A former tire store along Fourth Street in the near North Valley is set to become the site of a new community center.
Bernalillo County has signed a letter of intent with Yes Housing, the
nonprofit that owns the property (map above), and is now working toward
an appraisal and eventual purchase, Commissioner Barbara Baca told the
Near North Valley Neighborhood Association in May.
Thus far, about $2 million has been raised for the purchase - a
combination of county money plus state funds arranged by State Senator
Debbie O'Malley.
"It's not under county ownership yet but we are working on that," Baca said.
She added that the money raised might be just shy of what is needed to
purchase the 23,000-square-foot building, which sits on a parcel just
over two acres in size and is designed in the Googie style.
The process of pulling together funds to renovate the structure -
formerly home to Walt Wilger Tire Co. and, more recently, Southern Tire
Mart - will be an entirely separate effort. The cost of the renovation
is TBD and there is not yet a target timeline for completing the
project, Baca said.
But there is plenty of pent-up demand, she argues.
"We want to do it as soon as we can," Baca said. "The [North Valley Senior Center] is bursting at the seams."
The project is set to take place directly south of one of the more
prominent construction efforts currently underway on Fourth Street. Calle Cuarta,
a Yes Housing project, is expected to wrap up in August having
constructed 61 affordable rental units for low-income individuals and
families. The development will also include about 9,000 square feet of
ground-level retail space and four live-work units. | |
