ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s still anyone’s guess if the New Mexico State Fairgrounds will move from the middle of Albuquerque, but outside experts studying the idea are now sharing what they’ve found so far and why it could make the case for a major redevelopment.
“We’ve learned what we knew and that is that the area around the fair is economically depressed,” said Martin Chavez, New Mexico State Fairgrounds Initiative.
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That clear picture of what the State Fairgrounds and the surrounding neighborhood are like comes from the group the state has tasked with figuring out if EXPO New Mexico should be redeveloped, an idea Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham launched late last year.
However, before any decision is made, the company Stantec is starting a sweeping review. “We’re in the middle of phase one, which is the analysis. We’ve made quite a bit of progress,” said Nancy Locke with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
The 200-acre property is now part of a special tax district, which held its second public meeting on Thursday. Stantec said its findings show a need for mixed-use housing and renovating existing buildings in the neighborhood near Central Ave. and Louisiana Blvd.
Initial surveys have already shown neighbors want a safer space and less pavement. “So, the fairgrounds right now is kind of a big block in the middle of these communities, and the first priority was to connect what is the fairgrounds into some green, safe walkable space,” said Ben Lewinger with Fable Communications, a sub-consultant to Stantec.
They’ve also found interest in cutting down driving lanes on Louisiana Blvd. for bigger sidewalks and bike lanes. Crime is another issue consultants highlighted, showing higher levels of burglary near the fairgrounds; some project leaders think redevelopment could help change that. “But if this initiative is successful, we’re looking at between two and four billion dollars worth of jobs in economic activity. everywhere that you have free enterprise, that impacts crime, that impacts quality of life,” Chavez.
The consulting firm reviewing the fairgrounds also announced on Wednesday that they’ll launch a website with more public information about future development and community meetings. That should launch next week. The next tax district meeting is set to take place in September after the State Fair, where leaders are expected to discuss bonds that could pay for potential changes.
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