What is our Mission?
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency was created to ensure that the Midtown District evolves into a thriving center of culture, creativity, and community. Our mission is to lead reinvestment in Midtown by aligning public resources with private investment so that redevelopment brings lasting social, economic, and cultural benefits to Santa Fe.
Guided by the Midtown Master Plan and the Community Development Plan, we are committed to turning community priorities into reality. These plans set the vision for land use, housing, open space, mobility, and cultural spaces, while also defining the policies and public benefits redevelopment must deliver.
The recent designation of Midtown as a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) opens the door for the City to use new tools to guide redevelopment. With approval of a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan by the Governing Body, these tools could include financial incentives, infrastructure investments, and public-private partnerships. Together, they would help address attract investment, and shape a mixed-use district that supports housing affordability, job creation, and Santa Fe’s cultural identity.
Alongside these efforts, the Midtown Neighborhood Stabilization Plan has been launched with partners including MASS Design Group, Chainbreaker Collective, the Santa Fe Indigenous Center, and Ideas & Action. This initiative focuses on protecting and strengthening the adjacent Hopewell Mann neighborhood to ensure redevelopment is equitable and affordable, minimizing displacement while reinforcing cultural and economic vitality.
Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission
The Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission (MRC) is a five-member body appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council to guide redevelopment in Santa Fe’s designated Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas. Commissioners bring expertise in housing, planning, finance, and community development, and reflect the diversity of the city. The Commission reviews redevelopment plans, projects, and financing tools to ensure they align with Santa Fe’s goals for equity, sustainability, and economic vitality.
The commission meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 9:00am -10:30am in person and on Zoom.
Location is the MRA Office at 1600 St. Michael’s Drive.
For online info visit https://santafenm.portal.civicclerk.com
History of the Midtown Site
The Midtown site carries a layered history that reflects Santa Fe’s growth, culture, and resilience. St. Michael’s College was first established in 1859 beside the San Miguel Mission, later relocating after World War II to the decommissioned Bruns Army Hospital grounds, where it grew into the College of Santa Fe in the 1960s. In 2009, when the College of Santa Fe declared a financial emergency, the City of Santa Fe purchased the 64-acre property to preserve it as a civic asset. In 2010 the college transitioned into the Santa Fe University of Art & Design. Ground control reverted fully to the City in 2018 following the closure of SFUAD. Today, guided by the Midtown Master Plan and Community Development Plan, the site is being reimagined as a vibrant, mixed-use district that builds on its legacy of education, creativity, and community service while addressing modern needs for housing, jobs, and cultural vitality.
For more information on Midtown visit our site at midtown.santafenm.gov.