Santa Fe has started work on the new Southside Teen Center which will be irreplaceable in its ability to create unique educational and career opportunities for young individuals, as well as programs for afterschool and health and wellness to improve outcomes for youth, according to officials.

The project will cost $9.2 million and comes at a time when the youth population is growing in the area. 

"We can all feel proud that the city is moving forward with this long-awaited project. It took money, cooperation, perseverance and leadership to carry this from idea to proposal to reality," Mayor Alan Webber said in a press release. "It is a down payment on our commitment to the young people of Santa Fe. We are putting our community’s money where our community’s future is.”

The center will be located at 6600 Valentine Way across from the Southside Public LIbrary and next to the Boys & Girls Club. 

The center will have a gym, game room, arts and crafts room, dance and performance studio, outdoor sports area and a soccer field. Among the goals of the center is to help young people stay healthy and create meaningful friendships with peers.

The center is going to be located in District 3, which is represented by Councilors Roman "Tiger" Abeyta and Chris Rivera.