Albuquerque’s efforts to revitalize its Downtown started in earnest in the year 1999 when business leaders met to discuss how to jump start the heart of our fair city. These stakeholders hard efforts led to the movement of Downtown Action Team (DAT) from a public sector job to a private sector initiative. A year later, the Downtown 2010 plan was adopted allowing for expedited development of new developments in the Downtown area.

Shortly thereafter, the Downtown property owner’s voted to assess themselves to create a Business Improvement District that funded the Downtown Ambassador and image enhancement services Downtown (nearly $700,000 annual private-sector investment).

Catalytic projects included the Villa De San Felipe apartments, Albuquerque High School lofts, and the Historic District Improvement Company theater district

Since the adoption of the plan, Downtown Albuquerque has added 1,321 new housing units, over 3,000 new residents, and increased expenditures in the Downtown trade area by $148,000,000.

Based on hotel night stays, an estimated 450,000 visitors come to our Downtown, and based on employment figures, some 30,000 employees commute into the Downtown area on a daily basis.

A quality, destination Downtown is located at the heart of any community and it binds together the social fabric of any community. Many of the components of Albuquerque’s success at garnering national recognition, increasing employment expansion and offering an enhanced quality of life are in its Downtown.