Arena Renderings (Rio Rancho, Des Moines: construction, college, living)

[finmqa1]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

How many people live in direct proximity to the stadium & arena in Denver?

Specifically, how far away from condos, etc. are the Denver arenas compared with those in Albuquerque and their relation to the proposed arena?

Last time I went in the area of Coors Stadium (admittedly a while ago) the area was completely dead. Sure, there were nice areas elsewhere, but not in direct proximity to the stadium.

There has been a condo and loft boom in LODO, in fact most of them are being built adjacent to the Arena and Coors Field. I was there in March for a Rockies - Cubs game and a Nuggets - Lakers playoff game and the area in between the two Arena/Stadiums is booming. In fact my wife and I said how great it would be to live in that section of Downtown.

[ABQSunseeker]

Tell me, anyone out there supporting this dumbo white elephant, why the arena design as featured on the website appeals to you. To put such a huge dead wall along Central Ave, in such a prime spot seems like a ghastly mistake to me, something that will never be corrected. It violates all good sense of urban planning.

If any of you have been to NY in the past, you may remember the Coliseum on Columbus Circle. For decades this dreary arena deadened Columbus Circle, one of the big crossroads of NY. Its replacement was the Time Warner Center, and whatever criticism any one may make of the design, its ground and first several levels are full of retail--all kinds of shops, a Whole Food market, restaurants, a Jazz performing center, a hotel etc. And the result has been to make Columbus Circle lively and vibrant again.

It may be a stretch comparison for Albuquerque but I think an arena along Central Ave. is a dreary idea. A huge mistake.

And I don't think it will fly in this economic climate. Thank goodness.

[abqsunport]

would you like it better ABQSunseeker if it had more retail along Central?

[urbanabq]

ABQSunseeker, I completely dislike the architecture shown in the renderings but this is still a conceptual plan. But really, how much dead space is being created? The entrance to the arena along Central isn't at street level due to the underpass. So, instead of a parking lot, we'll, hopefully, put in an aesthetically appealing facade and public space fronting the arena. The Tijeras side is similar and I'd imagine the building will be built right up the street with loading entrances to the arena. The parking garage and condos lining broadway will actually compliment East Downtown as it will provide more urban housing and parking to support the new businesses that will open up due to the center. Imagine the impact the facility will have on Broadway and Central surrounding the facility.

These facilities aren't the eyesores they used to be as cities have found ways to activate the areas surrounding them. The example you use was a decrepit old facility at a major intersection. This facility in ABQ will be somewhat tucked into it's location as it only fronts one major street (mostly NOT at grade) and will work in conjunction with existing facilities in the area.

What we gain with such a facility (influx of people, businesses, redevelopment, a fully used convention center, filled hotels) is too great give up by letting a casino build it in the middle of nowhere.

I'm curious to know your opinion of the hotel/residential/retail portion of the plan.

[Rob Martinez]

I agree. What prime piece of real estate for shops and restaurants are we talking about? An underpass under the railroad tracks? Who wants to shop and eat right there anyway?

The original idea of having the arena on the other side of the tracks would have been the same.

Where, then, do you build an arena where there won't be this dead space?

If I lived in the old Abq High School building, I'd rather walk in front of a shiny new arena to go to the movies or eat at a restaurant than a parking lot with homeless people and blight.

[desert sun]

If not for downtown, where would an arena go?

[ABQSunseeker]

My point is that the design is poor, its location is inappropriate. I realize that this is an early rendering and that plans may change yet, but I think it's critical that people have input now before a huge, irreversible mistake is made. Central Ave. is too important to mess up. We have only one main artery through Albuquerque.

I'm not necessarily opposed to an arena downtown, maybe several blocks away from the proposed site. Or if retail space is alloted to the current plans that front Central Avenue. I like the idea of more residential/retail proposed. My objection is to the careless disregard for the importance of Central Ave. And I would be opposed if the taxpayer is forced to foot the bill for the project.

Thanks everyone for your answers...

[bradly]

Originally Posted by ABQSunseeker

My point is that the design is poor, its location is inappropriate. I realize that this is an early rendering and that plans may change yet, but I think it's critical that people have input now before a huge, irreversible mistake is made. Central Ave. is too important to mess up. We have only one main artery through Albuquerque.

I'm not necessarily opposed to an arena downtown, maybe several blocks away from the proposed site. Or if retail space is alloted to the current plans that front Central Avenue. I like the idea of more residential/retail proposed. My objection is to the careless disregard for the importance of Central Ave. And I would be opposed if the taxpayer is forced to foot the bill for the project.

Thanks everyone for your answers...

They just need to completely tear down that entre church, where the arena is going to be.. i really dont see why they would leave it there? and with the empty space they can make the arena larger, i think thats why this crap proposed arena is only going to be 11,000..

[rybert]

Which church?

[Rob Martinez]

Originally Posted by rybert

Which church?

Right on the NW corner of Central and Broadway.