Architects ready to help Santa Fe plan its future

The Santa Fe Chapter of the American Institute of Architects would like to express our thanks to Mayor Alan Webber and our City Council for unanimously approving the now-ratified 2022 city budget. This budget evidences a commitment to carefully managing land use and growth, addressing affordable housing, and dedication to our shared public spaces.

We are particularly encouraged by the total budget increase of almost 20 percent for the Land Use Department, and the 155.5 percent increase for the Affordable Housing Department, which includes a $3 million investment in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

We are also happy to hear city leadership is beginning the work to develop a growth management plan for the city of Santa Fe. A new framework is needed to support conscious and inclusive development that will benefit our city’s current and future inhabitants. Funding alone is not enough to make positive change happen, but it’s a great first step.

The Santa Fe AIA will continue to support and collaborate with the city in its planning and design efforts, either through the Land Use Working Group (along with our colleagues in the design, construction and real estate industries), or with our design assist team.

We know there are many endeavors that city leadership is undertaking related to design, architecture and planning. The Midtown redevelopment, the streetlight conversion project and the potential of Las Estrellas are all opportunities for which we can share expertise. As citizen architects, we look forward to working in partnership with the city to develop a collective vision for Santa Fe’s future.

Kristen A. Fox 2021 president Santa Fe Chapter American Institute of Architects