City Councilor Nichole Rogers Announces RFP for Affordable Housing Development at Former Shriners Property

City Councilor Nichole Rogers announced today that the City of Albuquerque has officially released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of affordable rental housing at the former Shriners property located at 6600 Zuni Rd. SE. The RFP, which opened on July 1, 2026, marks a major milestone in transforming a long-standing property into much-needed affordable housing for Albuquerque families.

The project is the result of an extraordinary collaboration between Councilor Rogers, the Mayor's Administration, the City's Real Property Division, and the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (HHH), along with critical support from State and Federal partners. Through this coordinated effort, the City was able to rapidly acquire the property, secure funding, and position the site for development in a matter of months.

The Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness is inviting qualified nonprofit developers to submit proposals to construct between 40 and 100 units of affordable multifamily rental housing. The City is making available approximately $6.6 million in HOME-ARP funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), while also conveying the City-owned property to support the development. 

"This is a huge win for housing in Albuquerque and especially for District 6," said Councilor Nichole Rogers. "At the beginning of April, we were just beginning discussions about acquiring the Shriners property. By the beginning of July, the City owns the property, funding has been assembled, and the RFP is already in the hands of developers. That kind of timeline doesn't happen without incredible collaboration. Everyone, from the Administration and Real Property Division to HHH and our state and federal partners, worked with urgency and a shared commitment to delivering more affordable housing. Together, we've accelerated this project and are ahead of schedule." 

In May, Councilor Rogers sponsored R-26-34, which was quickly approved by the Albuquerque City Council, appropriating $3.1 million in State grant funding to purchase the property. The funding was provided through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions as part of the 2025 state capital outlay appropriations.

“This shows what’s possible when government works and works quickly,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’ve been working fast to create this opportunity and take an underutilized piece of land and turn it into a gem in a deserving neighborhood. Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing Albuquerque, and several departments are working together to make this a reality.”

That state investment positioned the City to leverage an additional $6.6 million in federal HOME-ARP funding from HUD, creating a significant public investment in affordable housing while maximizing resources across multiple levels of government.

The project also reflects extensive coordination among City departments to navigate property acquisition, funding, land disposition, and development planning simultaneously, allowing the City to dramatically shorten the typical timeline for projects of this scale. 

"One of my priorities has always been bringing every available resource to District 6," Rogers added. "During my first year in office, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with our federal delegation and housing agencies because I knew we needed to identify new funding opportunities for Albuquerque. It's incredibly rewarding to see those conversations result in real investment for our community. By leveraging state funding alongside federal HUD resources, we've created an opportunity that will provide affordable homes for generations to come. I'm deeply grateful to our federal delegation, the State of New Mexico, Mayor Keller's Administration, Real Property, HHH, and everyone who helped move this project from vision to reality." 

Proposals are due to the City by September 30, 2026. A virtual Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Additional information about the RFP and conference is available through the City's Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness.