Housing NM names Las Cruces 'Developer of the Year'

Housing New Mexico, the quasi-governmental housing agency previously known as the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, honored the city of Las Cruces as its “Developer of the Year” during an awards ceremony in Albuquerque last Friday.

In addition, the organization bestowed a lifetime achievement award upon Rose Garcia, the executive director of Tierra del Sol Housing Corp., a regional housing development organization with offices in Las Cruces and Columbus.

In all, Housing New Mexico presented 14 awards Friday pertaining to affordable housing efforts statewide during the three-day New Mexico Housing Summit at the Hotel Albuquerque. Honorees included mortgage lenders, developers and others involved in expanding affordable and accessible housing stock.

“The affordable housing needs in our state are endless, but it is important to recognize and celebrate our accomplishments,” HNM’s executive director, Isidoro Hernandez, said during the ceremony. “We have the right partners with the desire to continue making an enduring impact to those we serve.”

Las Cruces, which has supported several new affordable and mixed-income housing projects around the city, was honored for one project in particular that is under construction. Amador Crossing is a planned 50-unit supportive housing development, constructed on city-owned land, with services for residents provided by the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, a nonprofit serving people without housing on a campus adjacent to the development. It is also located next to Casa de Peregrinos, the largest food pantry in Doña Ana County.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined lawmakers and local officials at Amador Crossing’s groundbreaking in January, at which point the city reported over 2,400 households on the Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority waiting list.

The $15.6 million project combines city and state money as well as funding from Housing New Mexico.

“As one of the first local governments in New Mexico to directly develop such housing, the city of Las Cruces led the project from concept to construction, overcoming significant challenges to serve a high-needs population,” Housing New Mexico stated in a news release. “The leadership in Las Cruces has made a clear commitment to putting housing first for all residents. By leveraging federal and state funding, the city is actively increasing the supply of affordable housing.”

In a written statement, City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau said the award “reflects the city’s ongoing commitment to creating safe, quality and affordable housing for our residents” and embodies the city’s slogan, “Adelante con cariño” (moving forward with love and compassion). He saluted Natalie Green, the city’s housing and neighborhood services manager, “along with our partners and the community who work tirelessly to make these developments a reality.”

Garcia, one of three lifetime achievement awardees, has led Tierra del Sol for over 40 years. Housing New Mexico called her “a trailblazer — one of the few women in construction and a powerful advocate for farmworkers and working families.”

Tierra del Sol, founded in 1973, has engaged in rural and urban homeowner initiatives in rural and urban communities, including farm labor rental housing, supportive housing for elderly residents, “self-help” projects in which first-time homeowners assist in construction and home designs incorporating renewable energy.

Tierra del Sol did not respond to a request for comment or make Garcia available Monday.

Lifetime achievement awards were also presented to Carol Sugarman of Albuquerque and Rose Silva-Smith of Yes Housing.

Other honorees included lenders Waterstone Mortgage, John Gabaldon, Lindsay Rollins and Marty Padilla; Red Feather Development Group, Hagerman Forward, the Barrett Foundation, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District and the New Mexico Ramp Project.

PAH! Hiland Plaza, a multifamily development built in collaboration with the Deaf community in Albuquerque, was named Multifamily Project of the Year.