Will Albuquerque Live Up to it's Potential? (Santa Fe: apartments, condos)

[mt971x]

I see albuquerque as a city with A LOT of potential to be a more modern, growing, progressive city hopefully within the next ten years. But are New Mexican's willing to live up to the cities great potential, or are not wanting to change at all and just stay where it's currently at forever?

Seems to me some people want change, and other people just like how it is, slow and playing catch up. I feel Albuquerque deserves a lot and has a lot going for it, but what's the point if the people aren't wanting any "change" to fill the shoes?

I think Albuquerque is well put together but can do a heck of a lot better if they choose to. In 10 years what are the chances of Albuquerque getting more recognition as a city? I know mesa del sol, and other projects, it would be nice to see some nice new sky scrapers , and pro sports teams, and more fortune 500 companies come to the area. But again that's me, what do you think?

[JamesABQ]

I don't know that it ever will, but I will be happy if it at least keeps on trying. I too think it would be nice to see a few 500 footers in the downtown skyline. Imagine that. Those dreadful nimby's though, rest assured they will be there to fight any progress every step of the way.

[alloo66]

What is ABQ potential? More traffic, increased cost of living, lower quality of life and a shallow trendy people? No thanks. I like ABQ being under the radar.

[nmguy]

Mt971x - Can you provide the name a city that's reached its potential? I'm not quite sure about your nomenclature.

IMHO, Albuquerque is comprised of cultures go back many generations. Indians, Spanish settlers, Mexicans, and anglos spent hundreds of years creating what is today the city we call Albuquerque. You're asking what's going to happen in the next decade that will help it reach its potential.

What do you mean by potential?

[mt971x]

Originally Posted by nmguy

Mt971x - Can you provide the name a city that's reached its potential? I'm not quite sure about your nomenclature.

IMHO, Albuquerque is comprised of cultures go back many generations. Indians, Spanish settlers, Mexicans, and anglos spent hundreds of years creating what is today the city we call Albuquerque. You're asking what's going to happen in the next decade that will help it reach its potential.

What do you mean by potential?

By "potential" i mean, grow or "bloom" into the progressive, modern city it should be. Not be a city that never changes or blossoms. If you look at Uptown area, that is part of what i mean, it is blossoming. I'd like to see an Albuquerque to get the recognition it deserves, it's a great city don't you agree? I'd like to see Albuquerque be on the map, get more discussion in the media, and be more of a place that people just wanna go to. Be more progressive, modern, and still keeps it's inner core.

Right now I see Albuquerque, as that one girl with glasses that you never noticed before, but if you took them glasses off of her, imagine all the beauty and potential she has, why hide it? Why hide albuquerque's blooming potential? You know and I know it has SO MUCH going for it. Albuquerque just needs to take its "glasses" off and live up to it's true potential. What do I mean? Albuquerque is one of those towns that people just cruise past without noticing, we need to have more of an "edge" ; what do i mean by "edge"? I mean bigger downtown, pro sports, more businesses booming, and continued growth for the future, imagine if they ever do that trolly how nice that would be?. Imagine more entertainment, and more excitement? Some fortune 500 companies? and some modernization? Albuquerque needs that "EDGE" to live up to it's true "Potential" Instead of living "backwards' as some people prefer, get a little more modern and up to date and still keep that essence of what albuquerque is about.

I'm not saying Albuqueque change it's identity nor am I saying it should blow up into another Los Angeles or New York. But I do feel it should climb up the ladder, and live up to it's potential, it has so much going for it, but yet some people don't want to see this flower blossom, they'd rather it be limited to the future, and sucked in a time warp.

[Burquebinder]

"Right now I see Albuquerque, as that one girl with glasses that you never noticed before, but if you took them glasses off of her, imagine all the beauty and potential she has, why hide it? Why hide albuquerque's blooming potential? You know and I know it has SO MUCH going for it."

What you speak of is an aspect I love about ABQ, yet has me so conflicted - it has a somewhat hidden stark and impressive beauty, full of unique character and history, underneath a veneer of dust, strip malls, and tract homes. It is sometimes beautiful, sometimes ugly, sometimes boring, sometimes fascinating. To be honest, I think if Albuquerque reached its full "potential" in terms of developing only beautiful buildings, with beautiful landscaping etc., it would essentially be San Fransisco, or at the least a much larger Santa Fe. That may sound great at first, but I don't think that would translate into a better place to live (see other comments about expense, traffic, stress etc). Imperfections can add to charm - and as alloo66 mentioned, places that are seen as pretty, popular, etc tend to attract shallow types, and any existing culture can be muted.

Look to Austin, TX as an example. I still love the place, but spend any amount of time around those who've lived there for 20 years or more and you'll hear alot of yearning for the old days, when Austin basically was what Albuquerque is now.

This is not to say I want Albuquerque to stagnate - I want to advocate for and see progressive changes here and there, like more walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods, more activity downtown (ie more housing, more retail, more office space, less surface parking), etc, but any changes we make must preserve and build off of our unique existing assets. I don't think we should strive to be anywhere else. This is a complicated task I realize, but it's worth it.

[caphillsea77]

I think the mid range size of Albuquerque, its low to moderate traffic levels, and not having been largely discovered yet is the basis of the city's appeal to me. I also like how the city is surrounded by so much open space rather than a long interstate corridor of suburbs. I think most of us can agree that nobody wants to see Albuquerque grow like Phoenix did. Sure there is room for improvement but I don't think the city needs a complete makeover or overhaul. I appreciate it's subtle charms and I'd rather not see it go into the big leagues with all the hassles that go along with it.

Yes I guess a few skyscrapers would be nice to look at in downtown, but I really don't think that's what it needs. I think more retail, especially a supermarket, dining, and some midrise condo's/apartments to fill in some of the parking lots would be a nice addition to downtown. Perhaps a streetcar or light rail down Central Ave. provided the funds are available. Mesa del Sol is quite ambitious, but I'm surprised more forethought hasn't been put into transit connections for such a large scale project.

Albuquerque's MSA population is in the same league as Tucson, Fresno, Albany, Omaha, Baton Rouge, & Tulsa. I think Albuquerque trumps all those cities for character, scenery, and things to do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_o...tistical_Areas

[JamesABQ]

One big thumbs up I would give to the city, is the I-25, I-40 interchange. The big I. It is so very well done, with its colors, its landscaping. Highway interchanges are so seldom ever pretty, and much less works of art. Most cities just have big, drab concrete bridges with weeds growing all around. But Albuquerque has a work of art. Albuquerque did it right.

[nmguy]

To the OP, I would say beware of what you wish for.

I lived in the San Francisco area for 40 years and saw it reach its "potential". The city fathers approved the construction of lots of condos and encouraged high tech development. Consequently, the cost of living is beyond is sky high, housing is unaffordable, and traffic and parking are horrific. Now, only wealthy people can afford to live there.

I would like to see Albuquerque progress, but at a measured pace. This is a unique area, which makes comparing it to similar sized cities difficult to do.

These are the changes I'd like to see here in the next 10 years:

* More jobs
* Improved school system
* Fewer DUI's
* Reduced corruption at all levels
* Fewer bars, more restaurants downtown

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by Burquebinder

... one girl with glasses that you never noticed before, ...

I like girls with glasses. ( Women with glasses. )