Southwest City Scoop: Construction Starts in Santa Fe

Total Construction Spending Expected to Increase by More Than 17% This Year

Non-residential work is forecast to grow sharply, led by a big jump in the commercial and manufacturing sector.

City Grill

Kim Shanahan
Executive Officer
Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association

With the Santa Fe region facing an epic drought, “Water is the focus of so much of what we’re doing,” Shanahan says. Last year, Santa Fe was the first American community to require that all new homes have a water efficiency ratings score, and there are plans for the city to host a water summit. Santa Fe’s population growth—partly accelerated by a hiring boom at Los Alamos National Laboratory—is causing a housing crisis, he says. The multifamily rental vacancy rate is less than 1%, “which is virtually unheard of,” Shanahan says.

Firm in Focus

Palo Santo Designs
2356 Fox Road, Suite 200, Santa Fe, N.M.
CEO: Mark Giorgetti
Founded: 2001
What’s New: The firm recently completed work on a $1-million bank and office project in Santa Fe as well as several residential projects in an around the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas.