Albuquerque Approves 200-Unit Apartment in Sawmill
City councilors denied a community land trust's appeal, clearing Titan Development's zoning change for a four-acre site on 18th Street.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in City Hall
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Albuquerque city councilors gave final approval for a 200-unit apartment building in the Sawmill District after denying an appeal from the Sawmill Community Land Trust. The project by Titan Development follows a zoning change previously approved by the Environmental Planning Commission in June.
Why it matters
The appeal centered on the potential five-story height allowed under the zoning change, with the land trust preferring four stories. The decision keeps the project on track for a site that Rugby Architectural Building Products currently occupies with a warehouse.
The approved zoning allows up to five stories for a 200-unit development on four acres, compared with the four stories the Sawmill Community Land Trust sought. Construction start dates and the vote tally were not included in the source extraction.
The players
Titan Development
A developer that acquired the Sawmill property in 2022 and is pursuing the 200-unit apartment project.
Sawmill Community Land Trust
A community organization that appealed the zoning change over concerns about the building's height.
The details
Titan Development bought the four-acre property on 18th Street in 2022 and plans to build 200 apartments there, with landscaping meant to connect the project to the rest of Sawmill. Councilors denied the land trust's appeal on Monday night, finalizing approval for the project in Albuquerque, N.M.
Timeline
2022: Titan Development purchased the four-acre 18th Street property.
June 2026: The Environmental Planning Commission approved the zoning change.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Albuquerque councilors denied the appeal and gave final approval.
Over the next five years: Hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment are expected in Sawmill.
Legal Context
The approval shows how local zoning appeals can shape the height and density of new residential projects in Albuquerque's Sawmill District. Redevelopment of the district's former industrial sites is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in investment over five years.
Residents near 18th Street in the Sawmill District can expect construction of a 200-unit apartment building on the current warehouse site. The project is expected to add landscaping meant to connect the development with surrounding neighborhoods.
The takeaway
Zoning appeals can change the height and scale of major projects even after an approval has been granted. Residents who want to follow similar decisions should track Albuquerque City Council agendas and zoning hearings.
Further reading
For more on local government decisions, see City Hall coverage in Albuquerque.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOB.
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