The city of Santa Fe’s housing affordability crisis is widely considered one of its top issues, with rents increasing by 74% since 2016 and housing prices by 80%, pricing out many residents from homeownership and causing others to leave the city altogether.
Affordable housing units coming online as part of Phase 3 of Tierra Contenta and the redevelopment of the city-owned former college campus in midtown could create some relief in the coming years, but other efforts to address the crisis have languished: An excise tax on home sales over $1 million that voters approved by a wide margin in the 2023 election was ruled unlawful by a judge following a legal challenge, which is currently being appealed.
Additionally, the first phase of an update to the city’s land use code has been held up in a legal review for the better part of a year, delaying what advocates describe as much-needed incentives for affordable housing production.
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A coalition of nonprofit and for-profit organizations involved in housing and development have formed the “Housing for All” platform, aimed at getting candidates in this year’s municipal election to commit to specific policy proposals they will advocate for if elected. The proposals, which four mayoral candidates had signed onto as of early September, include completion of revisions to the city land use code and general plan by 2027, doubling the amount of money going into the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund from the general fund each year to $6 million from $3 million, putting a $50 million general obligation bond for housing infrastructure in front of voters next year and allocating $2 million a year for emergency rental assistance.
The city’s eight mayoral candidates have plenty of their own ideas about what is needed to solve the city’s housing crisis, which they shared with The Santa Fe New Mexican in a questionnaire about housing and development. Following are answers from City Councilor Michael Garcia, County Commissioner Justin Greene, Letitia Montoya, Tarin Nix, Jeanne O’Dean, Oscar Rodriguez, Ron Trujillo and JoAnne Vigil Coppler. They have been edited for style and clarity. Responses that surpassed the 150-word limit have been trimmed.
Question: A lack of entry-level and affordable housing is widely considered one of the city’s biggest challenges. How would you seek to address this as an elected official?
Garcia: As mayor, I’ll implement a policy allowing for residents to earn up to 150% of the area median income (AMI) and qualify for affordable housing opportunities. This raise in percentage would mean that a household earning roughly $105,000 would qualify for affordable housing. This increase in the percentage would provide for more affordable housing options for police officers, firefighters, teachers, hospitality workers and many others who provide critical services to our community. Currently the New Mexico Affordable Housing Trust Fund allows for a 150% AMI percentage, so this raise would be in alignment with industry standards.
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I’ll also establish a strategic plan that outlines how and where affordable and workforce housing can be built on city-owned property. The city needs to be a leader, and building housing on city-owned property is a must. Additionally, I’ll begin to ensure that affordable housing in the current development pipeline is quickly brought online.
Greene: Santa Fe cannot thrive if working families, teachers, first responders and young people cannot afford to live here. As a trained architect and as mayor, I will make affordable and attainable housing my top priority by streamlining permitting, incentivizing workforce and entry-level housing, and ensuring city-owned land is dedicated to projects that deliver true affordability.
One initiative I am proposing is called “strategic housing,” where the city partners with the county and the school district to create small-scale, four- to eight-unit developments in every district for our early career civic workforce. These are homes regular Santa Feans can truly afford, not just high-end projects for second-home buyers.
This “missing middle” housing is exactly what our current code and general plan fail to support. By revising the code to include “form-based” standards, walkable neighborhoods, and realistic parking requirements, we can build communities that serve Santa Fe families first.
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Montoya: Santa Fe has no true affordable housing, no public housing and no rent control — and it shows. More and more people are being priced out or pushed onto the streets. Band-aid fixes aren’t enough. I will raise inclusionary zoning from 15% to at least 20% to 25% and end loopholes that let developers buy their way out. I’ll restore public housing, expand transitional housing and push for rent stabilization so families aren’t one rent hike away from homelessness.
We must crack down on illegal short-term rentals and make speculators pay their fair share. Second homes that sit empty most of the year are not homes — they’re investments. I will treat them like short-term rentals, requiring them to pay lodgers tax and gross receipts tax. On city-owned land, I will require 100% affordability. I will also grow the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and expand area median income eligibility so our workforce can qualify to buy homes.
Nix: Serving on Habitat’s board is a daily reminder of missing housing for individuals earning 30% to 80% of the area median income. We know there are only two ways to keep affordable rates indefinitely and costs guaranteed, and that is through organizations like Habitat for Humanity or it has to be city/trust owned and operated. I am proposing we adopt the Housing Endowment Fund Model proven successful in other communities and make the commitment to invest $100 million in a trust fund to build out and operate affordable housing and units that will remain affordable for generations. With this trust and other funding sources we can build out midtown, continue with conversion projects for transitional and senior housing, and assist low-income homeowners in modernization and repairs.
O’Dean: I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of affordable housing — so I authentically walk the talk. Upon my 2023 return to the vortex of Santa Fe to perform archival and legal research for the Chiricahua, as well as to select properties for the Chiricahua to purchase, I’ve encountered real estate obstacles and blockages that caused delays in compensating me to purchase a home.
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Thus, addressing affordable housing is a top priority of my multibillion-funded infrastructure and development platform to build 1,000 affordable, adobe homes for essential workers and teachers.
In 1996, I began having extended stays in Santa Fe when I started enrolling my three sons in Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., and as an interim business school professor. Several decades ago of permanently living, working and lobbying for several Senate bills in Santa Fe, I could afford to lease houses or apartments on or near the Plaza, Upper Canyon Road, Old Santa Fe Trail.
Rodriguez: Right now, it is easier to build luxury housing than any other type of housing in Santa Fe. This means we’re not prioritizing housing for locals. We need the city to make building starter homes for locals the most attractive thing for developers to build. There are a number steps the city can take to this end. First, update our 25-year-old zoning code to reflect this priority. Second, take a bigger leadership role in housing development by promoting affordable housing development through land acquisition and infrastructure development like the city did with Tierra Contenta. Lastly, the city needs to put much more effort into promoting entry-level and subsidized homeownership opportunities.
Trujillo: A lack of entry-level and affordable housing is one of Santa Fe’s greatest challenges, and as your next mayor, I am committed to keeping our city accessible to teachers, first responders, families and longtime residents. My plan begins with preserving existing affordable homes, expanding the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and strengthening inclusionary zoning to ensure housing remains affordable for years to come.
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We also need to build new mixed-income housing on city land, support responsible private development, and promote energy-efficient homes to reduce costs for residents. To protect our current neighbors, I will limit short-term rentals, expand tenant legal support and increase down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.
By combining these strategies, we can ensure Santa Fe remains a city where people can live, work and thrive, keeping our neighborhoods diverse, vibrant and strong for generations while addressing the housing crisis head on.
Vigil Coppler: To address the shortage of housing, I would gather key stakeholders in the housing, building and economic domains to collaborate on solutions. I would expedite the final phase of Tierra Contenta. I would expedite the general plan update and development code review to encourage more inclusive and well-planned growth. Key to the review is to make long-term improvements to the planning and land-use permitting processes whereby land-use decisions would be based on consistent code interpretation and issuance of permits is fast, reliable and efficient. I would ensure the implementation of the best, most effective technology for plan review and permitting. Implementation of efficient land-use processes that support the development of housing such as emergency shelters, rentals and homeownership is imperative. Building more multifamily units will give renters more leverage to negotiate rents, and buyers will have greater opportunities to negotiate homeownership as well.
Question: The city is currently updating its land use code and general plan for the first time in more than two decades. What changes would you like to see to the code or general plan? Is there a date by which you would commit to either of these being complete?
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Garcia: I will ensure that there is a strong system and infrastructure implemented, which will help to streamline an efficient and effective building permitting process. It is also critical that updates include robust planning, which will remove barriers and provide opportunities for affordable and workforce housing developments.
I also would like to see requirements that will allow for more engagement from city residents. An example would be updating how the city handles early neighborhood notifications. I would like to see a process that requires and encourages a discussion, rather than simply notifying.
I am also in favor of establishing that design standards be required for new development. Santa Fe has a unique style of architecture, and this is what has made Santa Fe such a special place to live. We see a lot of new development occurring that is not meeting the aesthetics of the Santa Fe style of building.
Greene: The first “cleanup” phase of the code update started over a year ago and “should” be ready to adopt in the coming months. The general plan update process started recently and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The final phase of the code rewrite will incorporate new ideas brought forward by the general plan and will take six to nine months after the general plan is adopted, probably in 2027.
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The codes must better reflect today’s realities: a housing shortage, climate change and the need for more walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. I support updates that allow more housing types, reduce unnecessary barriers to infill development and ensure growth happens sustainably — befitting our most beloved neighborhoods. The general plan should also address affordability, equity and local ownership.
As a trained architect, I am uniquely suited to address these code changes and make sure our growth keeps Santa Fe “different.”
Montoya: Santa Fe’s rulebook is decades old, messy and disconnected from today’s needs. I support cleaning up the Land Development Code — but real reform means tying growth to water and proven sustainable housing models. For example, the city partnered with Habitat for Humanity and B.PUBLIC Prefab to build five affordable, green homes on Alto Street. That project proves we can create housing that is both affordable and energy-efficient right here in Santa Fe. I will require all large-scale developments to meet LEED or Build Green NM Gold/Platinum standards, so density and mixed-use growth conserves water, reduces emissions and lowers utility bills for residents. But building isn’t enough — we must also ensure fairness. Too often, people in real need are left out while others with connections seem to benefit. I will require transparency in how affordable units are awarded, with priority for local families. I will commit to finishing both updates within two years.
Nix: Phase 1 and any additional outdated or now illegal codes/laws as ruled by the courts and/or Legislature need to be dealt with by the end of 2026. As for rewriting the general plan and overhauling zoning, I think that is a far more complicated issue that’s being rushed right now. Most neighborhoods feel ignored or blindsided by City Hall’s actions that ignored agreements or the current general plan. Until we build consensus and understand all the legal agreements and barriers to development that end up losing in court, I think we are setting ourselves up for more delays and division.
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O’Dean: The land use code should rezoned as a priority for affordable housing for first responders, essential workers, educators, city and state workers. Such as the Alvord school 2.5-acre property, which should’ve never been sold by the school district. Instead of rezoning it to a commercial zone to build another tourist boutique hotel to bring lodging tax revenue for the city. The city should’ve rezoned it for affordable housing to provide housing for teachers upon in which the neighborhood’s historic murals would be preserved.
With the permanent closing of the E.J. Martinez Elementary School by the Santa Fe school district, the secretary of education and the city should coordinate the rezoning the school property to affordable housing for teachers so that vacancies can be filled by qualified teachers and not resorting to substitute teachers and importing foreign teachers.
The city’s historic codes needs to be seriously addressed.
Rodriguez: Under the current code, the most cherished parts of Santa Fe could not be built. This must change. The general plan should reflect the community’s needs and allow the kind of new development we have come to appreciate in our older neighborhoods that predate zoning. There should also be a path to developing smaller rental housing opportunities, often called the “missing middle” housing. A deep consultation with the community should arrive at clear standards for builders to work from so the process of building new housing is less uncertain, faster, less expensive and requires less back and forth with the city development review office.
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Trujillo: Santa Fe’s land use code and general plan shape how our city grows, develops and thrives, so updating them after more than two decades is critical. As your next mayor, I will prioritize changes that increase housing affordability, preserve our historic and cultural character, and promote responsible, energy-efficient development. This includes strengthening inclusionary zoning, supporting mixed-use and mixed-income neighborhoods, and ensuring adequate green space and infrastructure to meet the needs of current and future residents.
Transparency and community input are essential. I will ensure the process is open, collaborative and inclusive, so neighbors, businesses and stakeholders have a real voice in shaping Santa Fe’s future.
I am committed to seeing both the updated land use code and general plan completed within my first term, ideally by the end of 2026, giving our city clear, actionable policies that guide smart, equitable, and sustainable growth for generations to come.
Vigil Coppler: I envision making changes that allow for higher density and subsidies that can be effective and fiscally responsible for building production at a higher level pace. I want to see an investment in parks, recreation and walking trails. Livable, walkable neighborhoods should be the goal of all neighborhoods and the planning and zoning processes should be simplified to make that a reality. The St. Michael’s corridor “LINC” zoning should be used as a model for providing livable, walkable places to live and incentives for removing the bureaucracy that sometimes gets in the way of building anything at all should be included. Services and quality of life opportunities should be available in all parts of the city, not just relegated to the east side of Santa Fe so that all neighborhoods are economically and culturally enhanced. I would commit to a completion date of 1.5 years. What gets measured gets done.
Question: What are your thoughts on the city’s “fee in lieu” option, which allows developers of rental housing projects to pay a fee into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund instead of building affordable units?
Garcia: I’m strongly in favor of updating the “fee in lieu” program, formally known as the Santa Fe Homes Program. As mayor I’ll work to develop a process where a developer will be required to build a percentage of required affordable units, while still having an option to pay a fee. Additionally, I will work to raise the fee amounts. Currently, a developer can pay a fee of roughly $9,000 to not develop an affordable housing unit. This fee cost is drastically too low, and must be raised to a more equitable cost.
As a city councilor, in the past I have tried to eliminate fee in lieu on city-owned property. This is a proposal I will revisit as mayor. I strongly believe that if housing is going to be built on city owned property, then there must be the requirement to build affordable housing given our current housing crisis.
Greene: Before the “fee in lieu” program was adopted, we hadn’t seen any (significant) rental housing built in Santa Fe for about a decade. Development was stuck. The FIL made it easier to get projects moving. I support the FIL option, but it cannot be a loophole that leaves us short on affordable units. The fee must be high enough to reflect the true cost of building housing in Santa Fe, significantly higher than current rates per rental unit.
A problem that the city’s fee in lieu program has had is the inability of the city to spend this money on projects. As a county commissioner, we have adopted a new affordable housing plan that enabled us to build a county-led project and implement a “developer assistance program” to support affordable rental units. This has resulted in over 700 affordable units being put in the development pipeline.
Montoya: The fee-in-lieu option is a loophole that has failed Santa Fe. Developers buy their way out, build luxury projects, and leave working families behind. That’s why we have no meaningful affordable housing on the ground. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund matters, but it cannot replace real units where people live. As mayor, I will severely restrict or end the fee-in-lieu option, raise inclusionary zoning from 15% to 20% to 25%, and require 100% affordability on city-owned land. I will also increase AHTF funding and broaden area median income levels so more working families actually qualify for these programs. And I will make sure those homes go to the people most in need, not to insiders or those gaming the system. If a developer profits in Santa Fe, they must contribute real, affordable homes — not just a check.
Nix: The “fee in lieu” should be increased, but this won’t stop developers from paying the penalty. They pay the fee because it is less of a hassle than dealing with the land use department. The truth is the “fee in lieu” option existed many years before this administration and hundreds of affordable units were still built each year. Now, developers are left with uncertainty, three- to five-year waits for permits and a high likelihood of being red-tagged during construction. This has resulted in less than 100 affordable single-family homes being built since 2019 out of the 1,692 homes permitted and built. In short, the city has not created a friendly environment to build at all, let alone affordable housing. Even groups trying to convert old motels like the Lamplighter Inn and groups like Habitat have noted experiencing similar issues.
O’Dean: Per the city’s own AHTF website, the trust’s fund fluctuates yearly resulting in an unreliable financial source for citizens in need of affordable housing:
“While the AHTF is one of the most innovative and impactful mechanisms for addressing our housing needs in Santa Fe, its funding sources have not always been permanent or recurring. … But this source is subject to economic variations and is not guaranteed in future years.”
A “fee in lieu” option appears to be applied to the city’s waiver decision in approving the building of the luxury apartment, Art House, on the midtown campus — rather than build centrally located affordable apartments for the locals, which was designated in the MRA master plan. A “fee in lieu” option for rental housing developers isn’t sustainable for the city’s critical and economic infrastructure by providing housing for essential workers, teachers, city and state workers.
Rodriguez: This is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of the challenges we face with the city’s inclusionary housing policy. Historically, prior to allowing fee in lieu, it was financially infeasible to build rental housing, and no new rental units, affordable or otherwise, were built under the city inclusionary policy. Fee in lieu created a path for adding much needed housing while helping support our housing trust fund and affordable rental housing projects which brought in $10’s of millions of outside grant funding. That said, it’s now time for the city to revisit all of its inclusionary zoning frameworks to account for the drastic changes in the housing market over the last decade.
Trujillo: The “fee in lieu” option can be a helpful tool, but it should never replace the goal of building affordable units on-site. Integrating affordable housing directly into rental developments helps maintain diverse, vibrant neighborhoods and ensures residents have access to schools, transit and community resources.
As your next mayor, I would support the “fee in lieu” option only when on-site affordable units are not feasible, and I would ensure that all funds collected go directly into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to create or preserve housing elsewhere in the city.
We need a balanced approach that encourages developers to contribute to affordability while protecting neighborhoods and expanding opportunities for teachers, first responders and families. My priority is creating long-term, sustainable affordable housing so Santa Fe remains a city where people can live, work and thrive, keeping our community strong, diverse and inclusive for generations.
Vigil Coppler: The “fee in lieu of” needs a thorough review. It allows builders to make the numbers work so that they can afford to build. Larger builders may not have this issue but the city’s small, hometown builders do, leaving many out of ripe building opportunities. The issue is that the fee in lieu does not recognize the differences. To some regard, the fee in lieu may perpetuate high rents because once paid, a builder may charge market rates for rent. We need to review this fee and make potential changes to the mix so that it produces much needed lower cost housing and rents. We also need to keep the housing trust fund healthy by continuing to fund it within the budget process and find new ways to keep it sustainable. Many people rely on the fund to assist with home repairs and rental assistance which is just as important.
Question: Santa Feans overwhelmingly support increased affordable housing, but new development, especially of multifamily, infill or denser projects, frequently receives pushback from existing residents. How would you navigate this as an elected official?
Garcia: Because the city is currently working on both the land use code and general plan updates, it is critical that the city begin to initiate conversations with the residents of Santa Fe on the topic of infill and densification. I believe that we as a community need to work together to determine how and where infill projects will be successful. I am in support of dense model development like Tierra Contenta that provides affordable housing opportunities as well as providing an opportunity for residents to build equity and own a home.
As mayor, it will be one of my priorities to ensure that the city facilitates and leads the discussion to debunk the myths of the negative impacts of affordable housing. Some examples of these myths include falsehoods that affordable housing brings more crime to an area, and that affordable housing lowers property values.
Greene: I share the concerns of neighbors about recent large-scale projects that feel out of place. Housing should create community, not just bedrooms. New developments must have a “sense of place,” include child care, community rooms, small shops, gyms and parks so they grow into true neighborhoods rather than straining surrounding areas.
Our codes and general plan must be updated to facilitate “missing middle” development with the styles, design and amenities that our community wants. All too often, we see ugly projects get approved because they “pass” code review and potentially innovative and attractive projects rejected because our current rules do not allow neighborhood fabric we prefer.
I will also reform the ENN process by introducing a “city architect” who can listen, guide and ensure neighborhood voices are included in shaping future projects. I support inclusionary ADUs as a thoughtful infill solution that addresses our rental housing shortage while strengthening the community.
Montoya: Santa Fe’s housing crisis isn’t just about building more — it’s about fixing what’s broken. Too many homes are tied up in short-term rentals, second homes or mansions that do nothing for working families. At the same time, even when affordable units are built, the process of who gets them isn’t always fair. Families in need feel left out, while others with ties seem to get ahead. I will strengthen oversight so public housing and assistance programs serve those most in need, not those exploiting loopholes. And I’ll stand firm: We cannot keep saying “no” to multifamily and infill housing when locals are being pushed out. The real crisis is visible every day — more tents, more families without shelter. My priority is simple: Housing must be for Santa Fe’s people first.
Nix: Conversations should happen early and often. We need to bring back neighborhood work sessions and more door-to-door campaigns like in Hopewell Mann to learn from community members and illicit feedback and input. Lastly, I want the level of communication and document sharing coming from my administration to be overwhelming. I want to digitize every public document to ease the need for IPRAs. I want to take transparency and communication into the 21st century by adapting the city’s transportation app to also provide opportunities for public comment, push notifications about projects/activities happening in their area and surveying. Since there is nothing in law that prohibits additional public meetings beyond the ENN, I want public meetings and impact studies (water, traffic, etc) to take place early and often on major projects and developments.
O’Dean: First and foremost, I reflect on and honor the three centuries in the cultural evolution of Santa Fe citizens. Presently, the Indigenous people have been displaced to their tribal reservations and rely on casinos for their tribal revenue; the Hispanics form the core and south side of the city by having to share their inter-generational adobe homes and divide up the properties like in the Hopewell district — the Hispanics tend to dominate the city government, especially with five Hispanic mayoral candidates; the Anglos have a mixed housing from affordable to the expensive northeast side and county — whereupon they aren’t registered city voters; while out-of-state and foreign developers and business owners are displacing all three mosaics Santa Feans populations by purchasing Plaza and Canyon Road galleries and stores, developing tourist hotels, purchasing short-term rentals, etc.
Rodriguez: Part of the conflict around growth and development in Santa Fe is the result of not consulting with the community about these issues since the 1999 general plan. This has to be one of the key outcomes of the current general plan update process. Done well, this process could demonstrate first hand that density leads to positive — not negative — community outcomes. Our historic districts have very dense sections, which are some of the most cherished sections of real estate in our community. Helping people reconnect with these realities, while creating new land use frameworks that actually allows people to build housing like that again can create a path forward for growth at scales we all can appreciate while also meeting affordability and environmental goals.
Trujillo: Santa Feans overwhelmingly support increased affordable housing, but new development, especially multifamily, infill or denser projects often faces pushback from residents, sometimes fueled by NIMBY (“Not In My Backyard”) attitudes. As your next mayor, I would approach this with transparency, collaboration and education.
Community engagement is key. I would meet with neighbors early, listen to their concerns, and incorporate feedback into project planning to reduce conflicts while maintaining housing goals. At the same time, I would work closely with developers, the City Council, and county and state partners to balance neighborhood character with the urgent need for more affordable homes.
We cannot let NIMBY opposition block solutions for teachers, first responders and families. My priority is to create housing that is equitable, responsible and sustainable, keeping Santa Fe diverse, vibrant and accessible for all residents.
Vigil Coppler: Communication aimed at educating the public on the economies of housing is needed. First thing to note is that we can’t have affordable housing if we have less housing to offer. We can’t have more housing if we don’t have more density in land use. When housing is amply available, the prices go down, When there is less housing, the prices go up. It’s a supply and demand issue. Change is difficult and our community must accept change if we are ever to have housing that’s affordable. Changes to the general plan and development code will include many public comment opportunities and this is an opportunity for the city to educate our residents on the benefits of change if we are ever to get ahead in providing housing.
Question: How should the city use its resources — money, land or otherwise — to support housing production?
Garcia: As a city councilor, this has been one of my priorities. I have led the way to donate city land to develop critically needed affordable housing. I also led the charge to increase the percentage of affordable housing, from 20% to 30%, that will be developed at the city’s midotwn property.
As mayor, I will continue momentum and use city-owned land to provide the critically needed housing that will allow for Santa Feans to continue to live and work in their city. I’m working collaboratively with a couple of my colleagues to bring forward a resolution that will explore building affordable housing on the Northwest Quadrant of city-owned land.
In addition, as mayor, I will begin to work with stakeholders such as the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority and local developers to develop short-term and long-term strategies to create affordable and workforce housing opportunities.
Greene: First off, on the regulatory dimension, we can reform our zoning codes and permitting process to make it easier to build, but also making sure we build the “right” type of homes for our workforce and key civic staff that is mission critical for the operations and safety of our city. Additional regulations could raise money for affordable housing through raising fees and using GRT from short-term rentals.
To lower costs and to keep our jobs local, the city can work with the community college and the building trades groups to build the workforce so that good paying construction jobs go to Santa Feans rather than commuters and businesses from Albuquerque.
Lastly, the city can partner with the school district and Santa Fe County to collaborate with land and money to bring affordable and “strategic housing” online. These organizations have a shared interest in providing housing for their workforce.
Montoya: Santa Fe has land, money and authority — it’s time to use all three. I will require 100% affordability on city-owned land, starting with midtown, where City Hall should relocate so the site can become a model neighborhood for locals. I will expand the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and adjust area median income eligibility so our workforce — nurses, firefighters, service workers and teachers — can afford to buy homes, not just rent. I’ll reform lodgers tax so tourists and second-home owners help pay, and stop wasting millions on out-of-state contractors. Our resources must serve residents first. And I will insist on transparency and accountability so city resources go to families in real need — not to those with connections. Right now, we have no public housing and no rent control — if we don’t make bold choices, the housing crisis will spiral out of control.
Nix: Overhauling the land use department and establishing standard operating procedures and public guidelines for applicants needs to happen immediately. I strongly support using city-owned land for affordable housing build out. When it comes to midtown, along with establishing the area as a brownfield and remediating the millions of dollars of asbestos contamination, I feel that land is best suited for infill and buildup for Section 8 and affordable units, not sold off for single-family homes. Permits for home repairs should be available online and over the counter to purchase. Lastly, just like the program I helped initiate at the State Land Office to cut red tape and be friendly to businesses, we need an expedited line to generate additional revenue from private developers in a hurry and give affordable housing applications a quicker process to build.
O’Dean: Per my mayoral candidate multibillion-funded infrastructure and development platform, my regional to global building contractors have committed to build 1,000 affordable, individual adobe homes for the essential workers, teachers, city and state workers starting with the midtown redevelopment 64-acre campus as a Santa Fe version of Austin City Limits with affordable housing and elevating the Creative Culture with international art museums, galleries, etc.
As the elected mayor, I’d propose a city ordinance to generate revenue without impacting the physical land use by creating and implementing an AGI Virtual World, Digital Twin version of the city of Santa Fe with its mountain vistas, citizen and cultural creatives Avatars. The virtual Santa Fe city would feature its internationally renowned events i.e. Indian Market, Zozobra, Fiesta de Santa Fe, Canyon Road Farolitos Walk, etc. to generate economic revenue for the city of Santa Fe galleries, businesses, hotels, restaurants, etc. without having to increase the physical housing, hotel, businesses building production.
Rodriguez: As a former finance director at the city, I can say firsthand that there are numerous underutilized resources the city could leverage to support building more housing for locals. This includes looking at bonding for housing infrastructure, prioritizing state Capital Improvement Program funds for new housing, aligning resources to make sure the city wins statewide competitions for affordable rental housing funding, and looking to sources like the water department funds to help lower the cost of infrastructure. The city should also leverage the land it owns to the maximum extent and acquire assets for future affordable housing. To do this, I propose the creation of a land bank to acquire high opportunity sites for reservation for future affordable housing development.
Trujillo: As your next mayor, I believe Santa Fe must use all available resources money, land and policy tools strategically to expand affordable and workforce housing. City-owned land should be leveraged for mixed-income and energy efficient developments, providing housing that meets community needs while remaining cost-effective.
We must also prioritize funding through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, while aggressively pursuing state and federal grants and cultivating public-private partnerships to maximize the impact of every dollar. City resources can support infrastructure, planning assistance, and incentives for developers who include affordable units, ensuring housing is built responsibly and efficiently.
By combining land, funding and smart policy, we can create a sustainable pipeline of housing for teachers, first responders, families and longtime residents. My goal is a Santa Fe that remains vibrant, diverse and accessible, where everyone has the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in our community.
Vigil Coppler: I believe the city should explore using its own land to offer affordable housing — whether homeownership or rentals. This already has been done with the arts condos on Siler Road. The city could also offer subsidies in permitting and other fees to encourage home and multifamily production. The Midtown LINC offers subsidies in permitting processes and zoning that could be utilized in many other areas of our city. More ideas should always be brought to the table if we are to make progress in providing housing. I’ve covered other ideas in my answers to the other questions and all these key issues must work together to arrive at housing production. We must move more quickly if progress is ever to be made. Everything takes way too much time to accomplish! I vow to change that.