NCRTD Blue Bus selects Architects Workforce Housing Project

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) Board of Directors at its March 2024 board meeting awarded an Architecture and Engineering Services Contract in the amount of $342,269.15 to Living Designs Group Architects. This significant step forward in the development of the District’s proposed workforce housing project in Española, New Mexico, is made possible by a $500,000 grant from the state of New Mexico, awarded as part of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Housing Initiative.

The NCRTD Board Directors unanimously voted in Feb. 2024 to enter into a funding agreement with the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to complete the design and engineering phase of the workforce housing development. This endeavor aims to alleviate the affordable housing crisis in New Mexico, particularly in the North Central region. The proposed development will be situated on three vacant acres owned by the District, adjacent to a seven-acre affordable housing development being planned by the city of Española.

The project’s scope of work includes the design and engineering phase, encompassing conceptual layouts, architectural plans, engineering studies, and other related tasks necessary for the successful development of the workforce housing project. Living Designs Group Architects, selected through a competitive process, will bring their expertise and innovative approach to create sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing housing solutions.

Located in Taos, New Mexico, Living Designs Group Architects has contributed to the economic and physical development of the region for over 20 years by providing design services under public and private contracts throughout the state of New Mexico and Southern Colorado. The firm delivers insight and creativity to the process of making regionally appropriate buildings that are products of the owners needs and the economic conditions that make them possible.

Project Background:

In 2022, the District conducted a study in partnership with the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD) to assess the need for workforce housing and identify housing priorities for current staff.

A pro forma document was developed in collaboration with NCNMEDD to determine potential costs, revenues, funding strategies, conceptual layouts, and unit mix for the estimated $4.5 million project.

The DFA funding for design and engineering requires no local match, and the full cost will be covered through the DFA Housing Initiatives program. All funding must be expended by June 30, 2024, the end of the State of New Mexico’s fiscal year.

The NCRTD remains committed to working closely with local stakeholders and community members throughout the design and development phases of the project to ensure it meets the needs of the community and contributes positively to the region’s growth and prosperity.

For more information about the North Central Regional Transit District and its initiatives, please visit ncrtd.org.