Santa Fe County has set aside $2 million for the purpose of creating affordable housing.

Five entities submitted ideas for how to spend that money in response to a request issued by the county in January. The County Housing Authority board has asked them to submit more detailed proposals which are due today.

The preliminary ideas included one from the Green Builders Guild, an offshoot of the Santa Fe Area Homebuilders Association, which suggests the county buy 60 shovel-ready lots in the Tierra Contenta subdivision and partner with housing nonprofits and local contractors to build homes in the $175,000 to $200,000 price range.

Another proposal, from the developers of the La Pradera subdivision off Dinosaur Trail, calls for the county to subsidize the building of 41 affordable units in that development.

The owners of Sonterra — a subdivision adjacent to Rancho Viejo which was approved in 2002 but still hasn't been developed — offered to sell the county all or part of 244 acres for the project.

Daniel Buck Construction has also proposed selling the county seven existing lots in Oshara Village, near Santa Fe Community College.

Santa Fe County Housing Authority Director Dodi Salazar said the county is looking for projects that would be ready for occupancy within 18 months, utilize green building techniques and generate money to replenish the affordable-housing fund.

The fund — which holds about $4.5 million — was created from the sale of renovated public housing units and homes built by the county using grants funds from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development.

Salazar said the County Commission will review proposed projects soon — possibly at the commission's March 30 meeting, though that agenda has not been set — and decide which, if any, of the projects to fund.

If none of the projects meets criteria set by the Housing Authority board, Salazar said, the county might decide to issue a formal Request for Proposals for the project.

County Attorney Stephen Ross said RFPs are not a legal requirement in order to spend the money, as long as it is spent on real property.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.