Retail Developments

Saturday, November 15, 2008

SunCal Pulls Marketplace

By Sean Olson Journal Staff Writer

A proposed 20-acre commercial development on Albuquerque's far West Side has been pulled from the city's Environmental Planning Commission, and there are no plans to revive the project. Developer SunCal Cos. pulled the plug on the Heritage Marketplace, which was to be on the corner of Unser and Ladera, after what spokesman David Soyka called unreasonable requirements from city planning staff on the site plans. "We can't make it work in the way they are asking," Soyka said Friday. The development would have featured about 12 buildings, including a grocery store, bank and at least one restaurant. Jerry Worrall, Tres Volcanes Neighborhood Association president, said it was unfortunate the project wouldn't be finished. He said the neighborhoods surrounding the development are miles from basic services. It's now back to waiting for some developer to provide the services, he said. "I hope somebody provides a shopping center here on the far West Side," Worrall said. The project was never officially heard by the planning commission, but city staff had directed SunCal to revamp its site plan. Carmen Marrone, city long range planning division manager, said SunCal was instructed to move the proposed buildings so the back ends, usually used for deliveries and trash disposal, were not all facing a residential community across the street. She said the city also asked SunCal to move around its parking to allow the buildings on the site to be closer together —making it easier to move from one to another. Marrone describes the effect as a more "walkable" development. Soyka said those conditions would have forced SunCal to turn the buildings away from Unser, a deal-breaker for stores that need to be seen from the major road. He said parking would have had to be reduced to satisfy the other city requirement. These changes would have made it impossible to properly attract businesses to the site, Soyka said. Marrone said the site has been designated as part of an "activity center" in the city, which means it comes under more scrutiny for new urbanist design that emphasizes accessibility for surrounding neighborhoods and a pedestrian atmosphere. The company does not have plans to change the site plans and will instead focus on other developments they have in the area, including the Watershed and Inspiration subdivisions and a Town Center, Soyka said. Those developments are north of Ladera near 98th Street. The projects were started by the Westland Development Co., which was formerly owned by the Atrisco land grant heirs. The heirs sold their land, along with the projects, to SunCal for $250 million two years ago. SunCal is also planning to start developing industrial, commercial and residential land near the Petroglyphs.