Mayor Keller Tours Boxabl Units as City Pushes Forward on Rapid Housing Solutions
Prefabricated Casitas offer a fast, affordable way to activate unused land and expand housing options
December 05, 2025
ALBUQUERQUE – Mayor Tim Keller and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) toured a demonstration of Boxabl modular homes today, showing how prefabricated building technology can bring housing to Albuquerque faster than ever.
The demonstration comes as the City ramps up its Housing Now strategy, which combines zoning reforms, adaptive reuse of old buildings, gap financing to move stalled projects, and incentives that help housing get built. Modular housing adds another option, one that’s flexible, scalable, and perfect for turning small or oddly shaped lots into neighborhood assets.
“We need more homes, and we need them now,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Boxabl gives us a way to build fast, build smart, and turn empty lots into real housing for real people.”
Due to the housing shortage in Albuquerque, the City is pushing forward solutions that get homes built quickly and affordably. Boxabl units unfold on site and can be ready for residents in a fraction of the time it takes to build a traditional home. That speed makes them a powerful tool for reactivating long-troubled or unused properties.
Because Boxabl homes don’t require large lots or heavy infrastructure, they fit in places where traditional housing cannot. Their flexible design makes small or irregular parcels usable, and their quick, efficient installation helps lower development costs, opening the door to more affordable housing for Albuquerque families.
“Partnering with the City of Albuquerque allows us to demonstrate the full potential of modern, flexible housing solutions,” said Ron Lewis, Government Affairs, Piru Group LLC. “At Piru Group LLC, our units are engineered for rapid deployment on odd or underutilized parcels, turning overlooked spaces into valuable, productive community assets. We are proud to support the City’s vision for innovative, efficient, and impactful housing development.”
The City is evaluating opportunities to deploy modular units on select City-owned parcels and in key redevelopment areas; a strategy that can help stabilize neighborhoods, reduce blight, and ensure equitable access to new housing across the city.
“These types of innovations let us make the most of every square foot while accelerating the pipeline of new homes,” said Terry Brunner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. “It’s an approach that brings immediate value to neighborhoods and supports long-term revitalization.”
For more information about Housing Now initiatives, visit cabq.gov/housing-now.