Sites Southwest was hired by the City of Gallup to conduct a comprehensive housing needs analysis that supports the City’s Growth Management Plan and Strategic Goals for Housing. We identified and analyzed existing and projected housing needs, assessed the housing supply and demand, met regularly with a working group comprised of realtors, builders, developers, and other housing providers, interviewed other stakeholders, contacted apartment complexes citywide, and conducted two online surveys to inform future housing development. With this information we were able to recommend both short- and long-term actions that the City and other stakeholders can take to meet housing needs. Sites Southwest identified the housing needs and barriers to housing development within the City of Gallup and proposed five goals and implementation steps to address housing needs. The Council unanimously adopted the report and recommended pursuing two of the short-term actions immediately. This report conforms to the guidelines set forth by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA), which administers grants and technical support to New Mexico’s municipalities and counties for affordable housing.
Rio Arriba County & City of Española Affordable Housing Plan
Rio Arriba County and the City of Española initiated an Affordable Housing Plan Update with the goals of identifying the existing and projected housing needs in the area and
informing future housing development. Sites Southwest prepared the Affordable Housing Plan by identifying and analyzing existing and projected housing needs and developing goals, policies, and quantifiable actions for increasing housing of all types in Española and Rio Arriba County. These actions included a review of the City and County’s regulatory frameworks along with external factors to identify opportunities and constraints to increasing owner and renter occupied housing, new construction and rehabilitation, preservation and financing of affordable housing.
City of Artesia Affordable Housing Plan
Sites Southwest was charged with incorporating recommendations from the City’s Comprehensive Plan and the findings of a housing study focused on workforce and market rate housing into a complete document, including producing a document that met MFA criteria for Affordable Housing Plans.
Sites Southwest identified several key housing needs: workforce housing—particularly rental housing for area workers; affordable rental housing for low and very low-income families; and housing rehabilitation assistance-particularly for low income seniors. The City was successful in securing 283 units of workforce and market rate rental housing and a 63-unit low income housing tax credit project that provides supportive housing for the elderly.
The City of Artesia Affordable Housing Plan is consistent with requirements of the Affordable Housing Act and meets New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority standards.
Village of Ruidoso Housing Plan
Sites Southwest completed an affordable housing plan for the Village of Ruidoso, a resort community in south central New Mexico. Working closely with staff and an Affordable Housing Committee, Sites Southwest documented the need for affordable housing, set goals for affordable housing production and worked with staff to develop strategies for funding and other incentives for affordable housing projects. Because Ruidoso is a resort community, much of the available housing was built for seasonal use. The lack of affordable housing for both service workers and entry level employees had an impact on the local economy. In addition, there was limited housing for seniors seeking to age in place in Ruidoso. Potential solutions included working with regional nonprofits to increase the capacity to develop and manage affordable housing projects and using Village real estate assets to establish a housing trust fund to assist with financing suitable projects.
