Reaching the Dream -- Albuquerque

The starting point of the work is based on the direction given by concerned citizens in two Shared Vision Town Halls. The underlying principles of the strategy include calling on the local government to play a proactive role in managing growth, and to be guided by a plan based on well-considered principles. The outcome of the growth should be community, whether at the fringe or in existing neighborhoods, with new neighborhoods built at the fringe, not just in residential subdivisions. The existing community should be the priority in terms of the vitality of development, the existing infrastructure should be maintained and rehabilitated, and the correction of deficiencies should be a high priority.

With this in mind, the HUD Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) has chosen Albuquerque for the "Reaching the Dream" initiative. The following information provides a look at some of Albuquerque's neighborhoods undergoing revitalization, as well as an overview of Albuquerque's demographics.

Neighborhoods

Albuquerque is divided into four quadrants: Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. The north and south dividing line is Central Avenue, and the east and west dividing line is Broadway. Each quadrant has its own unique qualities and distinctive neighborhoods. The following neighborhoods are areas where significant revitalization is occurring, that have the highest percentage of foreclosures, and the lowest home prices in the region:

• Near NE Heights-Trumbull Park Village, along with other developments in this area, is one of Rural Housing Inc. and Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership's developments, located in NE Albuquerque. The desired outcome for the Trumbull neighborhood is to produce a model project that can be duplicated in other neighborhoods within the city. The framework for this project was established in the Near Heights Housing Redevelopment Area Plan and the Heights Housing Redevelopment Project Plan, both approved by the City Council.
  
• Sawmill Area-Both Arbolera de Vida and Wells Park, along with other communities in this area, are targeted for revitalization. Arbolera de Vida is an innovative mixed-use community that is being built on 27 acres of vacant property in the center of the Sawmill community north of Old Town. Purchased by the city of Albuquerque in 1995, the project site has been re-zoned for mixed, compatible uses, including affordable housing, community amenities, open space, and commercial/retail space. Wells Park is predominately low-income, populated by people of color, and located east of the Arbolera de Vida project.
  
• Downtown-The center of Albuquerque's Historic District is the site of an intensive revitalization project entitled "Downtown 2010." One of its goals is to increase urban housing while minimizing the impact of homelessness. Growth and revitalization are bringing new challenges for downtown Albuquerque. Increasingly, gentrification will need to be balanced with maintaining the older, surrounding neighborhoods with their long-time residents.

Summary of Statistics

Between 1990 and 2000, the city of Albuquerque saw a population growth of 15.5 percent, bringing the population to 448,607 and increasing the number of houses built by 20 percent.

The racial composition of the residents of Albuquerque is:

Caucasian-71.5 percent
African American-3 percent
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone-4 percent
Asian American-2.25 percent
Hispanic or Latino-40 percent

Sixty percent of the citizens own their homes, while 40 percent rent. The 2000 median value of all owner-occupied housing was $125,236.

Based on the 2000 census, the median household income in Albuquerque was $38,839 per year. Nearly 17 percent of households operate on an estimated yearly income of less than $15,000, and the unemployment rate is 5.2 percent.

HUD's Regional Faith-Based Liaison
Robert Salazar
Albuquerque Field Office
625 Silver Avenue SW
Suite 100
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Tel: (505) 346-7314
Fax: (505) 346-6704

HUD's Regional Director
A. Cynthia Leon
Burnet Plaza
25th Floor
801 Cherry Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Tel: (817) 978-5965
Fax: (817) 978-5569