ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – There’s a new plan the city hopes can breathe new life into downtown, and KRQE News 13 is getting a look at what big projects could take top priority over the next few decades.
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After months of gathering opinions, the city’s finalized its new “Downtown 2050” plan, which says better parking and new shade are some of the biggest priorities. Some business owners say they would be a welcome change. “This is our home, this is our neighborhood. And everybody down here is really optimistic that the city of Albuquerque is reinvesting into Downtown,” said Mark Baker, owner of 505 Central Food Hall.
Some consider it the heart of Albuquerque, and in 2025, downtown is still a hub for workers, restaurants, and events. A new roadmap called the “Downtown 2050 Redevelopment Plan” is now outlining what the city should focus on changing, including adding more trees for shade, widening sidewalks, and installing more art.
Albuquerque Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner said the plan is important for a critical part of the city. “It does contribute a lot to our gross receipts and our tax revenue. It’s the place usually tourists go first to figure out what’s happening in your town, and it’s also a site where people work, live, and play these days,” says Terry Brunner, Director for the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency.
Other priorities include adding more wayfinding kiosks and finally helping people figure out where to park. “Well, we would love to see an app being used so that if people are coming downtown,n they know where the available spaces are, or how many spaces are in the parking garage, or what’s the current rate,” says Brunner.
The plan also outlines filling vacant buildings with pop-up shops and temporary retail stores. Baker said that while the area has grown in some ways, there’s more work to be done to make it better. “And this is a unique neighborhood, that’s very important for keeping our young people in Albuquerque and attracting new people to our state,” says Baker.
MRA Director Brunner said the city is aiming to tackle these improvements over decades. They estimate the collection of initiatives could cost millions, and that money, which will most likely come from Albuquerque City Council. The city has already launched wayfinding improvements, and they’re asking for people’s opinions on how best to do it.
