SANTA FE, May 13, 2022 -- The City of Santa Fe is gratified to have joined a coalition of local partners in contributing to the purchase of the Lamplighter Inn on Cerrillos Road for the purpose of converting it into 58 affordable homes. City staff from the Office of Affordable Housing and Community Services Department participated in project planning meetings for over a year to find the site and explore funding opportunities.
The Governing Body approved an expenditure of $2 million of federal ARPA funding on the project. The Office of Affordable Housing anticipates further contributions by the city of $800,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $290,000 of Community Development Block Grant funds to support development costs.
According to Alexandra Ladd, Director of the City’s Office of Affordable Housing, “This project exemplifies the power of partnership among the private, public and nonprofit sectors. It will provide affordable rental opportunities for workforce renters who are priced out of the market, as well as supporting higher needs renters with wraparound social services.”
Mayor Alan Webber said: “This project is another step in our ongoing commitment to provide affordable housing for Santa Fe residents. Working in concert with our partners, we’re excited about helping to produce 58 living units on a fast-track basis.”
On May 25 at 5:30 p.m. the public can join a Zoom meeting to learn more about the project and ask questions of the development team. The link to the meeting and more information about the project can be found on the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative website: Lamplighter Initiative - S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative.
This announcement by the S3 Santa Fe Housing Initiative describes the details of the project and partnership:
DEAL FINALIZED TO CONVERT LAMPLIGHTER INN TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
New owners will hold a public forum via Zoom on May 25 at 5:30 pm to inform the community about project details and answer questions.
Santa Fe, NM — Final negotiations for the sale and transfer of The Lamplighter Inn at 2405 Cerrillos Road concluded Tuesday, May 10, setting the stage for renovation and development work to begin on the property. At the conclusion of the project, the former hotel will feature 58 units of affordable housing that will rent for $725 to $825 per month. Leases will be reserved for those earning 80 percent of the area median income (AMI) or less, and 25% of the units will be set aside for those with special needs who require supportive services to remain stably housed.
The hotel was purchased for $3.2 million by Bella Luz Apartments 2022 LLLP, a partnership between The JL Gray Company and Anchorum St. Vincent, with Anchorum St. Vincent serving as the majority owner. The team is currently in talks to bring on an additional mission-aligned nonprofit organization whose model is well suited for long-term property ownership. Once selected, this nonprofit partner will hold a majority stake and will ultimately have the opportunity to become the property’s sole owner in twenty years at the end of the compliance period.
“We are pleased to see this project take this important step forward,” said Jerry Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Anchorum St. Vincent. “We are equally pleased that this was truly a community undertaking. We are working together across multiple organizations, with our elected officials, and with local and state agencies to address affordable housing—one of the most pressing issues we face as a city and as a region.”
Key operational partners on the initiative include Anchorum St. Vincent, The JL Gray Company, The Life Link, and the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Funding for the purchase and conversion is provided by Anchorum St. Vincent, Santa Fe County, The City of Santa Fe, New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA), Santa Fe Community Foundation, and the Thornburg Foundation.
“Hotel conversions are a cost-effective and timely way to address our region’s housing shortage,” explained Katherine Miller, Santa Fe County Manager. “This is one of many tools we are deploying to address the housing needs of our residents, and to ensure that everyone who calls Santa Fe home has a safe place to sleep.”
Mayor Alan Webber added that the Lamplighter conversion aligns with the city’s priority to develop affordable housing. “This project is another step in our ongoing commitment to provide affordable housing for Santa Fe residents,” said Webber. “Working in concert with our partners, we’re excited about helping to produce 58 living units on a fast-track basis.”
Neighbors and community members are invited to attend a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, May 25 at 5:30 pm to learn more about the project. More information and a Zoom link are available at s3santafehousinginitiative.org/lamplighter/.