On December 3, 2024 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, accompanied by Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Mayor Tim Keller and State Fair Commission Chairman Eric Serna and other officials held a news conference at Expo New Mexico. They announced a plan to move the state fairgrounds to a different location and redevelop the 236 acre State Fair property into a mixed-use development. The announcement to move the Fair Grounds shocked surrounding neighborhoods and businesses of the State Fair.
Among the many ideas suggested for the development of the 236 acres of prime property included low income and affordable housing and demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility. Recommendations for future land use included commercial retail business development.
No new location was announced during the December 3, 2024 press conference, but it was suggested that keeping the State Fair centrally located such as in Bernalillo, Valencia or Torrance County would be beneficial due to the interstates. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:
“We have made the decision preliminarily to ask for folks to focus on the center of the state … but there are a lot of spaces. Though Albuquerque is a bit constrained, there are still plenty of opportunities in Bernalillo County. Imagine, if you will, that Valencia County could offer up some interesting proposals, that the South Valley right here in Bernalillo County [could do the same]. Bernalillo County ought to think about where would a new developed platform in space be. Maybe Torrance County, maybe Edgewood and Santa Fe.
“STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” CREATED
On March 21, the New Mexico legislature passed Senate Bill 481, which creates what is known as the “State Fairgrounds District” which is redistricted to the existing State Fair grounds area. It will slightly raise local income taxes and authorizes the state to issue revenue bonds for redevelopment of the property. The bill was signed into law by the governor, and its funding mechanisms are expected to raise $12 million for initial ramp-up efforts.
https://trackbill.com/bill/new-mexico-senate-bill-481-state-fairgrounds-district-act/2670164/
Senate Bill 481 creates a “State Fairgrounds District” for the 236-acre State Fairgrounds located North of Central Avenue, South of Lomas, East of San Pedro and West of Louisiana and any additional land adjoining it nearby the state may acquire. The legislation empowers the board to issue bonds up to $1billion with the pledge to repay those bonds with Gross Receipt Tax (GRT) from GRT and Gaming Tax with maturity of up to 25 years for the bonds.
The State Fairgrounds District fund would receive “net receipts” attributable to the Gross Receipts Tax from business locations on the state fairgrounds once it is developed to include other year round businesses on the property. The State Fairgrounds District fund would also receive “net receipts taxes” attributable to gaming tax from business locations on land owned by the state fairgrounds.
In addition to classifying the area as a “state district”, SB481 creates a governing board of 5 elected officials and one neighborhood coalition representative to make financial decisions, including the ability to issue revenue bonds of up to $1 billion for development of the property.
The “State Fairgrounds District” created by SB481 establishes a governing board to oversee and govern it and to make appropriations for development of the property. The Board members are the following:
- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, chair.
- Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller
- Senator Mimi Stewart, Senate President Pro-Tempore, International District, #17
- City Councilor Nichole Rogers whose district the fair grounds is located
- County Commissioner Adriann Barboa whose district the fair grounds is located
- Dr. Peter Belletto, President, District 6 Neighborhood Coalition
According to the legislation, the board will govern the TIDD for six years.
“STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” HOLDS FIRST MEETING
On July 3, the State Fairgrounds District held an organization meeting chaired by Governor Lujan Grisham. Appearing in person were the Governor, Senate Pro Temp Mimi Stewart, City Councilor Nichole Rogers, County Commissioner Adriann Barboa and District 6 Neighborhood Coalition Dr. President Peter Belletto. Appearing by phone were Mayor Tim Keller and State Representative Janelle Anyanon.
The two and a half hour meeting was dedicated to both administrative matters and presentations. Major agenda items discussed included the following:
- Adoption of Bylaws for the State Fair District.
- Presentation on the history of SB 481, the bond capacity of the State Fair District and how it is to be exercised by the governing board.
- Presentation by State Fair Attorney Justin Horwitz, on the history of SB 481, the bond capacity of the district and how it is to be exercised and considered
- Report from the General Services Department on the State Fair Master Plan and the Request For Proposal Process (RFP)
- Report from Secretary of Transportation Ricky Serna on status of acquisition of properties authorized by the legislature. This included discussion on how the New Mexico State Fair Commission can exercise eminent domain powers to buy out business owners in the South West Corner of the fairgrounds located at San Pedro and Central.
- Report from State Fair Manager Dan Mourning on status of placing certain buildings on the New Mexico Historic Register
- Introduction and presentation by Santec, the firm hired to design and create the master plan for the fairgrounds. Santec outlined the process it will use to create the master plan and the community engagement process it will use to arrive at its recommendations. The firm was awarded an $844,433 contract for to create and develop the state fair master plan. The entire process could result in the relocation of the New Mexico State Fair.
POWERS OF “STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” BOARD
The “State Fairgrounds District” Board is empowered to raise property taxes and issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund future development of the property. The bonds are backed primarily by future gaming revenue taxes generated at the Downs Racetrack and Casino which holds a multi-decade lease on property until 2045 within the fairgrounds perimeter.
According to a report from the Legislative Finance Committee, and based on expected taxes and current interest rates, the State Fairgrounds District Board could raise up to $170 million in bonds to finance the project. The $500 million investment would be in the International District, South of the State Fair Grounds and could include the area located directly East, both long-struggling neighborhoods in the heart of Albuquerque.
Governor Lujan Grisham and State Senator Mimi Stewart, who represents the International District and others have touted the potential dramatic change at the fairgrounds as the way to rescue the adjacent International District, which for decades has been plagued with high poverty and crime rates. Some neighborhood advocates have raised concerns about who will benefit from the investment and whether it will gentrify a working-class neighborhood.
Although it has been insisted that no final decisions has been made about whether the re-envisioning of the Expo New Mexico property will mean the relocation of the fairgrounds, Governor Lujan Grisham said that Stantec will be giving serious consideration to that possibility as it completes options for the master plan. While the governor recently said the master plan could eventually call for leasing or selling portions of state-owned Expo New Mexico to private developers, she suggested the idea during the July 2 meeting that the annual State Fair might not have to find a new venue. Lujan Grisham said this:
“I want to be really clear about that, because you’ll notice I didn’t say a plan to move [the State Fair]”
Governor Lujan Grisham said redeveloping the community is at the core of whether the state fairgrounds should stay or go. Governor Grisham said this:
“This is an area, I’m just going to say it out loud, with incredible people, but it’s a bit depressed. And when you have depressed [areas], this is why downtowns across America have gotten into trouble, because it’s tough to develop a neighborhood around businesses, and then people give up. … This is really about a vehicle to create financial security and opportunity across these jurisdictions, to invest in this community. … This is the way that we make good on our commitment to provide meaningful resources to a community that didn’t have access for decades.”
ABOUT STANTEC
On June 24 the state General Services Department announced that an $844,433 contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc., which was signed on June 18, was entered into by the State to create a master plan for repurposing the 236-acre tract of land that has since 1938 hosted the annual New Mexico State Fair, also known as EXPO New Mexico. The award of the contract to Stantec Consulting Services Inc. came a full four months after the state abruptly canceled the previous RFP contract solicitation without explanation and restarted the process. The signing followed a public procurement process and the contract spans the next 8 months extending until February, 2026. The master plan will include an economic impact study, development plans and a proposal presentation.
Santec is a multinational consulting firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with four local offices in New Mexico. This contract isn’t Stantec’s first in New Mexico. The company previously worked with the Department of Transportation to revamp roads and highways in Silver City, Hobbs and Fort Sumner. Stantec also worked with the city of Jal in the southeast corner of New Mexico to produce a community development plan.
Stantec’s portfolio includes major projects across the United States and abroad, such as McGregor Square in downtown Denver, a vibrant entertainment district next to Coors Field, and community spaces in Chicago designed for live concerts, film screenings and outdoor markets. The firm has also worked on developments in Scotland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
STANTEC’S PRESENTATION
The July 3 meeting of the State Fairgrounds District Board was headlined by a presentation from Stantec, the company hired to make a master plan for the property.
Colleen Ruiz, Local Office Lead for Stantec Albuquerque said this:
“We understand that urban solutions are complicated. It’s not just one person, [but] a whole team of people, and Albuquerque has very specific needs. … We’re just kicking it off so right now we’re in the process of acquiring a list of the stakeholders in the community who we’ll meet with and then we’ll meet with them individually, we’ll have kind of some visioning sessions where we’ll ask for their advice, what they like what they don’t like. … [We will start ] with surveying the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. … What can we do within this very large area to make it maybe a year-round use, or a live-work and play.”
LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR EXPANSION OF EXISTING FAIR GROUNDS
One area discussed that generated much discussion by the new State Fairgrounds District was Expo New Mexico’s forced acquisition of a handful of businesses, including restaurants and a tire shop, on the southwest corner of the property at Central Avenue and San Pedro Avenue.
The state legislature has given the new tax district $14-million to buy out the property at the edge of the Fairgrounds near Central Ave and San Pedro Blvd., which is privately owned today. Much of the commercial office space is vacant. Project leaders said they plan to make offers to those property owners, but they’re also considering eminent domain.
State officials said they will soon approach business owners in the area with offers to buy their properties. The offers will contemplate the value of the businesses, costs relocating and the property themselves. Ricky Serna, the state Transportation Department secretary, said his agency will support Expo New Mexico as it handles the eminent domain process and outlined steps to be taken.
Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa raised concerns about whether the business owners would be fairly compensated and whether buying them out would just result in more vacant buildings in a neighborhood with a lot of them. She pointed out that the nearby Wal-mart and two national pharmacy chains across the street have left.
Former Mayor Chavez described the land acquisition process this way:
“The intent is to acquire the property and hopefully everything will be done, people will say that’s the right amount of money and there’s a lawful process for that and that will be a year or two but the idea is that that real-estate will then belong to the state fair within the next eight to ten months.”
AFFORDABLE HOUSING STILL IN THE MIX
Governor Lujan Grisham said in her December news release touting the redevelopment plan, the area could allow the state to build affordable housing units in a state and city with there is a severe housing shortage. Lujan said this in December:
“This state land in the heart of New Mexico’s largest city presents a unique opportunity to create badly needed new housing for the workforce, while spurring massive private investment.”
Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez is spearheading the redevelopment project as the governor’s paid senior adviser. Chavez told news agency Source New Mexico after the July 3 meeting that while the project has never been intended as an affordable housing development, new mixed-income housing is a key component of the new master plan Stantec is working on. Chavez said there is no minimum number of housing units that the firm is required to develop a plan around.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Expo New Mexico Manager Dan Morning said during his July 3 presentation to the Board if redevelopment takes place, EXPO New Mexico still has a list of four historic buildings they want to preserve. Those include the Fine Arts and Indian Arts buildings and the Palomino Barns.
NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCED
The next State Fair Tax District board meeting will be August 7, where they plan to discuss the Downs Racetrack and Casino, which also shares the EXPO property.
The links to the relied upon or quoted news source are here:
RECALLING ANGER IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIST OVER MOVING STATE FAIR
The Governor’s proposal of moving the State Fair has been met with opposition from the residents of Albuquerque’s International District south of the Fair Grounds, the very people and the area the Governor proclaimed that the State Fair redevelopment is supposed to help the most. On February 26, Bernalillo County Government held a meeting to discuss and provide information about a county proposed Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the New State Fairgrounds. The public meeting was held at the State Fair Grounds Alice Hopes African American Pavilion with over 200 people attending. Most if not all of the public present for the February 26 meeting were extremely hostile to the State moving the state fair and lashed out against moving the state fair to another location.
After a very short slide presentation by the county on its proposed TIDD, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, who now works for the Governor as the state-appointed, paid advisor spearheading the effort to repurpose the fairgrounds, was asked to respond to questions. Chavez said this before answering questions:
“About six months ago, the governor approached me and said, ‘Look, what’s going on right now in the southeast part of Albuquerque is not sustainable. … You see it every day: the homicides, the unhoused run over, left dead on the street.”
Chavez mentioned the possibility of moving the State Fair to another location. The audience immediately reacted in anger to moving the State Fair. The meeting quickly disintegrated into confrontation and angry questioning by the audience. Demands were shouted by the audience that the Fair Grounds not be moved. At one point Chavez insisted that no final decision had been made on moving the fairgrounds, suggesting that it was just one of the many options.
Most if not all of the public spoke out against moving the State Fair citing that the large homeless population and crime in the area have driven out other businesses and have destroyed the area. When audience members were given the opportunity to speak, they said that the City and Mayor Keller’s Administration have been a total failure in cleaning up Central and have failed to address the homeless crisis on Central.
Audience members argued that before anything is spent on improving or moving the Fair Grounds, money would be better spent cleaning up Central, dealing with the homeless, drug addicted and mentally ill and providing them with services to get them off the streets.
Speakers cast skepticism on their ability to sway the state to not move the State Fair and how the area would be developed. Audience member Paul Losinski said this:
“They will have already decided the main framework, so all we can do is decide, do we want high-rise buildings? Or do we want low-rise buildings? We have already lost the ability to have input as to what the RFP was for.”
Albuquerque area resident René Horvath said moving the fair won’t solve the problems on East Central and said this:
“LEAVE THE FAIR ALONE, IT’S NOT A PROBLEM! I’m going to be heartbroken if they move the fair.”
One man asked “You’re just wasting money! Who’s pocket is this going into?!”
One audience member said this:
“We have lost Walmart, we have lost Walgreens, we are in a food desert. And you guys talk about doing this, you need to put your money somewhere else!”
Other audience members argued that the funding should be used to help the homeless rather than remove them. An audience member said this:
“You have a community of 5,000 homeless people, 55% of which are veterans who’ve served this country. And this is where our taxpayer money is going? To restructure our fairground or change our fair?”
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
Governor Lujan Grisham has yet to back off in any meaningful way on her original announcement made on December 3, 2024 that her plan is to move the state fairgrounds to a different location. Ostensibly her goal is the redevelopment and the total repurposing of the 236 acres into a mixed-use development which would also include low-income housing. Selling portions of the property is also on the table for discussion.
Absent is any decision exactly where the new fairgrounds or the cost of acquiring a new location and rebuilding comparable facilities. No new location was announced during the December press conference, but it was suggested that keeping the State Fair centrally located, such as in Bernalillo, Valencia or Torrance County would be beneficial due to the interstates. Over the years there have been at least 3 feasibility studies on relocating the fair. One study concluded that the cost would be more than $1 billion dollars and the cost is likely significantly higher now.
The “State Fairgrounds District” essentially ignores the State Fair Commission and its authority of development and continued operation of the State Fair. There is absolutely no representation on the State Fairground District from the State Fair Commission nor the General Manager of Expo New Mexico. The blunt reality is the State Fair Commission will no doubt take a “back seat” to all the efforts by the “State Fairgrounds District” to move the fairgrounds to accommodate the Governor’s wishes. After all it’s the Governor who appoints the State Fair Commission and heaven forbid they oppose her.
It is truly disgusting there is only ONE appointed member of the public is appointed to the “State Fairgrounds District” by the Governor to represent the interests of the numerous neighborhood associations while all the elected officials for the area have a seat at the table with the Governor. Thousands of residents who have lived in the area for decades, in established neighborhoods, especially the International District, and who truly understand the area and have dealt with all the problems associated with the State Fair are essentially being ignored and cut out and do not have an actual seat at the table with the Governor. Hundreds of affected businesses in the area are also being ignored and do not have a seat at the table with the Governor.
RUSH TO ACHIEVE A LEGACY PROJECT
During the July 3 “State Fairgrounds District” meeting, the Governor reference the fact that she has only 18 months left in office. With that said it’s painfully obvious the Governor is rushing seek to complete a last-minute legacy project she will be remembered for as her term expires in a mere 18 months.
The creation of the “State Fairgrounds District” can only be described as a power move by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to impose her own will on what she thinks needs to done with the New Mexico State Fair property, which is to move the State Fair, and be damned the thoughts and concerns of citizens of Albuquerque, the residents of the International District and the State Fair Commission.
EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
During the Governor’s December 3 press conference announcing plans to move the state fairgrounds, it was pointed out that there is a major shortage of affordable housing in the city and a need for 55,000 houses or living spaces within the next decade. Both Governor Lujan Grisham and Speaker of the House Javier Martinez suggested that affordable housing could be placed on 236 acres of land.
Proposing to commandeer a good portion of the Expo NM State Fair Property for affordable housing is as absurd as it gets. Affordable or low-income housing is not the highest and best use of any portion of the 236 acres of prime property for development in the center of Albuquerque. It would put a small dent in a projected 55,000 shortage of housing.
The Governor’s appointed New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) is already taking major steps to address the need for more affordable housing over the next 10 years and accessing low-cost capital for home ownership in New Mexico cities and counties. The NMFA administers hundreds of millions of dollars each year among 40 programs that range from homeless services to homeownership. It includes new housing, down payment assistance and home rehabilitation.
At its May and June meetings last year, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board of Directors approved a $50 million allocation, along with the $34.6 million in state fiscal year 2025 severance tax bond funding. The breakdown includes:
- $26.6 million to create more housing.
- $20 million for down payment assistance.
- $10 million to preserve existing affordable housing.
- $1 million to create stable housing environments.
- $27 million in reserve to use based on particular demands.
BUILDING A NEW MULTI PURPOSE ARENA
One major project that is being suggested that merits serious discussion is building a new arena as part of the redevelopment of the existing Expo New Mexico property. The new venue would be a modern arena that would have the capacity to support year-round large-scale concerts and events. It would replace the existing Tingley Coliseum. Demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility with the capacity of upwards 20,000 has been a dream of many a Governor, State Fair Commissions and Fair Managers.
Tingley Coliseum was built in 1957 and has a seating capacity for 11,000 people. Over the years it’s been repeatedly remodeled and upgraded. Tingley Coliseum last year had $2 million worth of upgrades geared toward replacing old seats and fixing the electrical system. The work that began in November permanently removed the benches and outdated 80’s-era seats for new, wider ones. In the process, the coliseum lost roughly 700 of its total 10,000 seats, but officials plan to make up the loss with more standing-room availability.
The City of Albuquerque for decades has needed a large capacity, multipurpose entertainment venue after demolition of the 30 year old Albuquerque Civic Auditorium in 1986. It was back on February 25, 2019 that it was reported that there is a need for such a facility and EXPO New Mexico was in the final stages of conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a new arena on the state fairgrounds. Absolutely nothing ever happened with the feasibility study and its collecting dust somewhere in the State Fair mangers office.
https://www.krqe.com/news/officials-want-to-build-new-arena-on-state-fairgrounds/
https://www.krqe.com/news/expo-new-mexico-looking-into-new-arena-to-replace-tingley-coliseum/
HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF PROPERTY IS EXPO NEW MEXICO
Expo New Mexico can be revitalized into an Entertainment and Commercial Hub that could revitalize the entire SE Heights and surrounding area with creation of all new commercial property areas leased by the State Fair for shops, restaurants, theaters and entertainment venues that would also be used for operations of the annual State Fair and during the State Fair itself.
There should be no affordable housing and no other housing on the property. No portion of the State Fair acreage should be sold to any developer. The existing walls along San Pedro, Lomas and Louisiana should remain intact for security reasons but develop larger entrances. Efforts to revitalize adjoining neighborhoods would only be undertaken by private developers perhaps with state and city development and tax incentives.
CITY NEEDS TO TAKE AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO DEAL NUISANCE PROPERTIES AND UNHOUSED AROUND FAIR GROUNDS
The City of Albuquerque must and can as it has in the past take aggressive action to deal with nuisance properties that are magnets for crime in the immediate surrounding neighborhoods, especially in the International District. Mayor Tim Keller needs to aggressively enforce the city’s vagrancy laws to deal with the homeless, including making arrests if need be and to provide services to them designed to get them off the streets.
From 2001 to 2009, East Central in the International District was in fact cleaned up before by the Safe City Strike Force with aggressive code enforcement action against Central motels and violent bars that the city tore down or closed. The bars located near the State Fair that were closed or torn down by the Safe City Strike Force included the Blue Spruce Bar (Central and Louisiana), Rusty’s Cork and Bottle (San Pedro and Central) and the Last Chance Bar and Grill (Central and Louisiana). The Safe City Strike Force took code enforcement action against 48 of the 150 motels along central, many near the State Fair grounds and forced compliance with building codes and mandated repairs to the properties.
ALBUQUERQUE DOWNS RACETRACK AND CASINO
The Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino, along with its stables, occupies upwards half of the state fairgrounds and it is not going anywhere anytime soon given that it has year lease until 2045 subject to renewal. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:
“There is a long term lease that is not expiring in the next two years, four or six. So for now, I would expect that the racino stays for a large amount of time.”
Prominent Albuquerque businessman Paul Blanchard is one of the owners of the Downs Race Track and Casino and there is no doubt he will try and have major say on what is to be developed on the remaining fairgrounds areas that may affect the casino or racetrack. But the Fair Grounds is still state property that the state can develop as it sees fit. Perhaps it is the racetrack and casino that needs to be moved to another location and county with a buyout, but not the Fair Grounds.
OTHER VENUES
Getting rid of the “midway” ride area on the South side and replacing it with year-round entertainment venues and facilities is in order. Demolishing existing, aging specialty exhibition halls, such as the Manuel Lujan building and livestock exhibition stables and replacing them with new, larger facilities with multipurpose usages likewise is in order. Removing the flea market and replacing it with a Farmers Market or a permanent arts and crafts shopping area should be in the mix.
There are two major facilities that could be integral parts of an entertainment and commercial district hub: the Downs Race Track and Casino if they want to still be a part of the State Fair and the proposed new multipurpose arena. Part of the redevelopment of the existing Expo New Mexico property would be the building of a new, modern arena to replace Tingly Coliseum that would support year-round large-scale concerts and events. It’s a capital improvement project that needs to go forward. With the continuing historical state revenue surpluses, the building of a multipurpose state of the art arena to replace Tingly Coliseum would be an investment for future generations.
FINAL COMMENTARY
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, State Representative Janelle Anyanonu, City Councilor Nichole Rogers and County Commissioner Adriann Barboa who are the elected officials and politicians on the “State Fairgrounds District Board” need to keep their greedy little hands off the State Fair grounds and abandon any effort to move it. Simply put, the surrounding neighborhoods, businesses and their constituents want the State Fair to remain where it is.
Affordable housing is not the highest and best use for the property. The highest and best use of the 236 acres of property is the State Fair itself and keeping it as Expo New Mexico and developing a year-round Entertainment District and to preserve the New Mexico State Fair and Expo New Mexico where it is now.