Possible to live without a car downtown? (Albuquerque: for sale, real estate)

[Roo2]

Is it easy to live downtown and walk to supermarkets and the main library? What are the pros and cons of living downtown? I'd appreciate your thoughts if you live there.

[Zoidberg]

Never lived downtown, but I can say, there aren't any supermarkets, or markets, down there. Outstanding bus access to all parts of town, and I'm sure it's a relatively brief hop on the rapid ride to a supermarket on Central.

Main library pretty easy of a walk, I'd think. I think the D-ride (free round-downtown shuttle service) has dramatically improved downtown for the carless, and made library access pretty easy nearby.

Downtown, for the carless, has outstanding entertainment options and restaurants. It falls short for general goods and groceries. If I had to live without a car, it, old town, or UNM would be it for my options.

[Roo2]

Thanks Zoidberg... could you please tell me which streets define old town and "it"???

[mortimer]

Old Town:

Roughly the intersection(s) of Central/Rio Grande/Lomas/Mountain.
It's marked on most on-line maps.

Downtown:

I call that anywhere from the RR tracks to 6th street for several blocks N and S of Central.

There is no clear deliniation where Old Town or Downtown ends, but as you get farther away, it gets progressively less Old-Town-ish or Down-town-ish.

Note that Old Town and Downtown share that nebulous "border" so there is nothing in-between them. However, you might go N or S from a place and find that you are moving from Old-Town-ish to Down-town-ish or vice-versa.

Also note that Zoidberg's comments on locating in Old Town also apply to locating in Uptown or Nob Hill for that matter. There is direct bus service that is frequent and as good as mass transit gets in this country. The Central Avenue Express bus #766 diverts from Central at Wyoming and heads N to Uptown with limited stops.

If you don't know the Albuquerque area, don't commit to a long-term lease on an apartment because you might find you like another neighborhood better. However, spending six months in Old Town on foot, for instance, will give you an appreciation and affection for the area that others have no grasp of.

If you work downtown, I would pick that Old Town first as Zoidberg said because your "commute" is the thing that you'll do the most of. You can worry about groceries, maybe on Wednesday evening and the weekends. It's only a mile from Rio Grande to the center of downtown - a 20-30 minute walk where you can take a different street every day of the month.

Albuquerque's downtown is small, pedestrian-scale and quickly dissipates into tree-lined residential areas in almost every direction.

You can take weekend "exploration" jaunts via the bus to Uptown, Nob Hill, and Old Town to check out those areas.

[Roo2]

Thanks so much for that, mortimer. I agree, walking "gives you an appreciation and affection" for any area that you just don't get when driving. You are more in touch with the world. (If you are not lost in your own thoughts!)

Don't know Albuquerque area at all, I'm doing all my preliminary research online, so I really appreciate the help of those who answer. I'm hoping to find a cozy area to live first, then try to find a job within walking distance.

I get the impression from rreal estate sites that there are a lot of new apartment buildings downtown, but that it would be cheaper to buy a house nearby: any thoughts -- curmudgeonly or otherwise -- on the pros and cons of each?

[mortimer]

Roo2 wants to know more:

> ... I agree, walking "gives you an appreciation and affection" ...

Another walking nerd. I like that.

> ... hoping to find ... area to live first, then ... a job within walking distance.

Not having a job or car, starting from downtown is your most flexible option. If you find work elsewhere in town, all the bus lines originate downtown (exept for the commuter express busses).

Therefore, your ability to get to your job via bus is greatest living downtown.

I expect (but don't know - only guessing) that you could secure short-term rentals of condos downtown from people who got in and later got cold feet/job transfer/etc. and put a unit up for sale.

> I get the impression from real estate sites that there are a lot of new apartment
> buildings downtown, but that it would be cheaper to buy a house nearby ...

Your impression is correct.
Much of the housing stock is old, though, so expect to regularly put money into it.

OTOH, almost all of the housing stock downtown has charm and visual interest.

You might want to check out my Nob Hill Tour:
Looking at Nob Hill in Albuquerque
These places in Nob Hill are somewhat similar, in character, to what you'll find downtown.

[ABQConvict]

There is a small grocery on Lomas called Lowes. Not sure of the cross street, maybe 6th or 8th or something.

ABQConvict

[abqsunport]

And by lowes, ABQConvict really does mean a grocery, not the hardware store...just thought I would make that clear.

[Roo2]

Thanks everyone! And I've just discovered Google maps "street views" so I can (virtually) drive down the streets of Albuquerque!

[mortimer]

Roo2, in a twitter said:

> ... just discovered Google maps "street views" ....

A good complement to that is
Live Search
where they have Bird's Eye Views

I use them both.