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Albuquerque Rail Yards Redevelopment

Project Contacts

For Questions About the Rail Yards Advisory Board:

Nathan Molina

[email protected]

505-768-3100

Visit Rail Yards Advisory Board webpage.

View History of Rail Yards Redevelopment webpage.

Notice of Meetings

2023 Rail Yards Advisory Board (RYAB) Meetings

  • December 6, 2023 at 8:30 AM via Zoom Webinar
  • August 2, 2023 at 8:30 AM via Zoom Webinar
  • April 5, 2023 at 8:30 AM in the City Council Committee Room.
  • January 6, 2023 at 8:30 AM in the City Council Committee Room.

Current Redevelopment Activities and Updates

View the history of redevelopment efforts at the Rail Yards.

caption:Google Map of Rail Yards and surrounding area

Adopted Rail Yards Master Development Plan

City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Rail Yards Master Plan in June 2014. You may download the Rail Yards Master Development Plan below. Because of the large size of this file, it has been divided into four sections.

  • Section 1 (includes Executive Summary, Existing Conditions, Public Input Process, Zoning Compliance & Regulatory Framework, Goals & Policies, Development Regulations)
  • Section 2 (includes Design Guidelines, Landscape Guidelines, Transportation Information and Recommendations)
  • Section 3 (Concepts and Phasing Plan)
  • Section 4 (Appendix)

This is the final adopted version of the Plan. To view previous drafts, including the June 2014 Blue Line Draft prepared for the Council’s Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee, please scroll down to “Master Development Plan Documents.”

Requirements and Guiding Principles of the Master Plan

The overarching goal of this Master Plan will be to find new, sustainable uses for the Rail Yards site that preserve its historic architecture and complement surrounding neighborhoods. Because of the funding sources the City used to purchase the site, the redevelopment of the Rail Yards must include a minimum of 30 units of Workforce Housing, as defined by City Ordinance, and a WHEELS Museum. Other uses will be determined through the Master Plan process. The following seven principles, which formed the basis of the Master Plan Agreement between the City and Samitaur, will guide the development of the Master Plan:

  • Job Generation. The Project Area was once an economic pillar for the community and must become one again. The Master Plan should accommodate uses which provide the opportunity for the generation of quality, living- and high-wage jobs and programs which will link those jobs with community residents.
  • Housing. Housing availability is an important element of the Master Plan. The Master Plan will provide for the targeted housing (minimum 30 units of Workforce Housing). The Master Plan should also endeavor to provide additional affordable and market rate housing if deemed feasible. The Master Plan should consider and coordinate the housing component with the City’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate existing housing. The Workforce Housing should seek to preserve the neighborhood heritage and interface with employment and service opportunities.
  • Community. The Master Plan for the Project Area will reflect efforts to be sensitive to and interface with the surrounding neighborhoods, including Barelas, South Broadway and San Jose. Uses in the Master Plan will reflect efforts to complement and support adopted plans for and commercial areas within the surrounding neighborhoods. The Master Plan will reflect efforts to support current and planned economic activity in the Downtown area and, where physically and economically possible, reinforce the City’s transit goals and objectives and integrate with and complement existing and proposed features and attractions in the area (e.g., the Albuquerque Zoo and BioPark, Tingley Beach, Rio Grande State Park, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the South Broadway Cultural Center, Old Town and its museums, Downtown Albuquerque and its amenities, the Alvarado Transportation Center, the Historic 4th Street Corridor, etc.).
  • Architecture and Historic Preservation. The Master Plan must both preserve and capitalize on the historic value of the architectural and engineering resources at the site. The City and Samitaur share the belief that the site has local, national, and international cultural and historic significance.
  • Art and Culture. The Master Plan will include opportunities for both art and culture, including, but not limited to the WHEELS Museum. Access to public open spaces within the Project Area will be provided.
  • Economic Development. The Master Plan will be designed to achieve economic and business success for the Project Area.
  • Economic Viability. These Guiding Principles are subject to the overarching need for the Master Plan to create a Project Area that is an economically viable endeavor individually and collectively for the City, Samitaur, WHEELS Museum, Workforce Housing, tenant/users, the public and surrounding communities without creating a need for indefinite direct and/or indirect City or Samitaur funding.

Master Development Plan Documents

*unless noted otherwise, all materials, including images and words, that have been produced by the Master Developer, Samitaur Constructs, are property of Samitaur Constructs, and are intended as reference material for viewing only; this content cannot be printed, published, disseminated or used other than expressly intended without prior written permission from Samitaur Constructs.

Date Process Related Documents
July 2014 Final Master Development Plan
June 2014 Blue-line Draft Plan: reflects changes made in response to issues raised during the LUPZ process and should generally be considered a final draft for Council approval
January 2014 Red-Line Draft Plan: incorporated the RYAB's recommended amendments and other changes made at EPC
  • Section 1 (includes Executive Summary, Existing Conditions, Public Input Process, Zoning Compliance & Regulatory Framework, Goals & Policies, Development Regulations)
  • Section 2 (includes Design Guidelines, Landscape Guidelines, Transportation Information and Recommendations)
  • Section 3 (Concepts and Phasing Plan)
  • Section 4 (Appendix)
  • Updated Site Plan for Subdivision (also available in Section 3, pages 139-140)
December 12, 2013 Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) Hearing
Fall 2013 Rail Yards Advisory Board Review

Recommended Amendments to Fall 2013 Draft Plan

Fall 2013 Draft Plan
  • Section 1 (includes Executive Summary, Existing Conditions, Public Input Process, Zoning Compliance & Regulatory Framework, Goals & Policies)
  • Section 2 (includes Master Plan, Landscape Master Plan)
  • Section 3 (includes Design Performance Standards, Infrastructure, Implementation & Phasing, Sources & Credits)
  • Section 4 (Appendix)
Dec. 1, 2012 Public Meeting Rail Yards Master Plan Dec. 1 Meeting Summary
Oct. 25, 2012 Public Meeting
August 2012 Community Kick-off Meetings

Supporting Documents

Document Description
Frequently Asked Questions Information about the Master Plan process and the concepts developed by Samitaur Constructs and the Planning Team
Barelas Sector Development Plan Sector Plan that establishes the zoning regulations for the Rail Yards site
Rail Yards Master Plan Community Meeting Summary A written summary of the October 25, 2012 meeting and public discussion
Map of Albuquerque Rail Yards Map that shows the boundaries of the site
F/S R-08-47 The legislation that formed the Rail Yards Advisory Board in March 2008.
Urban Land Institute panel report Report put together in February 2008 to help the City determine the potential best and highest uses for redeveloping this site
Rail Yard Questions
Series of questions the Urban Land Institute was asked to address
Voluntary Remediation Plan Information and Documents relating to the Rail Yard Voluntary Remediation Plan


Download a map of the Albuquerque Rail Yards
.