SF is seeking best use of its Midtown Campus
National firms hired to look at housing, ed, digital
SANTA FE - Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber likes to call the 64-acre property near the geographic center of town a “once-ina-lifetime opportunity” for the city and for businesses which may want to locate there.
Just over a year ago, the Santa Fe University of Art and Design vacated the 60-acre city-owned property, leaving the city without a major tenant to help pay off what is now a refinanced $1.7 million annual debt service for the nearly $30 million it borrowed from the state to purchase the site in 2009.
On Tuesday, the city announced it has selected two nationally recognized firms to help determine how the property off St. Michael’s Drive may be best used.
Strategic Economics, a women-owned firm based in Berkeley, Calif., was picked to provide the city with analysis and urban planning under a oneyear $365,000 contract. And Philadelphia-based U3 Advisors was selected to manage civic engagement under a fourmonth $65,000 contract, according to a news release.
The contracts still need City Council approval, which is expected by the end of the month.
“We are excited by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that this location provides and encouraged by the tremendous response we are getting from some of the most experienced firms from around the country,” Webber said. “It is a testament to the reputation and appeal of our historic city that these people want to be a part of this project.”
The city says the focus of development of the Midtown Campus will be on housing, higher education and digital entertainment. The Garson Studios film studio is on the campus.
Strategic Economics has worked with cities all over the country “to encourage investment in infill and transit-served locations,” according to its website. Among its clients is the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which provides bus transportation services in central New Mexico and operates the Rail Runner Express commuter train.
U3 Advisors also has a long client list that includes business, developers, government organizations and academic institutions throughout the country, including the Midtown Detroit TechTown District.
City government also plans to issue a “Request for Expression of Interest” to developers and other entities interested in developing the campus.