The 20th Street property where the extended-stay hotel and conference center was proposed to be built. Post File Photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The hope to add to Los Alamos County’s lodging offerings as well as to provide a conference center has been dashed. During Tuesday night’s regular Los Alamos County Council meeting, an ordinance was introduced to terminate the project with TNJLA, LLC.
In October 2019, Council approved to grant 2.6 acres of County-owned land on 20th Street to TNJLA. The 2.6 acres amounts to six parcels of land valued at $1,825,000 as well as the SmartHouse, which was appraised at $1.4 million.
In exchange for the land, TNJLA had agreed to construct a conference center that would accommodate 250-300 people as well as building its 86-room extended stay hotel.
According to a staff report in Tuesday’s council agenda, TNJLA was unable to provide evidence that it secured a construction financing commitment sufficient for the project. As a result, the land wasn’t transferred to TNJLA and the company requested that the County terminate the agreement.
It is further stated in the staff report that the County is waived and released from any and all rights and obligations it has or could exercise under the agreement but agrees to pay the sum of $17,000 in consideration of all claims and demands against the County to the date of this agreement.
“It’s disappointing that the developer wasn’t able to move forward with the conference center and hotel,” County Economic Development Director Dan Ungerleider told the Los Alamos Daily Post Wednesday. “I appreciate that they identified the issue early so the County can plan for other options for the property. We hope to be able to work with the developer again on other opportunities.”
Pet Pangaea Owner Cyndi Wells tried numerous times to secure land in Los Alamos to build her own storefront. She has given escrow money for land at 3661 and 3689 Trinity Dr. and has a purchase, development and use agreement with the County.
Speaking to the Daily Post Wednesday, Wells said she hopes the County will return to its original intention with the land on 20th Street and make it available to local businesses.
“Originally when the County put that land up for sale it was split into six different lots,” Wells said. “They said it was an opportunity for small businesses … I’m really hoping they return to that idea.”
A public hearing on the ordinance to terminate the agreement is expected to be held Aug. 9.
