Chuska Opens Green and Affordable Apartments in Gallup

Chuska Apartments Open in Gallup

Gallup now has one of the few environmentally responsive, affordable housing developments in the state. Located off of historic U.S. Route 66 and near the Navajo Nation, the 30-apartment community is dedicated to addressing the housing needs of the low-income and formerly homeless families of Gallup.

The one- to three-bedroom apartments are situated in eight one-story buildings positioned into two elongated courtyards. The property offers family-oriented amenities that include a community center, a playground and a rock garden integrated into an existing natural rock outcropping. Twenty of the apartments are fully subsidized rental units intended for families earning up to 60% of the area median income. Ten apartments have been set aside for formerly homeless families with children to support their efforts in transitioning into permanent placement.

Predevelopment activities were partially funded by the Enterprise Supportive Housing initiative.

The nearly $8 million apartment development was designed by Autotroph, a Santa Fe-based architecture firm that specializes in green design, to increase energy savings and water efficiency through passive solar design, energy-efficient windows, rooftop solar hot water and thermal baseboard heating and rain barrels that harvest water for landscape irrigation. Enterprise Community Partners provided nearly $120,000 in grants through its Green Communities and Supportive Housing initiatives and other funding, and nearly $6.3 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity investment was provided through Enterprise Community Investment Inc.

The Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico purchased the land and developed the apartments with support from The Annenberg Foundation N.M. Mortgage Finance Authority, N.M. Capital Outlay Funds, Federal Home Loan Bank, the city of Gallup and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Continuum of Care. Arviso Construction Co. was the general contractor.

On the Road to Spaceport America

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority and NMDOT have broken ground on road improvements for Spaceport America. Reiman Corp. was awarded the contract in August. Once completed, the improved road will provide better access and allow the construction process at Spaceport America to continue on schedule. The project will improve County Road AO13 from Engle south to the intersection of AO13 and AO39, which is the entrance to Spaceport America. The road will be graded and improved before the application of a chip and seal road surface. Officials are hoping to have work completed before the end of the year, depending on the lead times for the structures.

The newest rendering of Spaceport America in southern N.M.

NMSA officials and the NMDOT are conducting a corridor study for the southern approach to Spaceport America from an exit off Interstate 25 near Hatch. The study will analyze and accept input for proposed alternate routes, and will work to identify the best option. This study should be concluded in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The NMSA also recently issued an RFP to contract with a construction management firm to oversee and manage the construction of Spaceport America. Vertical launches are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2009 and the terminal and hangar facility for horizontal launches should be completed by 2010.

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