Retail development planned for Rio Rancho

By Jimmy Currier
Observer staff writer
Published on Sunday, August 30, 2009 12:13 AM MDT

Rio Rancho City Council heard a proposal from Sandia View LLC to create a Tax Increment Development District for a $103 million project called the Village at Rio Rancho.

Jill Sweeney, an attorney with  the law firm representing Sandia LLC, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, said the project would be similar to Albuquerque Uptown.

“This is an exciting project,” Sweeney said. “It is a unique state of the art lifestyle center that Rio Rancho doesn’t have. It will be a positive contribution to the city and its residents.”

The project would be built in three phases and include retail, office and hotel space in an outdoor, urban-street environment. If completed, the Village at Rio Rancho would be located on 75 acres, just north of the now-under-construction Presbyterian Medical Center off Unser and Black Arroyo in the southern part of the city.

The project would create 794 direct jobs, 627 indirect jobs and 627 one-time construction jobs, according to the city.

Sandia View officials presented their plan to the City Council in a work session on Wednesday. No action was taken.

The TIDD would help pay for drainage and road improvement projects. Sweeney said the required infrastructure includes realigning the west branch channel that bisects the site and adding roads, water and sewer. She estimated the cost to be $21 million, with $14 million of that funded through a public-private partnership.

A TIDD allows a developer to issue bonds to cover the initial costs of infrastructure and is repaid using a portion of the gross-receipts tax revenues generated by the new development.

More details about that process will arise at two future city council meetings.

On Sept. 9, councilors will vote whether or not to proceed with the project. If they decide to proceed with the project, then there will be a formal hearing on Oct. 14 before a final vote is taken.

If approved, the project’s first phase would start in 2010 and is estimated to create 455,000 square feet of space. The second phase would create 85,000 feet and the third phase would create 174,000 square feet.

“This is an exciting project for the community,” City Manager James Jimenez said. “We get approached about several projects, but where the rubber meets the road is when an applicant puts down cash to do analysis. They have land locked up and land already there.”

Copyright © 2010 Rio Rancho Observer

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Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Rio Rancho Observer.

Brenda wrote on Aug 30, 2009 1:34 PM:

" How about the city bring retail and other businesses to the new City Hall area as promised. Instead of continually developing at the edges of the city. It would sure be nice to not have to drive so far just to go shopping or dine out. "

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2009 1:05 PM:

" Wow, more retail that 98% of RR residents will have to travel south to access. Building a retail shopping area 4.1 miles from the Cottonwood mege-plex is lunacy and continues to marginalize most of RR. It's no wonder the city can't attract business to the visionary city center. "

Rio Resident wrote on Aug 31, 2009 1:29 PM:

" I agree with Brenda. If you want to bring growth to the city, you bring it to City Center. I would approve this project contingent on bringing it to City Center. This project is meant to be in City Center since that is the vision. Right project, wrong location. "

Michael wrote on Aug 31, 2009 2:50 PM:

" I doubt this will ever materialize. There's no need for a dense urban development out in a suburban area. There's plenty of retail nearby along Southern and another 2 million square feet or so just a few miles away in the Cottonwood area. "

Robot wrote on Aug 31, 2009 10:28 PM:

" The shopping center would benefit from the close proximity of the Hospital and NW Albuquerque. I think it’s a great location. It makes total sense to attract Albuquerque to Rio Rancho. That is vision. Paul it will save you 4.1 mile or just swing in after a hard days work in Albuquerque. "

Chuck Wilkins wrote on Sep 1, 2009 8:42 PM:

" I have to ask how giving the developer millions in free infrastructure is going to bring more businesses.

Are they going to discount the price of the space? Or will they just increase their profit? I could see if we didnot have empty commerical spaces, but we do. How about giving a tax credit to the businesses that actually sell products here, so we can see more gross receipts? Just because they build more spaces,doesn't mean businessowners have an incentive to come.
I agree with the location; maybe we can bring Albuquerque dollars to RR with the right retailers. "

Patricia wrote on Sep 2, 2009 7:44 AM:

" How about City Centre's retail fashioned closer to how Nowb (real spelling is considered inappropriate, dumb censor) Hill neighborhood looks. There could be a Buffalo Exchange, local business owners opening their own art, clothing, and record stores and unique restaurants. Rio Rancho would also have a modern outdoor shopping center near the new hospital with upscale shops and restaurants like Crate & Barrel and Elphant Bar. Uptown in Abq is not that far from Coronado mall. I would love to have all this in Rio Rancho. "

diane wrote on Sep 2, 2009 8:55 AM:

" In case you did not notice some people LIVE ON THAT SIDE OF THE CITY. "

Barbara wrote on Sep 2, 2009 6:17 PM:

" Hello?

Since MOST of RR residents commute into Abq to make a decent living, that's where they are going to spend their money.
I am NOT going to travel miles out of my way to go to the "city center".
Some how you people think retailers just build it and the profits come rolling in!! If you're so darn smart, go open a business there.

Just like the "city center", it will take 10-15 years for any SUCCESSFUL RETAIL to survive there. "

invest wrote on Sep 3, 2009 11:54 AM:

" Each and everyone of you have the power to bring more retail and more commercial avenues to Rio Rancho.
You want a Buffalo Exchange or a development by City Center, then put down the cash to invest. It's called capitalism folks.
I commend the developers forking over the money and taking a risk to make profit. "

UnChuck wrote on Sep 3, 2009 3:53 PM:

" Chuck Wilkins is right! We don't need a large mall draining away from our very sucessful small businesses. We should slash all taxes for small businesses and all of the people leaving RR to work will stay here. Chuck will be able to hire 1 more person. Think of that! One more person working in RR! They won't be able to shop at the new place, but he'll pay them enough to get a second job at Wal*Mart. That's vision!! Think of the GRT that will create! "

Chuck Wilkins wrote on Sep 4, 2009 10:34 AM:

" UnChuck, why not give your name or don't you have enough confidence in your opinions to have your name associated with them?
My new office building drew Tsay Corp. here, which will be employing 10-15 people. I didn't receive any reduction in impact fees, property taxes and infrastructure.
Also, I would like to point out that small businesses account for over 50% of U.S. workers, and created 64% of new jobs in the last 15 years. Many also grow into larger businesses.
So my little building is producing around 20 jobs at no expense to the RR citizen. "

Chuck Wilkins wrote on Sep 4, 2009 10:47 AM:

" What if we were to provide an incentive of 10k to a Small Business the size of my building?

20 million (HP) divided by 10K (my building) would equal 2,000 buildings. 2,000 buildings times 20 jobs equals 40,000 jobs. You might even see GRT and property taxes with the payroll, unlike HP.

Again, I'm not against HP or large companies we need a balance of all, but we need incentives for the small business also or be competitive at least with Albuquerque in fees and cost. It is cheaper to start a small business in Albquerque. "

Chuck Wilkins wrote on Sep 4, 2009 2:29 PM:

" If the idea is to bring the large business here at the expense of the citizen, and everybody else will come. Why haven't I seen building permits for the restraunts, gas stations, and small businesses at the city center? HP is opening in less than 3 months, UNM & CNM are opening in maybe 4 months. PVD is being built.


Maybe Realist, D2, or UnChuck can stop by and explain why the small business are not building in the city center yet?

You/They seem to have all the answers. NOT "

Me wrote on Sep 5, 2009 3:27 PM:

" I hope there is a Buffalo Wild Wings or Dave and Busters and an upscale theatre, as far as building near city center I think that will take care of itself as the population fills in, Cabezon and surrounding communities can support the shopping at Unser and Westside, the city needs another elementary school in the area asap "

Jeff wrote on Sep 14, 2009 9:00 AM:

" I agree that RR needs to have more areas for shopping and such, but it does not need to be so far south of the city. I live by the old mid high school and for us to go anywhere and do some shopping we need at least 1 1/2 hours to do it, because it takes at least 30 minutes to get anywhere. The vision shoudl be closer to city hall. "

Chris wrote on Sep 14, 2009 10:53 AM:

" I would rather hold off till things are more developed near the City Center and build it there. I can already just drive all the way south to Cottonwood Mall!! "

Joe W. wrote on Sep 15, 2009 1:06 PM:

" Wow. I can't believe the direction this city is taking. First the new sports complex and now this retail center. I guess the Mayor doesn't care one bit about developing the City Center. This is a disgrace and I am getting angrier by the day at the city. The City Center is going to end up an utter failure if something isn't done soon. "

Unimpressed wrote on Sep 16, 2009 1:32 PM:

" I agree completely with Joe W. What is the logic of the decisions being made by locating a retail center & the sports complex in those locations? Living off of Unser north of Northern, the resources are null & void. There's no gas stations, grocery stores, retail stores in general. Yet, there is a very large population in this area. If City Center is to be the hub for this city, prove it & build these venues in this location. You build it, they'll come. "

Know better wrote on Sep 16, 2009 7:45 PM:

" Dear Unimpressed.

There is a fine science in business analysis applied to whether any business can survive with the surrounding population base.
When you see such companies like McD's, 7-11 and Circle K build at the CC, the time will be proven right.

Until then, enjoy the drive. "

C wrote on Sep 29, 2009 1:56 PM:

" What a great idea to build so close to Albuquerque! The rest of us who live out by the city center can just go enjoy the open air market right in front of the city dump. I wish i'd thought of that. "

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