On looking forward

First, we must look back to 2017, the year with an important reversal trend for Santa Fe. The pendulum swung for two fundamental needs for the health of our City. The demand for decent housing now supersedes professional job opportunities here. According to the LinkedIn website, on Jan. 26 2018, there were 2,978 job opportunities within 25 miles of Santa Fe.

As more job openings are created in Santa Fe, the continuum of housing needs increases. To quote from “Our View” in the Santa Fe New Mexican on Oct. 21 2017, “The lack of sufficient housing for working families and young professionals in Santa Fe is one topic on which everyone can agree. With Santa Fe anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 units short – some estimates go as high as 6,800 – a growing movement is seeking to make workforce housing an important priority for the city.” These numbers will grow as we gain momentum in 2018. This need was voiced in a New Mexican article of last Aug. 7: “The Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce is calling this workforce housing issue the most important obstacle to business expansion in Santa Fe.”

Where are we now? Summarizing information from the Land Use Department on multi-family development projects as of Dec. 12 2017, there are approximately 630 units approved, 90 of which are under construction – the handsome Railyard Flats (58 units) at 701 Camino de la Familia scheduled for completion this spring, and the River Trail Lofts (32 condos). In the permitting pipeline are approximately 1,235 units.

This segues directly into an exciting and pivotal year for Santa Fe. This Marchwe elect a “strong” mayor, who for the first timewill hold a full-time position at City Hall. This person should be qualified to serve our community with leadership, experience and business acumen, while maintaining sensitivity to our multicultural heritage and history.

Are City and Land Use departments adequately staffed, trained and accountable to provide the level of service needed to guide submitted housing projects through the permitting/approval stages? It is encouraging to hear that the city’s Land Use Department in in the process of developing an online portal for the public to interface digitally and check the status of building permits.

We leave you, city voters, to evaluate our mayoral candidates’ priorities on the need to create a sustainable City Reál.

We bring a new look to real estate to help integrate you within our community. A profound love and knowledge of Santa Fe combined with a fresh outlook, vitality, experience, local insight, and fun make Penelope (505-690-3751, penelope.vasquez@ sothebyshomes.com) and Drew (505-470-9194, drew.lamprich@sothebyshomes.com) your trusted real-estate advisors.