County gives nod to Santa Fe Film Studios

The Santa Fe County Commission approved a resolution and application for the proposed Santa Fe Film Studios project.

Officials with Santa Fe Film Studios were requesting that Santa Fe County sell them a 65-acre parcel on State Highway 14 that the County has been leasing from the State Land Office. The Land Office finalized sale of that land to the County last week.

Santa Fe Studios is headed by CEO Lance Hool, a veteran Hollywood producer, and his brother, Conrad, who is a producer and chief operating officer. Lance Hool's son, Jason, is the president of SF Studios.

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The Hools have put forth a project that could accommodate up to 500,000 square feet of studios, developed over four phases and over a period of five years. Phase One would include 86,000 square feet of studios, offices and warehouse space and is expected to employ up to 500 with annual payroll of $71 million.

The resolution calls for the County to sell the 65 acres to Santa Fe Studios for $2.3 million and to authorize the use of industrial revenue bond financing and other public financing mechanisms such as tax increment development districts. The County would also allocate additional water for future phases of the project (consisting of up to six additional soundstages, as well as related commercial and retail development).

The resolution approves industrial revenue bond financing of up to $40 million to be approved through adoption of an industrial revenue bond ordinance at the time construction is to commence. The County would also approve a financing mechanism for public infrastructure for about $3.6 million through a tax increment development district or another method that would be approved through adoption of an ordinance or resolution.

The preliminary plans for Santa Fe Studios envision a campus environment with 10 soundstages, post-production facilities and executive offices. Also proposed is about seven acres of backlot space for large outdoor sets. And the Hools envision a 30,000-square-foot screening facility, as well as film and production classrooms connected to other educational institutions.

The Hools said this will be the first environmentally sustainable studio in New Mexico. Architect Gary Bastien has done the preliminary designs, which draw inspiration from New Mexico landmarks such as Chaco Canyon and Taos Pueblo. He has even calculated the positions of the sun and moon at various times on the calendar, much like the ancient Chacoans.