. In this case, it's the the renovation of the 45,860 square-foot, one-story building at 200 N. Telshor Road where a Dick's Sporting Goods store will open.

While the economy has yet to make up its mind as to whether to actually rebound yet, there have been a few good signs in Las Cruces recently pertaining to some of the large commercial space. In addition to the ex-Sportsman's Warehouse building finding a suitor in the form of Dick's, Medford, Ore.-based Lithia Motors has announced it will open a Dodge dealership in the shuttered Saturn building at 860 N. Telshor Blvd., and we know that six months ago Pro's Ranch Market moved into a large space on El Paseo that had not seen a supermarket for years and revitalized the plaza area.

[desertpunk]

Las Cruces Sun News

If Las Cruces gains third Walmart, how will it affect the East Mesa?


http://www.lascrucesmagazine.com/htm.../economic.html

LAS CRUCES - Southern New Mexico's largest city appears that it will indeed become a three-Walmart town sooner rather than later.

No, the company has not broken ground, or even officially filed for its permits yet, but Las Cruces City building official Robert Kyle is confident those moves are on the not-too-distant horizon. "They are still in the process," Kyle said. "They've completed the second review. There are still some issues to address."

If/when the new store takes shape, it'll be on the East Mesa side of town. Alameda Property Group sold land to Walmart near the southwest corner of Rinconada Boulevard and Northrise Drive, just off U.S. 70 in 2008. A stop light was installed at the intersection of Northrise Drive and Rinconada Boulevard in anticipation of more traffic in the area when the new store does finally open.

In anticipation

Work has started on commercial lots in anticipation of a new Walmart store. Land has been leveled off on Northrise Drive, near Sonoma Elementary School, as it is prepared for commercial lots.

Most of the lots do not have tenants yet, although a bank has eyed one of the corner lots, David Ikard with NAI 1st Valley Commercial Real Estate, has told the Sun-News. Ikard said if and when Walmart goes forward with its plans to build a store in the area, more tenants are expected.

"Everybody is holding out and hoping Walmart will build," Ikard said.

[...]

[va11]

hi niggu

[desertpunk]

New Centennial High School ready for August opening


http://www.lcps.k12.nm.us/LCPS_Overv...toryLCPS.shtml

[Danshee]

That school is amazing! Great job to everyone involved in the project. Wow

[desertpunk]

Target, Walmart To Add More Options For Las Cruces Grocery Shoppers

LAS CRUCES — The grocery store "choice" quotient in Las Cruces will soon bump up several notches.

That's thanks to the recent news that a building permit has been issued for a brand new Walmart store on the East Mesa and the announcement that Target plans to add a grocery department to its Lohman Avenue store.

When asked via Facebook if Las Cruces has too many grocery stores, or not enough, most of the sentiment fell along the lines of: Choice is good. "I was just shopping for groceries and told my husband, 'I wish there were more grocery store locations,'" said Becky Pottinger. "It's always so crowded no matter what day we go."

Brenda Annette Salcido said her husband works as a bread-and-tortilla vendor for the grocery stores in Las Cruces. "There are a lot," she reports. "But (more are) good because they all cater to different people." "I'm glad Target will now have a grocery area," Christina Mandell said.

Research, unscientific, with statistics from the U.S. Census, YellowPages.com and dexknows.com, shows that Las Cruces has about one grocery store per 8,100 residents. Santa Fe has more grocery store choices for its residents with one for about every 6,700 people.

Surprise, Ariz., a city slightly larger than Las Cruces, has fewer choices — about 1 store for every 10,000 residents — but it is also part of the greater Phoenix area and borders Glendale, where a lot

of store listings are located. The El Paso area is, statistically, on par with Las Cruces with about one grocery store for every 8,900 residents.

[desertpunk]

DAC Crisis Triage Center Breaks Ground


http://www.studio-d.biz/?page_id=366

[desertpunk]

Scientific Town Deal Is Canceled


http://www.digitalforreallife.com/ta...obal-holdings/

By Jeri Clausing / The Associated Press on Mon, Jul 16, 2012

The company behind plans to build a scientific ghost town says it is pulling out of a deal to develop the make-believe city near Hobbs.

Pegasus Global Holdings in May announced with much fanfare its selection of a 15-square mile site in Hobbs and Lea County near the Texas border for development of the Center for Innovation, Technology and Testing. Officials said they had hoped to break ground by the end of June.

Last month, Robert Brumley, managing director of the project, said groundbreaking would likely be delayed until August because of problems closing on the land. On Friday evening, he said the group was pulling out “due to some very complicated and unforeseen issues with acquiring the land.” The deal involved both public and private parcels.

The group said it would begin reviewing proposals from 15 other New Mexico communities that had expressed an interest in the project. Hobbs and Las Cruces were the two finalists in the original site selection process. “We are still very committed to locating in New Mexico if a site can be identified,” Brumley said in a statement Friday evening.

New Mexico was initially selected for the project because of its abundance of land and its federal research facilities like White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico and Los Alamos and Sandia national labs.

CITE officials insisted the land deal was the only reason behind the decision.

[...]

Terrible blow for Hobbs which did everything in their power to secure this mammoth development. Las Cruces was the number 2 choice but there are also land issues, as well as infrastructure issues. We'll see if those can be surmounted...

[desertpunk]

Union Pacific $400 Mln Facility Close To Second Phase


http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_...a4bcf6878.html

SANTA TERESA — Nearly a year after ground was broken for a $400 million Union Pacific project in the Santa Teresa area, the company reports that it is almost ready to move on to the second phase of construction. "We're pretty far along in Phase 1," said Zoe Richmond, a Union Pacific spokeswoman. "We've done a lot of ground work." In fact, Richmond said that if one of the company's trains was filled with all the dirt that has been moved in the past year, that train would stretch from Santa Teresa to Albuquerque.

Under construction in southern Doña Ana County is an intermodal yard and refueling facility. An intermodal facility is where freight is transferred from train to truck. In addition to the diesel-fueling site there, will also be a crew-changing station and administration buildings. Richmond said that the construction — the project is 2,200 hundred acres — is expected to be completed in 2015.

Piece of puzzle

One of the expectations is that the new railroad facility will attract other businesses. After Union Pacific built an intermodal location in Joliet, Ill., other companies started to move in nearby. "Within a couple of years Home Depot relocated next to us and has one of its largest regional distribution facilities in the area," Richmond said. "We will be focused on courting new customers, working with other business trying to

get business to grow either in the area or to relocate to this area. "Our marketing department is already starting to woo some of those companies," she said. Richmond said that there is more going on in southern New Mexico than just the railroad. "We hope to really be that anchor, we're a puzzle piece," she said.

[desertpunk]

10 Story Bank Tower Finds Potential Buyer

image hosted on flickr

Bank Tower in downtown Las Cruces, NM by Vladimir-911, on Flickr

LAS CRUCES - The Wells Fargo Bank Tower at 506 S. Main St. - home to Abraham's Bank Tower Restaurant and 17 other tenants - could soon have a new owner.
Wells Fargo has owned the 10-story building since 2001, but now reports that it has found a potential buyer for the location. Because the sale has yet to be completed, Wells Fargo said it will not release the name of the potential buyer or price at this time.

"We have a closing date for the end of August," said Jennifer Riordan, Wells Fargo vice president for community and media relations. She said, though, that the date could change. "The buyer is very excited," Riordan said.

The building is 44 years old and has 100,000 square feet. Wells Fargo occupies 6,200 square feet of the facility and there are 18 total tenants.

This 1967 landmark needs a major overhaul with updated mechanicals, lobbies and (hopefully) a more energy efficient reclad. I hope the new buyer makes these improvements.

[desertpunk]

Genghis Grill Buys Land For Las Cruces Location



This on top of plans by Five Guys, Jason's Deli and Chipotle to enter the Las Cruces market.

[desertpunk]

Commercial Work Pushes Building Permits Higher

Commercial projects are humming and more could be on the way with 900,000 and 120,000 sq. ft. shopping plazas on the boards, medical office buildings, stores, and restaurants are going in as well. The explosion of activity in El Paso and Santa Teresa could drive even more growth in the future.

[desertpunk]

Medoff Theatre at NMSU coming along:

image hosted on flickr

NMSU Center for the Arts by jdmauldin, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

NMSU Center for the Arts by jdmauldin, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

NMSU Center for the Arts by jdmauldin, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr

NMSU Center for the Arts by jdmauldin, on Flickr

[desertpunk]

Canadian Investor Buys City's Tallest Building

image hosted on flickr

Tallest Building in Town by G. O'Graffer, on Flickr

LAS CRUCES — The tallest building in Las Cruces has a new owner and, before too long, will have new signage with a new name.

Known as the Wells Fargo Tower for more than a decade, the 10-story building at 506 S. Main St. - home to 18 tenants - sold on Friday. Wells Fargo bought the building in 2001 and renamed it. Before that, it was known as the First National Bank building. The tower originally opened in 1966.

The buyer is a Canadian real estate investor who reports there are plans to upgrade the common areas and building systems through the next several years. The buyer's name was not revealed, but the deed filed with Doña Ana County reports the new owner as Las Cruces Tower LLLP.

Randy McMillan, owner of NAI 1st Valley Realty in Las Cruces, reports that he represented the buyer in the transaction. "This a great example of the benefit of belonging to the NAI Global network; I've known the buyer for quite a while and this deal made good sense to them," McMillan said. "It's a pleasure to find a win-win for the seller and the buyer."

The sale price was not disclosed on the deed and neither buyer or seller was willing to give the price. According to the Doña Ana County Assessor's office, the property was assessed this year at a value of $3 million.

Jennifer Riordan, Wells Fargo vice president for community and media relations, reports that the company will soon clear out. "Wells Fargo will be exiting the tower within 60 days," she said. Riordan said that the company has a conference room and some training rooms in the building and those will be moved to a facility it has on Telshor.

Downtown Partnership Board President Hal Henthorne was pleased with the news of the sale. "This is an exciting development for an important part of the Downtown area," Henthorne said. "We welcome the new ownership of the tower."

Louis Edwards with NAI 1st Valley said that he did not know what the building's new name would become, but he said that Las Crucens can eventually expect to see a new sign to replace the Wells Fargo name.

[...]

[desertpunk]

Space Shuttle Endeavor To Fly Over Las Cruces In A Farewell

LAS CRUCES — It's one last chance to say good-bye.

Later this month, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will sail over White Sands Missile Range, NASA facilities on the East Mesa and the city of Las Cruces on its farewell voyage across America.

NASA officials announced this week the shuttle will make a special pass over the Las Cruces area — thanks to its decades-long involvement with the U.S. space shuttle program and a "fortuitous" location along the shuttle's flight path to California. Endeavour be retired there.

The shuttle will be carried piggyback aboard a Boeing 747 and is expected to make its flight through Las Cruces skies on Sept. 19, weather-permitting.

NASA White Sands Test Facility — located off the Baylor Canyon Road Exit off U.S. Hwy. 70 — put in a request to have the shuttle fly over not only the federal facilities, but also the nearby city, which has been home to many employees over the years, said Robert Cort, public affairs officer for the test facility.

"I think it will be very impressive," said Cort, who witnessed the most-recent local shuttle flyover in 2009. "They'll probably make some banking turns to let people see it."

Officials emphasized that the schedule is heavily weather-dependent. Poor conditions in Las Cruces —or other places farther along the planned flight path — could cause delays or changes.

But, barring a disruption, Endeavour is likely to arrive in the local area between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Sept. 19, according to a NASA news release.

[desertpunk]

Endeavour Salutes Las Cruces and NASA TDRSS at Johnson Space Center:





http://www.knoxnews.com/photos/galle...ifornia/52920/