A design charrette for the Imperial Building, a mixed-use project in Downtown Albuquerque, will be held next week. Geltmore LLC and YES Housing, Inc. received a tax credit from the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority earlier this year, allowing the $20 million development to move forward.

The two-day meeting, hosted by AMAFCA, will focus on the reuse of stormwater, urban agriculture and additional green infrastructure.

Irrigation systems are especially important for the project because the building will feature a rooftop urban garden managed by the Veteran Farmer Project. The urban roof top gardens will be a farming training center for Veterans, Amy Biel High School Service Learning Program students and the Imperial Building's residents.

Participants will learn how water impacts their urban gardening and can help to reduce the "food desert." The training center will include growing plant starts, planting seeds, amending the soil, monitoring water use, tending the garden, harvesting and preparing produce. Special consideration will be given to water collection, soils, shading and winterization. The Veteran Farmer Project, located near the site, will help maintain the future urban farm.

The Imperial Building, located at 205 Silver Ave. SW, will also include a grocery store, retail space, a parking garage and three levels of mixed-income residential units.

The charrette, scheduled for the week of June 23, will identify project goals and design strategies. Consulting and engineering representatives from Tetra Tech will facilitate the discussion. Participants include Geltmore LLC, YES Housing, Inc., AMAFCA, Tierra West, UR 205 Silver LLC, Veteran Farmer Project and Dekker/Perich/Sabatini. Students from ACE Leadership High School will also take part in the meeting and learn about green infrastructure.

The project is expected to begin by the end of the year.

Read the original press release.