The City of Albuquerque is taking aim at revitalizing Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in the city’s west end, reported the Albuquerque Journal.
Mayor Richard Berry, Klarissa Peña of the Southwest Alliance of Neighbors, and other city officials revealed those plans during a ribbon-cutting for a new fire station.
They briefly described to celebrants upcoming projects intended to improve safety and to spur economic development in the area in the next several years. Mentioned were a new library, a series of road, safety and sidewalk improvements, new senior housing and a new visitor’s center on Nine Mile Hill, along with a long list of other potential economic development projects.
“What we hope to do is entice people to get off the interstate to come into the community and shop and to take in some of the sights, like the breathtaking view of the city viewable from historic Route 66,” Peña said. […]
During public hearings as part of developing a sector plan, the city heard recommendations that it encourage new multifamily and senior housing, attract new commercial development and retain its cultural legacy, including the preservation of Route 66, agrarian traditions, expansive views and the eclectic and unique character of the area, which is marked by its collection of roadside neon lit travel motels, gas stations and cafes. […]
“We want to bring back the character of the Old Route 66 and develop an Uptown center kind of shopping experience for people on West Central and the West Side,” Peña said.
The newspaper reported that the city’s west end has seen a lot of new home construction in recent years, but business development lags along the Central Avenue corridor. In other words, residents jump into their cars to go to work elsewhere, return home, and do little else.
Revitalizing Central Avenue there with a partial eye towards preservation seems like an intelligent approach. Not only would more attractions and businesses draw more Route 66 tourists on that side of town, but its residents also would benefit from more job opportunities where they actually live.
Who knows? Perhaps a decade from now, Central Avenue on Albuquerque’s west side might be looked on as favorably as the Nob Hill neighborhood and downtown.
I live near Central (rt66) and Unser in South-West ABQ. We do jump in our cars to leave the area to shop, because there are no good stores close by. Both Lowes and Target were going to open stores near Central and Unser, but due to the economy have not developed as planned. I doubt that any development that happens west of Coors Ave on Central will have the old Rt 66 flavor that Nobhill does. When it happens it will be large shopping centers with places like Target and Lowes and more Walmarts. East of us there is Old Town and the city owned Bio-park (near where the El Vado is) and they draw tourists, but locals consider that area and Downtown to be unsafe and do their shopping in Up-town or the North East Heights. I look forward to having more convienent places to shop, but there are very few business/hotels still standing that have the Rt 66 feeling.