Please read the updates posted at the end of this article.<\/p>\n
The state Department of Transportation<\/a> is considering scaling back plans for its new headquarters complex, leaving more publicly owned land for the use of a private developer who is a large donor to Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a>, the Albuquerque Journal<\/a> is reporting. <\/p>\n A project that is already controversial is further tainted by the revelation. This is the same project that, in recent months, the Journal has reported was initially tied to two men now indicted in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse scandal<\/a>. But the newest revelation about the project is the worst. In seeking proposals for the DOT project, the state said the headquarters \u201cshall consist\u201d of one or more buildings \u201ctotaling a minimum of 300,000 square feet,\u201d the Journal reported. In exchange for building the new complex for the state, the successful bidder would get to lease the rest of the property for other development. Gerald Peters<\/a>, who has given well over $100,000 to Now the state and Peters are discussing instead building a headquarters of between 170,000 and 180,000 square feet, the Journal reported today.<\/p>\n In exchange for building the complex, originally estimated to cost up to $90 million, Peters plans to build commercial development and condominiums on the rest of the land. Scaling back the DOT headquarters, which is supposed to include a Rail Runner commuter station, would significantly lower its cost and make available more land for Peters to develop.<\/p>\n If Peters and the state agree on a smaller DOT headquarters than was announced in the request for proposals, the other, unsuccessful bidder could challenge the contract in court, and lawmakers might pressure It\u2019s sketchy for state officials to even entertain the idea of scaling back the project in this manner once the contractor has already been selected based on specific criteria. That the developer is one of \n Update, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Denise Greenlaw Ramonas, Peters\u2019 chief of staff, called this evening to say the Albuquerque Journal article upon which this article is based \u201cis wrong.\u201d She said the Department of Transportation conducted a \u201cuse analysis\u201d that was completed before the contract was awarded to Peters, and found then that it only needed about 170,000 square feet.<\/p>\n She said at that point the department asked both bidders whether they wanted to adjust their bids, and both had the opportunity.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Jerry is a good developer, a great builder, he got the contract,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Obviously, if that\u2019s true it would significantly change and possibly negate the basis for this article. The problem is, the state won\u2019t verify what Ramonas said. Spokesmen for the Department of Transportation and governor\u2019s office said they could not comment on a project that is in negotiations, as this one currently is.<\/p>\n I told the Department of Transportation spokesman that I wasn\u2019t asking about something that relates to the negotiations. I told him I was asking whether the terms of the project changed during the public bidding process, information that should be public. He refused to answer.<\/p>\n Because of that and because this came to my attention well after 5 p.m., I can\u2019t tell you right now what happened. We\u2019ll see if the Albuquerque Journal changes its story or further reports on the issue on Thursday.<\/p>\n \n Update, Aug. 23, 8:50 a.m.<\/p>\n