Community Collectiveness: Sol Housing Breaks Ground on Somos

If you’ve spent time in Albuquerque, or grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, you’ve likely encountered the phrase “Somos”. A phrase that means “we are”, Somos showcases a sense of being, identities, or inherent qualities. A perfect fit for the diverse and culturally rich neighborhood of the International District, Somos is also Sol Housing’s latest development, and we celebrated with a groundbreaking alongside local leaders, partners, and community members.

Somos will become a mixed-unit development with 59 income-restricted apartments and 11 at market rate. A two-minute walk from the nearest transit stop at the ART International District Station and right beside Talin Market, the apartment community will provide a welcome affordable option for the city.

Eighty percent of the apartments will be reserved for residents aged 55 and older and are designed to be accessible and safe for people of all abilities, and the remaining twenty percent will not be restricted to seniors only. Somos will also include community space and ground-floor commercial square footage for local small businesses and nonprofits to grow their impact in the International District and help activate the street.

A little rain didn’t stop speakers like Mayor Tim Keller, Housing New Mexico’s Executive Director Isidoro Hernandez, City Councilor Nichole Rogers, and more from voicing their strong support for Sol’s latest development. The city says the project addresses goals set by the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan. This project hopes to stabilize low-income neighborhoods and expand access to affordable housing.

Somos will mark Sol Housing’s first development that offers commercial space by and for the International District. We envision these units as “third places” for residents and neighbors alike - a welcoming, social space where people can gather, interact, and build community.

Guests of the groundbreaking were also treated to local, Latina-owned business Chamoy Bar for some delicious agua frescas.

Sol Housing is immensely grateful to our partners for helping bring this vibrant project to life. With an anticipated construction completion of December 2026, we are looking forward to seeing the progress and hearing from community members. You can share your feedback, questions, and more at somosapts.info. We will frequently post photos, construction updates, and information to this site as well.

To learn more about the groundbreaking, please take a look at our media coverage:

• KOAT story

• KQRE story

• City of Albuquerque

• Housing New Mexico