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EDO NEWS & VIEWS
Editor
Rob Dickson
Publisher
Lara Simon
The views expressed in EDo News & Views are those of the Editor and Publisher.
EDO NEIGBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors
President
Jim Maddox
Maddox & Co. Realtors
Vice President
Vince DiGregory
Standard Diner
Secretary
Rosa Ciddio
Rebel Workout
Treasurer
Lauren Greene
The Grove Café &
Market
Members
Lisa Adkins
Fat Pipe ABQ
Michael Armijo
Compass Bank
Bill Bice
ABQid, Verge Fund
Daniel Blackwood
The Evolution Group
Daniel Dietz
Innovate ABQ
Brian Gage
QBrick's Daily
General
Moises Gonzalez
MarAbi Productions,
Inc.
Terry Keene
Artichoke Café
David Mahlman
Mahlman Studio
Architects
Doug Majewski
Design Group
Architects
Randi McGinn
McGinn, Carpenter,
Montoya and Love,
P.A.
Kristelle Siarza
Siarza Social Digital
Yancy Sturgeon
Hotel Parq Central
HUNING HIGHLAND NEIGBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Board of Directors
President
Bonnie Anderson
Vice President
Moises Gonzalez
Secretary
Patricia Oakley
Treasurer
Salley Trefethen
Members
Joe Boyd
Ann Carson
Zoey Finke
Steve Grant
Kathy Grassel
Pam Leverick
Lee Spittler
Ben Sturge
Karla Thornton
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2017 was a year of accomplishment and challenge in the East Downtown/Huning Highland neighborhood. The Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) construction made life more difficult for all the businesses and residents on Central Avenue, starting in October 2016. That work continues, with an anticipated full completion by March 2018. We hope Mayor Tim Keller and his team will manage the operation of the ART in a highly professional and successful manner.
The Lobo Rainforest Building has been a wonderful addition to the neighborhood, and phase two construction is expected soon on the historic former First Baptist Church buildings. To the west of EDo, the First & Central project is moving toward a mid-2018 completion, and to the east, the Titan Development efforts across from Presbyterian Hospital are underway. The increase in neighborhood vitality is apparent! What needs to be done to add more vitality and more success? We offer these suggestions.
1. Central Avenue in EDo is now a 3-lane street, making it safer, quieter, and better for business and living. We are in discussions with Councilor Isaac Benton, Innovate ABQ, and the Keller Administration to re-stripe Broadway Boulevard to operate in the same fashion. This would be paint-only, no construction.
2. Properly light and sound-proof the Central railroad underpasses to Downtown, and keep them clean. Add an at-grade crossing to Downtown at Copper Avenue through the Innovate ABQ site.
3. Acquire the Imperial Inn and site for redevelopment via our Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency and a competitive public process, as they did with historic Albuquerque High - the project that started the turnaround of our neighborhood.
4. Time all traffic signals to support a pedestrian-first environment, one that supports business and quality of life for all.
We wish all our readers much joy during this remainder of 2017, and good health and success in the year to come.
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This publication endorsed Candidate Keller because we agreed with his prescriptions for a City that works for all of us. Those prescriptions are sound, and are necessary to make Albuquerque competitive economically and to raise our quality of life for everyone, especially the less fortunate. We are pleased at his victory and wish him well in his leadership efforts. And while we will certainly ask Mayor Keller to help us make our neighborhood better and stronger, we will also ask "what can we do to help you make Albuquerque better for everyone?"
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Technology and our Cities
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Technology can make our lives better, and as we know too well, it can make them worse. When it comes to discussions about how technology might be applied to our cities of tomorrow, most prominently automated vehicles, we recommend enlightened and measured steps. We also recommend We The People be fully engaged in these decisions. This article outlines the issues, and possible wise approaches.
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"The Hidden Wealth of Cities"
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Aging and inadequate infrastructure are creating unfunded future liabilities for all cities, Albuquerque included. How might we fund needed public improvements before they rob us of quality of life and economic power? This article offers some possible solutions.
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We love the idea of "thinking globally but acting locally." We see few if any positive local economic multiplier impacts in Albuquerque spending our hard-earned dollars with multi-national corporations. Those dollars aren't hanging around town, folks! To say nothing of the pollution footprint left by long supply chains from jobs located elsewhere. Here's another approach, and one we hope will be embraced by the Mayor Keller team in building a city that works better for ALL of us. You will recognize some very successful brand names in this article. You may also be reminded of some existing local businesses that make Albuquerque unique, and a better place to live.
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