SANTA FE, November 2, 2023 – Karen Iverson, AICP, has joined the City of Santa Fe as the new Midtown Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) Director in the Community Development Department. As MRA Director, she will oversee a commission dedicated to the planning, preservation, and redevelopment of properties designated by the Governing Body – starting with the Midtown parcel – with an emphasis throughout the process on public engagement.
"The Midtown redevelopment plan is steadily moving forward, and the selection of Ms. Iverson as our new MRA Director represents our commitment to the next phase of Midtown: action," said Community Development Director Rich Brown. "Karen brings a wealth of experience in the creation and management of regional metropolitan development areas that will set us up for success as we shape our parcel for the future in the center of the city. I’m excited to work with her."
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Karen graduated from St. Pius X High School and the University of New Mexico. She has over twenty years of experience working at the intersection of real estate development, equitable planning, and executive leadership. Most recently, Karen launched the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency for the City of Albuquerque. During her tenure, the MRA tripled its development pipeline to $160M and implemented several innovative programs to catalyze investment, activation, and redevelopment in downtown Albuquerque.
Karen started her career organizing community and environmental groups to negotiate community benefit agreements on developments in Southern California. While working at the Portland Development Commission, she received her master’s in urban planning and real estate development from Portland State University. She also was the Executive Director of the Regional Housing Alliance in Durango, CO for four years, during which time she and her team created a 200-unit affordable housing pipeline and moved more than 275 families into homeownership.
"I am honored to be a part of the Midtown team. A tremendous amount of community involvement has gone into creating a unique vision that represents the culture, values, and aspirations of Santa Fe," said Karen Iverson. "I look forward to working in tandem with the team at the City, the local community, and developers to implement the vision."
The City has recently awarded two RFPs for the first phases of redevelopment at the site: one for the reactivation of Garson Studios, and one for the creation of an arts hub at the Midtown Visual Arts Center. To learn more about Midtown and follow along with the progress, visit midtowndistrictsantafe.org.