Albuquerque City Council Expands Metropolitan Redevelopment Area to Combat Blight and Spur Economic Vitality

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – The Albuquerque City Council has approved Resolution R-25-170, officially expanding the boundary of the Central/Highland/Upper Nob Hill Metropolitan Redevelopment Area. This action will allow the City to apply targeted redevelopment incentives to a new 23-acre area that has been identified as blighted, with the goal of promoting neighborhood stabilization, crating new jobs, and upgrading local infrastructure.

"This expansion is a proactive step to revitalize a key corridor in our city," said District 6 City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers. "By extending the Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, we can provide the tools and resources necessary to transform these properties and attract the kind of investment that will benefit the entire community."

The resolution received a "Do Pass" recommendation from the Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee in August and follows a rigorous review process for the redevelopment designation. The new area, which is generally located on the east and west sides of San Mateo Boulevard between Copper Avenue and Lomas Boulevard, was found to exhibit characteristics of blight, including vacant and dilapidated buildings, obsolete platting, and declining commercial activity.

The approval is built on previous City Council resolutions that established the original MRA in 2002 and expanded it in 2005. The current action was initiated by an application from the Council Services Department and was supported by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) staff's analysis, which found that redevelopment would likely not occur without the application of MRA incentives.

The public hearing process, which included notifications to property owners and neighborhood associations, ensured all interested parties had an opportunity to comment.

As part of the resolution, the City’s Geographic Information System (AGIS) will be updated within 30 days to reflect the revised boundaries. The Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency will also notify all property owners within the new area via first-class mail, providing them with information on available incentives and programs.